Volkswagen’s new ID.4 EV soothes drivers with a subtle (and literal) guiding light

While driving around in Volkswagen’s newest electric vehicle, the ID.4 compact SUV, for the past few days, I was bombarded with an information overload from two different screens behind the steering wheel and one on the center dashboard. But there was one unexpected alert system that proved to be less overwhelming and even calming: a silent, pulsating light strip.

The EV, which arrives next month, will subject drivers to a host of sensory distractions, some of which include notices on battery range, speed, vibration alerts when the car veers into the road shoulder, a wireless charging notification for smartphones, currently playing music or podcast tracks, and your current driving route, among others. 

During my test run, I had turned off the disruptive turn-by-turn notifications while using Volkswagen’s proprietary map app. But even with the map muted, when I used the Volkswagen navigation system on the 12-inch touch infotainment display, I noticed a subtle line of bright white light would illuminate the bottom sliver of the windshield. 

This is the ID.Light, an interactive light strip that’s intended to help drivers with simple visual cues to indicate turns or alert you if you’re getting too close to the car ahead. Initially, it seemed like yet another feature vying for my attention; I didn’t think it would be useful. But it actually helped me focus and tune out the onslaught of digital distractions.

The ID.Light system is included in all versions of the all-electric ID.4, which starts at $39,995 for the base “Pro” version. I was road testing the sold-out “1st Edition,” which arrives soon for $43,995 and is rated for 250 miles of range on a 82 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

With so much else going on in the car to distract my eyes — like the customizable ambient lighting along the dashboard and door panels, and the personalized grid arrangement on the touchscreen interface — I didn’t really expect to focus on the light strip. 

But the light bar interacts with you gently and unobtrusively. Instead of another alert or ping, it’s a silent, smooth pulse, powered by 54 LED lights that illuminate for various functions while driving. 

When using the voice assistant system, this light bar would vibrate to show it was listening. When I plugged the car in at a public station to recharge it, the windshield would light up to indicate it was charging and to show the battery level. When someone called, the light bar would pulse in tandem with the ringing.

It’s during navigation, however, that the ID.Light becomes most useful. Just before making a turn, the light would slide across the windshield to either the left or the right, depending on the destination. It functioned as a complementary alert to the directions already displayed on both screens. 

At one point during a drive, I had unintentionally exited out of map mode while arriving at a stop sign. Instead of fumbling with the display to swipe back to the map for the next direction, I knew to turn left because the light bar was pulsating to the left. It’s a subtle guide, but after using the car for a few hours, it’s something I came to really appreciate. 

Volkswagen’s soothing ID.Light system is a welcome respite from the audible pings and bevy of notifications about range, regenerative braking, and lane-keeping that clutter the EV driving experience. It’s a touch of zen to an otherwise overwhelming ride.