The Volkswagen ID.4 is finally here. The electric crossover offers compelling features, decent all-electric range, and a reasonable price. On top of all that, Volkswagen focused heavily on the electric experience with the ID.4, down to the sounds it makes in everyday operation.
Where many automakers seek to humanize electric vehicles with familiar gas engine sounds, Volkswagen hasn’t bothered with any of that. Instead, the automaker’s ID.4 electric crossover features several sounds that embrace the EV’s place in the future of transportation.
On startup, drivers are greeted with a sound that Volkswagen says will alert them that the vehicle is ready to go. It’s not at all unlike the flying saucer sounds heard in sci-fi movies decades ago, but it’s a nice reminder of the ID.4’s future-forward drivetrain.
In motion, VW gave the ID.4 what is known as an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System, which helps alert people to the presence of a moving electric vehicle. Since the drivetrain doesn’t make the same noises that a gas engine does, EVs can move almost silently at low speeds, so it’s important to have some kind of warning sound.
Even the turn signal sounds received scrutiny in the ID.4’s design, and while they’re still fairly traditional, the sounds are subtle and pleasing overall. Beyond that, VW says it developed a library of sounds for typical vehicle control buttons and other functions that are exclusive to its electric vehicles. The goal, according to the automaker, is that the sound aligns with the vehicles’ character, visual design, and features, and that people will be able to recognize a VW EV by its unique sound.
The ID.4 is just the first of several EVs that Volkswagen plans to release here in the United States. Larger family vehicles are on the horizon, and we may even see an electric revival of the legendary VW bus.
