2021 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2022 Subaru Ascent

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 was designed as an electric vehicle from the ground up, showcasing a distinctive look that set it apart from Volkswagen's gasoline models. It featured a streamlined profile with wheels pushed out to the corners, eschewing the straight lines and sharp angles of the Tiguan and Atlas crossovers. The ID.4's interior combined Volkswagen's minimalist design with a tech-forward aesthetic, featuring piano black and matte plastic finishes. The base ID.4 Pro came with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth seats, while higher trims offered leatherette upholstery.

In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Ascent introduced a new Onyx Edition trim level, which featured blacked-out exterior trim and badges, black 20-inch aluminum wheels, and a unique grille design. The interior of the Onyx Edition included water-repellant StarTex synthetic leather seats in a gray two-tone scheme with light gray stitching. The Ascent's interior also featured metallic trim on the dashboard and door panels, creating a sporty and modern look. However, the StarTex material had a tendency to trap sweat, making it less comfortable on hot days.

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. This rear-wheel-drive (RWD) setup provided balanced handling and instantaneous torque, making city driving enjoyable. An all-wheel-drive (AWD) version with a second electric motor arrived later in 2021, boosting power to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. Despite the added power, the ID.4 was tuned for comfort rather than sporty handling, with noticeable body roll in corners but a smooth ride over bumps. Volkswagen opted for a more traditional braking system, avoiding aggressive regenerative braking to provide a familiar experience for drivers transitioning from gasoline cars.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent came equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) were standard, with the Ascent achieving an EPA fuel-economy rating of 22 mpg combined. The Ascent's engine featured a horizontally-opposed layout, contributing to a lower center of gravity and improved handling. The CVT offered eight programmed ratios and manual shift control, allowing for brisk acceleration and commendable passing power. The Ascent also included Subaru’s X-Mode off-road traction control system, hill descent control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, providing more off-roading capability than many competitors.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more front and rear headroom compared to other 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, surpassing several EV competitors but falling short of gasoline models like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The ID.4 lacked a front trunk (frunk), but its interior felt spacious, with good forward visibility and a unique twist-grip gear selector on the dashboard. However, rearward visibility was compromised by thick rear pillars and a small back window.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent could carry up to eight people with a second-row bench seat, though the third row was best suited for children. The Ascent Onyx Edition featured water-resistant seat material, triple-zone climate control, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and a wiper de-icer. Loading the second-row seat was easy, thanks to wide rear doors that opened nearly 90 degrees. The Ascent provided 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 47.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.5 cubic feet with both rows folded. A shallow storage area under the floor offered additional space.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 came standard with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system (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 and ID.Light, a light strip at the base of the windshield that communicated information to the driver. Despite some gimmicky features, the touchscreen was well-positioned with easy-to-navigate menus.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent's base trim featured a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, satellite radio, and a CD player. The Premium trim added an 8-inch display with Starlink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting with climate control pre-conditioning. Both systems included volume and tuning knobs, as well as shortcut buttons. The voice recognition technology needed improvement, requiring specific commands to function properly. The Onyx Edition used standard stereo speakers, which lacked sonic quality, and additional technology features like a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree-view front camera were reserved for the Touring trim.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 received the highest-level Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the RWD model. 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 was incapacitated.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent also earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and five-star crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating in rollover resistance. The Ascent came standard with Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance tech, which included adaptive cruise control with lane-centering technology. However, EyeSight's performance was affected by direct sunlight, and the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology lacked refinement. Additional safety features included steering responsive LED headlights with automatic high-beam assist, and blind-spot monitoring was available starting from the Premium trim.