2026 Volkswagen ID.4 EV to get new face, more buttons – report

Volkswagen is looking to address key customer feedback regarding its ID.3 and ID.4 electric vehicles (EVs), with the brand’s global technical boss hinting at a second round of major updates in the coming 12-18 months.

Speaking with Britain’s Autocar, Volkswagen’s head of technical development Kai Grünitz confirmed the ID.3 hatchback and ID.4 SUV will get a new look inspired by the ID.2all concept for a “lower and squatter stance”, as well as revamped interiors with plans for physical buttons and knobs in place of the current touch-sensitive controls.

These significant changes come after both the ID.3 and ID.4 received comprehensive technology updates in the last year or so, keeping the pair of EVs fresh until the latter stages of this decade. The ID.3 is understood to be getting retired around 2028, set to be replaced by the all-electric version of the ninth-generation VW Golf.

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Above: Volkswagen ID.2all Concept

“We’re going to bring back a round knob for the volume control. If you develop something that works, and it has worked for years, there’s no reason to replace it,” an insider told the British publication.

The facelifted Volkswagen ID.3 is expected to debut during the second quarter of 2026, with the updated ID.4 (and potentially ID.5) to follow later in the year.

The production ID.2 – as well as the related Cupra Raval and Skoda Epiq, are also scheduled for launch globally sometime in 2026. With that in mind, expect an Australian introduction very late in 2026 or sometime in 2027.

It’s no secret VW has copped flack for its display- and capacitive touch-heavy cabin controls since the launch of the Mk8 Golf and ID.3 at the beginning of the decade.

The brand’s CEO, Thomas Schäfer, has previously said the move to touch-capacitive controls “frustrated” customers and “definitely did a lot of damage” to Volkswagen’s standing among loyal customers.

The Golf, ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5 have all been recently updated with new software interfaces to improve usability, but the ID.2all concept marked a return to the tactile and ergo-friendly cockpits the German brand has long been lauded for.

Above: Volkswagen ID.3 (top)Volkswagen ID.4 (bottom)

However, while the improved virtual controls have been well received, it appears VW isn’t satisfied enough with the market’s response and aims to keep improving the cabin quality and tactility of its EV family for the remainder of their respective lifecycles.

No doubt the design and ergonomic changes will launch the next era for Volkswagen, and set the tone for subsequent product launches such as the aforementioned Mk9 Golf and future updates for recently launched models like the Tiguan and Passat.

Similarly, related vehicles from across the wider VW Group under the Cupra and Skoda brands will no doubt eventually see similar changes in the future due to the sharing of componentry both in the cabin and under the skin.

Autocar’s report says the updated ID. models will also get performance and efficiency improvements – though the finer details are still to be confirmed – through “more technically advanced electric motors and more contemporary battery and inverter technology”.

The comprehensive facelifts, as well as the launch of its new entry-level EVs, are claimed to be part of VW’s broader plan to extend the lifespan of its current 400V MEB architecture and keep VW atop Europe’s EV sales charts.

Above: Volkswagen Golf R Mk8.5

Its understood the brand’s next-generation 800V SSP (Scalable Systems Platform) dedicated electric architecture is being readied for a 2028 release, likely debuting under the Mk9 Golf hatchback.

The Golf EV – it’s unclear whether it will revive the e-Golf nameplate or introduce the ID. Golf name – will commence production at VW’s Wolfsburg plant, with production of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Golf models to be shifted to Mexico.

A previous report by Autocar says VW has committed to selling ICE and hybrid Golf models through to the European Union’s (EU) ban on the sale of new vehicles with ICE powertrains in 2035, which remains in place despite resistance from some political groups in Europe.

This would make the Mk8 Golf, launched in 2019, the longest-serving generation of the iconic nameplate to serve in new-car showrooms, stretching to 16 years – though it’s expected to receive a significant refresh to align it with the SSP-based Mk9 Golf at the end of this decade.

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