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Volkswagen’s modern naming convention adds a bunch of funky new prefixes. They’re not super intuitive to decode, like its ID. line of EV cars and SUVs. One of the most misunderstood, and enigmatic, is the new IQ.Drive system. What is IQ.DRIVE and what does it mean?

What is IQ.DRIVE?

2023 ID.4 logo
VW ID.4 SUV | Volkswagen

Every manufacturer has a branded driver’s assistance system. In VW’s case, that’s the IQ.DRIVE system for its cars and SUVs. The IQ.DRIVE system combines cameras and sensors to help a driver stay safer. The system combines several common features, like adaptive cruise control that uses sensors to detect cars ahead and keep a safe distance. It also has lane keep assist, a front assist feature that monitors the road and can brake the car on its own, it also has a rear traffic alert that can spot cars behind you when you’re backing up.

One of the most talked about features is VW’s Travel Assist, which is VW’s semi-automated driving system. It can help keep the car in lane, speed up or slow down to keep you with the flow of traffic and monitor for dangers. If a driver is distracted, it can brake and steer to avoid a pedestrian, for example. The system also allows over-the-air updates.

Is VW IQ drive standard?

A turquoise Volkswagen ID.4 EV parked in front of the harbor of a greek island.
Volkswagen ID.4 | Volkswagen

VW IQ.DRIVE is not standard on all VWs. Today, IQ.Drive can be found on most VW cars and SUVs. It’s standard on the ID.4 SUV and the 2023 Volkswagen Areton, however. For most vehicles, it’s part of an upgrade package. The ID.Buzz van, ID.5 sedan, and ID.8 SUV will all have the system, as well.

Today, VW makes several SUVs, sedans and small hatchbacks.

How much is Volkswagen IQ drive?

The IQ.DRIVE system is standard on the company’s electric vehicles. However, if you get a gas-powered VW, you’ll need to order an upgrade package to get the system. On the best-selling VW Tiguan three-row SUV, for example, the standard S version, which starts at $28,245 does not come with IQ.DRIVE. However, for $895 you can add the system as a stand-alone option. Other, more expensive, versions of the Tiguan have the system standard.

The Atlas seven-passenger SUV, VW’s second-bestselling vehicle according to Car Sales Statistics, also offers IQ.DRIVE. The large three-row SUV starts at $35,150, but it’s only an option on top-line trims.

What is VW’s 4Motion?

A green 2022 Volkswagen Atlas midsize SUV is driving off-road.
The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas | Volkswagen

Many assume that IQ Drive adds four-wheel drive to a VW. It doesn’t. Instead, VW’s four-wheel drive system is called 4Motion. 4Motion comes in several flavors, depending on which car you get, but you wouldn’t notice a difference on the road.

VW’s smaller models, like the Golf, that is normally a front-wheel drive car, get a system built by Haldex. This system uses an electronic clutch system to send power to the rear wheels. Others, like the brand’s SUVs, get a Torsen system, which is always active and puts power front-to-rear depending on mechanical grip. For all-wheel drive in its electric cars, VW simply adds a second motor to add power.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.