2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The Volkswagen ID.4 electric car is still relatively new to the marketplace (it debuted for the 2021 model year) but VW is already making some important updates to keep it competitive and fulfil goals set when this compact electric SUV first launched.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 adds a new base model and a smaller 62-kilowatt-hour battery pack alongside the carryover 82-kWh to increase affordability. VW will also begin sourcing cars for its North American dealerships from the same Chattanooga, Tennessee, factory that builds the gasoline-powered Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport. The automaker has been discussing this since the ID.4 was unveiled, but at first cars for our market came from Zwickau, Germany.

The 2023 ID.4 retains single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) and dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrain options, but gets revised exterior and interior styling, some software changes, and a few more standard tech features and driver aids.

The new-for-2023 base model is dubbed simply ID.4, slotting below the ID.4 Pro and ID.4 Pro AWD. We recently spent a day on a test drive with the U.S. equivalent of the ID.4 Pro AWD model, along with a shorter drive in a base ID.4 model.

Sheer practicality defines the 2023 Subaru Forester, a compact crossover SUV where form follows function without fail. In turn, the 2023 Forester possesses the power to make your life easier in nearly every respect. From its standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and generous ground clearance to its roomy interior and sizable cargo hold, it effortlessly tackles most daily tasks with a shrug.

This year, Subaru continues to refine the Forester, adding next-generation EyeSight safety features and an improved standard infotainment system. Unfortunately, though, the Forester still lacks a turbocharged engine option or an electrified drivetrain.