Usually, when a new electric car arrives, it is compared to other electric vehicles indicated as a target to beat. But the reality is that the real rivals are the combustion engine models that see the enemy’s supply only increasing. This is the case with the Volkswagen ID.4, classified by the German manufacturer as a killer for some of the most popular combustion engine SUVs.
According to Scott Keogh, CEO of Volkswagen in the United States, “The SUV segment is the heart of the US car market. There are 4 million units a year in sales, and about 35 million units are on the roads today. Models like the Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR-V, even our Tiguan, a segment where there is no electric model there.”
If we look at the numbers of these models, we see how in 2019, the Toyota RAV4 registered 448,071 units in the United States, while the Honda CR-V reached 384,168 units. A segment with other popular models such as the Nissan Rogue (Qashqai in Europe) with 350,477 registrations, the Chevrolet Equinox (346,049), and the Ford Escape (241,388).
One of the main concerns is that electric vehicles are increasingly competitively priced. In the case of the Volkswagen ID.4 in the United States, it will start in its launch version at $39,990, from which the interested parties can subtract the public aid of $7,500 from the government, which without counting on the aid offered by some states, the final cost will be around $32,400.
Prices for the launch version correspond to the intermediate variant with a 58 kWh battery, which will also be manufactured in Germany. A model is already preparing its facilities in Chattanooga, Tennesse, where the American variant will come out 2022. Something that is expected to allow them to reduce the cost of the vehicle.
For its part, the cheapest Toyota Rav4 starts at $26,050. A figure that rises to $28,500 for the most accessible hybrid version. In the case of opting for the plug-in hybrid version, the cost shoots up to $38,100.
Differences that do not seem too big and that will undoubtedly mean that many of those who were thinking of going for a Toyota or Honda SUV are considering rethinking the operation and going for an electric one like the ID.4 that will certainly hit one of the most profitable segments for manufacturers.