2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2024 Subaru Outback

Volkswagen made subtle styling changes to the 2023 ID.4, including a gloss black trim on the front bumper and a more squared-off rear bumper design to improve aerodynamics. New wheel designs and colors were introduced, and the rear VW logo now lights up. Despite these updates, the ID.4 didn't look particularly SUV-like, lacking the upright profile and ground clearance typical of traditional SUVs. This might have been a drawback for some buyers, although it was a common issue among many electric vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Bolt EUV.

The ID.4 was built on VW’s MEB platform, designed specifically for EVs, and shared modularity with the MQB platform used in various VW models. The interior maintained the minimalist design and quality feel of recent VW gasoline cars, with leatherette upholstery made partly from recycled fibers as standard. The base ID.4 Standard model, despite having a manual driver’s seat, didn’t feel like a significant downgrade from higher trims like the ID.4 Pro S.

The 2024 Subaru Outback's Wilderness trim received a new front fascia and LED fog lights, but the rest of the lineup remained visually similar to the 2023 model. The dark gray cladding contrasted nicely with the Autumn Green Metallic color of the Touring XT tester, which was described as a surprisingly appealing “green-tinged dark khaki.” Different trims featured varying levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the most chrome on the Touring trim. Wheel sizes and designs also varied, with the Wilderness trim getting matte black 17-inch alloy wheels, while the Onyx Edition had 18-inch wheels in basic black, and the Limited and Touring trims added a machine finish.

The interior of the top-trim test car was impressive, featuring Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery that was both handsome and supple. The Outback Limited had standard leather seating surfaces, while the Onyx Edition and Wilderness trims used Subaru’s StarTex synthetic leather. Base and Premium trims came with cloth seats. The overall interior quality was better than expected from a brand known more for capability than luxury.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models, available only with RWD. The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus trims retained the 82-kWh pack, available with either RWD or AWD. Single-motor RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models increased output to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds.

Volkswagen estimated that the smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, potentially improving acceleration and handling. The 62-kWh ID.4 Standard felt spritely during a short drive, though more seat time was needed for a proper comparison with the larger-battery RWD version. The AWD ID.4 had acceleration comparable to hot hatchbacks like the Golf GTI and Golf R but lacked the handling finesse. The ID.4 used regenerative braking but did not support one-pedal driving, which might have disappointed some EV enthusiasts.

The 2024 Subaru Outback featured a “Boxer” horizontally opposed engine. The base engine was a 2.5-liter flat-four producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. XT trims, including the Wilderness, were upgraded to a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, making 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, and increasing towing capacity from 2,700 to 3,500 lbs. Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) were standard.

The Touring XT test car had the more powerful engine, which managed the vehicle’s weight better than the base engine. The CVT imitated the sound and feel of eight distinct gears, manageable via steering wheel paddles. The brake pedal, aided by an electronic booster, felt good, and the steering was adequate, though not sporty. The Outback offered a comfortable ride, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance on the base model and 9.2 inches on the Wilderness trim, which also featured all-terrain tires and an advanced dual-function X-Mode for off-road conditions.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 provided more interior space than other affordable EVs, with more front-seat and rear-seat legroom than the Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. It offered 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, surpassing most entry-level EVs but falling short of gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The ID.4 had a towing capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models. Interior updates for 2023 included a conventional lid for the center console, a better phone spot, and available three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2024 Subaru Outback did not compromise on interior space despite its sleeker proportions. It offered more front-row headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 and nearly matched them in rear-seat headroom. The Outback also provided more front-row legroom and bested the RAV4 in rear-seat legroom. Cargo volume was 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Outback featured dual-zone climate control starting with the Premium trim, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. Heated rear seats and a powered front passenger seat were available on the Limited trim, while ventilation was exclusive to the Touring trim. The heated steering wheel started with the Onyx Edition, and a hands-free power liftgate was standard on higher trims. Raised roof rails with retractable cross bars were standard.

For 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4 made the 12.0-inch touchscreen standard on all models, replacing the 10.0-inch screen on lower trims. The infotainment system received software updates for improved responsiveness, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard. The ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster and natural-language voice recognition were also standard. However, the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel, which replaced conventional buttons, were distracting and lacked physical feedback. The ID.Light feature, part ambient lighting system and part AI assistant, provided visual cues for navigation and drive modes.

The 2024 Subaru Outback Touring retained a CD player, and all but the base trim had both USB-C and USB-A ports. The top-trim test car featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, while the base trim had a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, which became wireless starting with the Premium trim. Climate controls were managed through the touchscreen, with hard buttons for defoggers and temperature adjustments. Wi-Fi capability was available on all but the base trim, and nearly every trim had a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, except for the base model with a four-speaker system and the Premium trim with six speakers.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. The 2022 model received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating, with top scores in all crash tests and high ratings for front crash prevention and headlights. The ID.4 included standard driver-assist features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and VW’s Travel Assist 2.0. For 2023, it added Park Assist Plus, an automated lane-change feature, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, a slight downgrade from the 2023 model’s Top Safety Pick+ designation. The NHTSA gave both the 2023 and 2024 models five stars overall. The 2024 Outback added reverse automatic braking as standard starting with the Onyx trim. The EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technologies remained standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane-centering, automatic pre-collision braking, and lane-keep assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on the Onyx Edition. The Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor.