Tesla Model Y vs Volkswagen ID.4: Specs Compared
Also searched as Volkswagen ID.4 vs Tesla Model Y specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Tesla Model Y is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 138 mpg combined versus 113 mpg for the Volkswagen ID.4, a 25 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Tesla Model Y leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2020–2026
Tesla Model Y
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 27 configurations
2021–2026
Volkswagen ID.4
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 29 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Tesla Model Y | Volkswagen ID.4 |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 138 mpg ✓ | 113 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 148 mpg ✓ | 122 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 129 mpg ✓ | 104 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $550 ✓ | $650 |
| Lowest CO2 output | Not available | Not available |
| Engines offered | Not available | Not available |
| Transmissions | Automatic (A1) | Automatic (A1) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Electricity |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| Years covered | 2020–2026 | 2021–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 27 | 29 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Tesla Model Y vs Volkswagen ID.4 dimensions and size
The Tesla Model Y is 8.3 inches longer than the Volkswagen ID.4 on a wheelbase 4.7 inches longer, and 24.3 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Tesla Model Y (2026) | Volkswagen ID.4 (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 188.6 in | 180.3 in | 8.3 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 78 in | 72.8 in | 5.1 in |
| Height | 63.8 in | 64.6 in | 0.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 113.8 in | 109.1 in | 4.7 in |
| Curb weight | 4,363 lbs | 4,339 lbs | 24 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Tesla Model Y vs Volkswagen ID.4: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Tesla Model Y burns about $550 of fuel annually against $650 for the Volkswagen ID.4. That $100 yearly gap compounds to roughly $500 over five years and $800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City and highway economy: the Tesla Model Y leads in both cycles — 148 mpg city and 129 mpg highway against 122 and 104 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.
Drivetrain and class: the Tesla Model Y is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, the Volkswagen ID.4 with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Model Y vs ID.4: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Tesla Model Y or the Volkswagen ID.4?
The Tesla Model Y is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 138 mpg combined versus 113 mpg for the Volkswagen ID.4, a 25 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Tesla Model Y runs about $550 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $650 for the Volkswagen ID.4 — a difference of roughly $100 per year.
What engines do the Model Y and ID.4 offer?
Tesla Model Y: no engine data on record. Volkswagen ID.4: no engine data on record.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Tesla Model Y as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Volkswagen ID.4 as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Model Y comparisons
More ID.4 comparisons
Comparison id: tesla-model-y-vs-volkswagen-id4