2021 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2021 Honda Pilot

The 2021 Honda Pilot aimed to balance styling with reliability, safety, comfort, and performance. Honda refreshed the Pilot in 2019 to give it a more rugged appearance and introduced a Black Edition in 2020 for a blacked-out look. Despite these efforts, the exterior design remained an acquired taste. The 2021 lineup included seven versions, from the base LX to the upscale Black Edition, with prices ranging from $32,250 to $49,920. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an extra $2,000, except on the Elite and Black Edition trims where AWD was standard. The new Special Edition trim added black 20-inch alloy wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, wireless smartphone charging, and a hands-free power tailgate.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 was designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle, showcasing a distinctive look compared to VW’s gasoline models. It replaced the straight lines and sharp angles of the Tiguan and Atlas with a streamlined profile and wheels pushed to the corners. The ID.4 was part of VW’s EV-specific MEB platform and followed the European-market ID.3 hatchback. While the ID.4’s SUV-like styling was debatable, it offered a blend of Volkswagen’s minimalism and a smartphone aesthetic inside. The base ID.4 Pro featured a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth seats, with leatherette upholstery on the Pro S and 1st Edition models.

The 2021 Honda Pilot featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided smooth and refined power delivery, making the SUV quick to accelerate. A nine-speed automatic transmission powered the front wheels, with an optional torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system that could send up to 70% of engine output to a single rear wheel. The Pilot’s fuel-saving measures included variable-cylinder management and automatic engine stop/start, with an EPA rating of 22 mpg in combined driving for the AWD model. The Pilot’s MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension offered a comfortable ride and athletic handling, aided by the torque-vectoring AWD system and 20-inch wheels on the Black Edition.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 launched with a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, powered by an 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack. It was the first rear-wheel-drive Volkswagen passenger car sold in the U.S. since the Beetle. An all-wheel-drive version with a second electric motor arrived later in 2021, boosting power to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The ID.4’s RWD setup provided balanced handling, while the AWD version offered increased power and traction. However, the ID.4 was tuned for comfort rather than sporty handling, with noticeable body roll in corners but a smooth ride over bumps. Unlike many EVs, the ID.4 did not offer aggressive regenerative braking for one-pedal driving, relying more on friction brakes.

The 2021 Honda Pilot offered ample room for families, seating up to eight people with a second-row bench seat. The test vehicle’s leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats were comfortable, with 10-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way adjustment for the front passenger. Second-row captain’s chairs were optional on the Touring trim and standard on Elite and Black Edition models, providing nearly as much comfort as the front seats. The third-row seat was less comfortable for adults due to a low and flat bottom cushion. The Pilot featured extensive storage options, including a large center console and hidden compartments. Cargo space measured 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 83.9 cubic feet in total.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more front and rear headroom than competitor EVs, though legroom was average for the segment. It provided 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, more than several EV rivals but less than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The ID.4 lacked a front trunk, opting instead for more cabin space. The interior felt spacious from the driver’s seat, with good forward visibility but subpar rearward visibility due to thick rear pillars and a small back window. The ID.4 featured a unique twist-grip gear selector on the dashboard, freeing up space on the narrow center console, which offered limited storage for larger items. Standard heated steering wheel and front seats proved effective in cold weather, though the driver’s seat lacked thigh support.

Most 2021 Honda Pilots included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, text-messaging support, satellite radio, and basic HondaLink connected services. The Special Edition added wireless phone charging, while the Touring trim featured navigation, a WiFi hotspot, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and more. The system was adequate but had a small screen and lacked a tuning knob. The Touring trim also included a rear-seat entertainment system with a 115-volt power outlet, HDMI port, and Cabin Talk feature, allowing the driver to communicate with rear-seat passengers through the stereo speakers or headphones.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 came standard with a 10-inch touchscreen (a 12-inch screen was optional) featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 5.3-inch display screen served as the instrument cluster, and haptic touchpads replaced nearly all switchgear. While the setup looked modern, it was difficult to use due to the lack of tactile feedback. The ID.4 also included a natural-language voice-control system, responding to the prompt “Hello ID” and allowing for simple commands. The ID.Light feature, a light strip at the base of the windshield, communicated information to the driver but was easily forgotten after initial use. Despite some gimmicky features, the touchscreen was well-positioned with smart graphics and easy-to-navigate menus.

The 2021 Honda Pilot came standard with Honda Sensing, a package of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Starting with the EX trim, the Pilot also featured blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The older version of Honda Sensing worked but lacked refinement. The Pilot received favorable crash-test ratings, with a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and high ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), except for an “acceptable” score for front passenger small overlap frontal-impact protection.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 earned the highest-level Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA for the RWD model. The standard driver aids included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, park distance control, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. New features for 2021 included Travel Assist, which added automated lane centering to the adaptive cruise control, and Emergency Assist, designed to stop the car if the driver is incapacitated. Travel Assist performed well, smoothly following curves and responding well to acceleration and deceleration.