ID.4 Sales Gain Ground as VW Holds Pricing
Volkswagen’s Q3 2025 results show a noticeable uptick for the ID.4, which jumped 176 percent year-over-year with 12,470 units sold. It was one of the few bright spots in VW’s US lineup, which saw overall sales fall 6 percent for the quarter. Beneath the surface, timing likely played a role. The expiration of federal EV tax credits earlier in the year pushed many buyers to finalize EV purchases sooner than planned, and the ID.4 was one of the models that benefited from that rush.
With that momentum in mind, Volkswagen appears to be keeping its 2026 strategy simple: hold pricing steady for most trims and avoid resetting the model’s value pitch – even with updates added for the new model year. Most of the lineup carries over unchanged in both range and pricing, which should help keep the ID.4 on shopping lists. But there is one important change for buyers watching their budgets.
The Base Model Quietly Goes Away
The most affordable ID.4 – the Limited trim – has been dropped after just one model year. The Limited was the cheapest way into the ID.4 badge, priced at $39,995 for 2025. It also offered the shortest range at 206 miles, and it usually came with weaker incentives than the higher trims.
With the Limited now discontinued, the Pro trim becomes the new base model for 2026. That pushes the effective starting price to $45,095 before destination, or $46,570 with fees included. While Volkswagen didn’t technically raise the sticker price, removing the lower-cost configuration increases the minimum spend required to get into an ID.4 by $5,100. It keeps pricing consistent on paper, but changes the perception of value for entry-level shoppers.
The ID.4 Faces a Cheaper Set of Rivals
The bigger story is how the ID.4 now sits relative to its competitors. The 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E starts at $37,795. The Tesla Model Y Standard lands at $39,990. Hyundai cuts even deeper: the 2026 Ioniq 5 begins at $35,000 for the standard-range model and $37,500 for the 318-mile version.
The ID.4 Pro still offers a respectable 291-mile range, unchanged from 2025, but the segment has moved quickly. Without the tax credits that once helped soften its effective pricing, the ID.4 is going to be a tough sell, especially for those in the market for a base model EV without comparing features and range. Incentives will remain crucial for Volkswagen, especially as competitors widen the gap on both pricing and perceived value.
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