Which EV would you pick? We let Gavin greenofrichmond loose on the latest Kia EV6, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4 🤔
), which uses a three-pin plug to provide mobile charging, perfect for camping. It can even charge another EV via an external adaptor.The top-of-the range GT-Line S AWD. There are three trim levels and a choice of rear- or all-wheel-drive. The RWD models give a better range – up to 328 miles claimed – while the dual-motor AWDs accelerate harder. The entry-level Air is well equipped, with nav-based smart cruise control.
A Mustang-vs-Kia comparison shows how momentously the car world has changed. Our final protagonist comes from Volkswagen, whose hasty transformation from diesel diehard to EV evangelist is surely the most astonishing makeover in car industry history. Today, we're driving the new ID.4 GTX, the first electric VW to use the new 'performance' GTX badge. VW says GTX is the electric equivalent of GTI, and points out that the ID.4 GTX accelerates harder than a Golf GTI.
The seats are slim, handsome and comfortable, trimmed in black suede and white vegan-leather bolsters. On our top-spec GT-Line S, the front chairs are also ventilated, heated and have electric lumbar adjustment. At almost £52,000 as tested, this is not a cheap car but, inside it looks 50-grand special, complemented by an excellent Meridian sound system.
The AWD model uses a 226bhp rear motor and 99bhp front motor. Combine the torque of the two and you get 446lb ft, the meatiest of this trio. The Kia feels the fastest, too, and is over a second quicker to 62mph. But does it feel sporty? Is it fun to drive? Not really. It's fast and composed and sure-footed but, as with all electric cars, the driving smiles are hindered by the car's sheer bulk – almost 2.1 tonnes, including half a tonne of lithium-ion batteries.
Let's try the ID.4. The GTX is supposedly the electric GTI, and to give it suitable oomph they've fitted twin e-motors for a combined output of 295bhp – about 30bhp shy of the Kia's. As the Volkswagen is also heavier, by well over 100kg, it doesn't have quite the kick of the Kia. The Volkswagen feels a cheaper car inside than the Kia, with none of the distinctive shapes, textures or trims that distinguish the EV6. It will feel familiar to Golf owners but there's none of the Tomorrow's World cabin boldness brandished by the EV6 or any Tesla – or the Mustang. The rear seat is spacious, though not as roomy as the EV6's. The touchscreen is significantly less intuitive and looks less special. Response time is also slower, the menus more confused.
The Mustang styling cues include the long bonnet – unnecessary as it houses charging cables, not a thundering 5.0-litre V8. It helps make the Mustang longer than the EV6 but also smaller inside. There's the prominent front Mustang motif in the grille , and the Mustang-esque hips and tail-end treatment including tail lights and a hint of fastback. It looks distinctive, and people stop and ask about it. It's a car of character, if not beauty.
It drives the best, has the classiest cabin and the most advanced electronics, and is the most comfortable on broken B-roads or smooth motorways. It's a striking looking car and shows the many upsides of EV ownership, not least a cabin that's outstandingly space-efficient.