Volkswagen ID.4 AWD Takes On The Out of Spec Hill Climb Challenge!

I am digging this new channel but also want to see some towing tests

everybody who've done off-road adventures knows that tires are very important, its your contact point to the ground. smaller wheel + meatier AT tires + low air pressure will do the trick IMO.

Can you try in the future at the same place ioniq 5 and kia ev6 ?

This isn't the right way to do it. ESC has to be on, so the ESC System can handle the traction. On this way you only will have wheelspin, like the way you grab the car into a hole... The tires either way, this are efficiency tires for low friction... you have to think about the physics in this case. Low friction and now traction control with a car of 2 tons...

OK, thanks for an entertaining video, but I doubt any ID4 owners will try this, but good to see how far it gets.

I noticed something some review channels misinterpret is the idea that turning off traction control provides more traction in off-roading. Turning off traction control on a trail can be good in certain situations with mud or sand where you need to power through without the car worrying about slippage. The rest of the time the traction control attempts to mimic a limited slip differential. It seemed like ESC Sport did worse, and I think that makes sense. The front wheel articulation is impressive (for what it is), the rear meh. The limited breaking capability to manage the wheel slip I think isn't a surprise considering the breaks wouldn't be particularly large or powerful with the expectation you're breaking with regen help. I'm very curious to see what the Subaru Solterra will do, in theory it should be designed for a trail like this.

Thanks for the video. Loved the test. Would love to see hill challenges with other SUV’s such as Telluride and Pilot.

Are you gonna test the q4 on the same route? I know its basically the same car but the audi q4 has some other settings it can use here actually.

The whiny pedestrian warning sound makes it sound like a sad robot dog doing something against its will.

In 2021/2022… how are AWD systems still this horrible? I have a lifted MK4 golf FWD with LSD and it makes it through things many new AWD cars get stuck in… it’s pathetic.

The VW sounds like it is Crying the whole time!

I’m telling you right now that people who buy the awd id4 are not even going to do half of what you did.

You have to put different tires to do off roading.

Not a TRUE test since there was no other vehicle comparison under the same exact conditions! I would like to see the EXACT conditions you did for the VW ID.4 against, for example, Subaru Forester, Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, whatever.

As a Computer Software Tester, your test is what we call – a test to fail. Need comparisons!

Also, I’m betting that 99.98% of the people who buy an VW ID.4 are not buying the vehicle to “pass” The Out of Spec Hill Climb Challenge! <smile>

I'm surprised that this is the first EV that you have used on your hill challenge. - I have an ID.4 AWD on order, so it was interesting to see your results. From watching this video, I'm pretty sure that my 2018 Model X with All Season Tires would be able to handle at least "Phase 1" of your hill climb challenge. Thanks for the entertaining content.

Would love to see your M3 do this test Kyle.

I Think the Subaru Solterra/BzX4 could do it

I’m confused why the rear tires seemed to be doing nothing while the fronts were spinning. It’s almost as though “traction” mode shut off the rear motor. My Subaru would have had all four engaged while balancing the torque as slippage occurred. I have a ProS AWD on order because I seriously doubt Subaru will deliver the Solterra this year.

It's not build for off road, these tests are not good

Off roading is mostly about tyres and technique... But hey i only drive a Duster😊👍

This is plainly stupid

Not sure about those tires… Here up in Québec, I’m pretty sure i will have no problems in snow with the proper tires!

Looks like you dont know what you are doing… hahahah., use you initiative

It's obviously open differential. This car is not meant for rough terrain. Look at wheel spin on wheels in the air - the other wheel on the same axle that touches the ground just sat there not moving an inch. Because it's not moving, it's not a grip issue, therefore it's not a tire issue. Swapping tires won't make any different. This car won't go anywhere if you lose one wheel each axle. Not trying to discredit it's just the way it is. and this is coming from a person who has one reserved.

Thx for the great vid and I want to see how it does in winter conditions.
The ID4 is my possible future EV and I'm a long time VW owner.

Is it double glazed?Id4?

Can you do this course with an etron?

Did you try 2 feet driving to clamp the brakes harder? Or does it cut power when your foot is on the brakes?

"Let's see if this car will do something it was never intended to do."
This is proper motoring content. Keep it up!
Most AWD passenger cars are for mild inclement conditions and can't transfer torque in real situations.

I want to see the Subaru Soltera on that trail!

It would be fun to see a Mach E do the hill climb. Likely would fail miserably but it would be interesting.

Here’s Poindexter with everything you want to know about everything!!

Hey Plug In Dude,
Watt’s up? 🤪

Would like to see the model y try the hill.

I think the ID 4, could actually do better if you're climbing at a bit of more speed. with very little power it's definitely going to be hard to climb especially with rocks and such. I personally have the all-wheel drive and have been impressed with it but I don't plan on driving it up a steep road with rocks unless for some reason I have to. I agree that it'll definitely be good in snow and I plan on driving it in mountains.

Its acting like an open end differential..it is not putting power to the wheel that has the MOST grip but putting the power to the wheel/wheels that have the least. Quite dissapointing!

I think it would be interesting to do some of these EV off-road tests comparing identical cars with RWD and AWD. My suspicion is that the RWD could have made it just as far. In my opinion, tires and clearance are bigger factors than AWD.

The whole ID serie is way too expensive! VW macht alles kaput!

Great testing. Would like to see the car with off-road tires and try again.

The id4 (I have one) is the last car in the world I would use to do off-road. And what's the use with not using off-road tyres.

You should do the 2023 and 2024 to see if there was any tweaking done

Just VW technology... LOL

thanks for this test. I'm looking for a reasonably sized EV suv that can do some basic rough roads. I use my Range Rover Evoque to tow a small teardrop over 4WD roads- and it does amazingly well.. But wow- this ID.4... basically sucks off road.

the wrong tires and 5000lbs contributed to its limitation.

Guy does not know how to drive offroad, this looks incredibly stupid... Please hand it over to someone who understands how the car should be driven in this terrain. The car has alot of power and insane propultion but that helps nothing if you dont use it. I drive one my self and the car is performing outside of normal roaduse beautifully, this winter is crazy, lots of deep ruts, being thrown around on lumpy steep roads with ice and snow... i pick a speed, point it where i want it and it goes there. I had pajeros gen 2 and 3, jeep xj's 96 and 97's, discovery 3. And naturally the GTX is a car with low ground clerance but it's still amazing. Traction mode works like a charm

Dude remove the 40A fuse

I live in Quebec, up North. PLENTY of snow. The ID.4 does wonders in 2, 4, 6 inches of snow. I can drive on snowy icy country roads at speeds that would make you cry. HOWEVER, one more inch, I means as soon as you have one wheel not touching the ground, hell breaks loose. It does exactly as per this video. Nothing, I mean nothing nothing will match my (previous car) Subaru. The point is NOT better tires, bigger tires, deflated tires, more tires if you insist, the point is "it's not distributing the power to the wheels with grip". Traction mode, ESC on, ESC off, nada. I was pulled out of a snow bank last week, and I now have a shovel and traction aid in my trunk.

The ID.4 isn’t intended to be an off-roading machine but its AWD system is designed to help in slippery situations. I have no question this system will help in slippery / snowy conditions and I would totally option it over the RWD car. For true overlanding though, probably not the most capable AWD system.