Software Update Improves Our Long-Term 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

The Volkswagen ID.4 is the automaker's first U.S.-bound vehicle designed from the ground up to be an electric vehicle. The small electric SUV debuted for 2021, and we felt it was so significant, we quickly added a 2021 ID.4 to our long-term test fleet. Back in January, we were able to get an update installed to our ID.4 that VW said would make some improvements.

This is version 3.1.0 that VW is applying to 2021 ID.4s plus select 2022 models. It's a dealer-installed update rather than an over-the-air update. According to VW, the update adds: 1) enhanced ability to search for Electrify America charging stations and plan routes using those stations using the onboard navigation system; 2) an auto-hold braking function; 3) more information displayed in the driver's instrument panel; and 4) "minor bug fixes."

I drove our ID.4 for a couple of weeks to see how much of a difference these updates made. Here's my report on each.

Yep, some bugs have been fixed

Volkswagen wrote an entire press release about the 3.1.0 update, and near the end of the release, almost as a throwaway statement, is this: "Also included in the upgrade are minor bug fixes, along with security improvements." It's amusing to me because this is actually the most significant thing about the whole update. It'd be like Bruce Wayne issuing a press release about Wayne Enterprises' financials and then, at the very end, closing with, "Oh, also, I'm Batman."

Volkswagen didn't explain what those bug fixes were, but it's apparent that they relate to the infotainment system. Take a look at our coverage of our ID.4 and you'll find plenty of negative commentary about the touchscreen and, specifically, the infotainment system's buggy wireless smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto). It was so bad and broken that it was effectively unusable.

Pleasingly, the touchscreen system is better now. Plugging in my iPhone now consistently brings up the CarPlay interface, for instance. But it's still too slow to boot up in my opinion, taking at times upwards of 30 seconds from when you first get into the car to when CarPlay finally loads.

I also noticed that Volkswagen adjusted the activation for the lane keeping system. Before, it would automatically turn on when you started the car, even if you had turned it off previously. I didn't like the way the system worked so I had a ritual of going through the touchscreen's menu to turn it off before I even started driving. Now it stays off when you turn it off. Win!