VW ID.4 will have 2,200lb towing capacity, 2,700 for AWD model

VW’s online configurator for the ID.4 is out, and a new detail has emerged about the car’s towing capabilities. It looks like all ID.4 models will have some towing capability, with the RWD model sporting 2,200lb capacity and the AWD model 2,700lbs. All models will have roof rails as an additional exterior storage solution.

The AWD model will be available mid-2021 as a $3,680 upgrade, for a base price of $43,675 before incentives.

The RWD and AWD models differ significantly in power, with the RWD clocking in at 201hp while the AWD should put out around 300hp. This difference in power, along with increased traction from an AWD drivetrain, should make the AWD more capable in towing situations allowing it to have a higher towing capacity.

The configurator states that the ID.4’s tow capacity should only be used with a braked trailer but suggests a visit to the Owner’s Manual (which is not yet available) for more information:

Maximum tow rating for braked trailer only when equipped with appropriate third-party trailer brake controller and factory-installed towing hitch. Vehicle load, other accessories, and options may reduce maximum towing capacity. See vehicle Owner’s Manual for details.

This is not a particularly high-tow capacity for American standards, but on European cars a 1,000kg (2,200lb) tow capacity is quite common. There are a lot of small trailers and caravans available in Europe that fall under this capacity. Even the Tesla Model 3 can get a tow hitch in Europe, with a comparable towing capacity. Though the ID.4’s tow capacity, for either model, is lower than the more-directly-competing Model Y’s 3,500lb capacity.

VW has hyped up the ID.4’s towing and rough-road capabilities recently, posting a YouTube video a few weeks ago showing the SUV tackling difficult terrain and towing a small trailer:

There has been some confusion about the ID.4’s towing capacity, with several numbers making their way around the internet. Previously, “1,900kg” had been floated around, but now that the configurator is live, we finally have some real numbers.

Some of this confusion comes from a typo on VW’s configurator, which shows no towing capacity in the headline specs of the RWD model but 2,200lbs towing capacity for the AWD model. But digging further into the very bottom line of the back specs page for either model, the RWD is listed as having a 2,220lb capacity and AWD as 2,700lbs.

Further, VW has this passage in their FAQ:

Can the ID.4 tow?

Yes, when equipped with a factory installed tow hitch the 1st Edition of the ID.4 are rated to tow 2200 lbs. (with braked trailers) and all AWD versions of the ID.4 are rated to tow 2700 lbs. (with braked trailers).

This FAQ excludes the RWD “Pro” trim from discussion about towing capabilities, despite the Pro trim’s specs showing a 2,200lb towing capacity.

So we still have somewhat conflicting information about towing capacity and which capacity comes with which models, but it seems likely that RWD = 2,200lbs and AWD = 2,700lbs.

Preorders for the ID.4 opened last week and VW’s “First Edition” trim sold out almost immediately, though only a few thousand are allocated to the US. We can presume that “Pro” models are selling briskly enough, though anyone who needs a tow hitch will have to wait until next summer or thereabouts.

The ID.4 “Pro” trim with RWD is priced at $39,995 before incentives, which means it will be available for closer to $30k in many states. The AWD drivetrain is an additional $3,680 option. EPA range has not yet been confirmed for the AWD model, but the RWD model has an 82kWh battery pack for 250 miles of range from a 201hp motor.

VW says a smaller-battery version will also be available mid-2021.

This article has been updated with more information on towing capacities, after clearing up confusion and typos in VW’s configurator. Thanks to our eagle-eyed readers for pointing these conflicts out.