Background
So far, there have been three eras in Volkswagen's history. The first post-war period of the Beetle. The second modern era, dominated by the company's biggest-selling model, the Golf. And the third EV period, which started back in 2019 with this car, the ID.3, the first of many products from the Wolfsburg maker's new ID all-electric sub-brand.
Prior to the ID.3, we'd had all-electric Volkswagens before (the e-Golf and the e-up!) but they'd been based on the underpinnings of ordinary combustion models. The ID range was to be very different, created around a purpose-designed MEB electrified platform and built at a bespoke EV factory in Zwickau near Dresden. By early 2023, over 300,000 ID.3s had been sold, but all hadn't gone to plan. There were software development issues, problems with safety features and issues with screen-sensitive icons. Plus journalists often felt the cabin was finished rather cheaply.
All of which led to Volkswagen rushing forward a package of mid-term updates just three and a half years after the car was originally shown for the first time at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. Is it all enough for this ID.3 to deserve a second look? Let's find out.
Driving Experience
Let's cover what you need to know. There are three choices of powertrain for mainstream versions of this revised ID.3. Things kick off with a base 170PS motor energised by a 52kWh battery offering a range of up to 240 miles. Most ID.3 customers choose the mid-level 'Pro' powertrain, which uses a 204PS motor with a 58kWh battery that takes the car up to 265 miles and manages 62mph from rest in 7.3s. The top 'Pro S' powertrain has the same 204PS motor, but mates it to a larger 77kWh battery with a range of up to346 miles; 62mph takes 7.7s.
As before, all models drive the rear wheels through a single-speed auto gearbox. And all mainstream variants have the same limited 99mph top speed. Very different is the flagship 326PS GTX Performance model, which has a single rear motor with 326PS but tuned steering and suspension and sprints to 62mph in just 5.7s en route to 112mph. The GTX has a 369 mile range from its 77kWh battery.
In an ID.3, to fire everything up, you hit the starter button, then activate the gear selector, a rocker switch mounted on the steering column that twists in two directions: it's forward for 'drive' and the braking regeneration modes, And you twist back for neutral and reverse. Acceleration has been programmed to be linear and consistent rather than arriving all-in-a-rush. And weight has been kept to reasonable levels (1,670kgs is relatively light for an EV) which helps handling. As is compulsory for EVs, there's a pedestrian warning buzzer which works at under 12mph to warn pavement folk of your approach. The super-tight 10.2-metre turning circle is closer to that of an up! city car than a Golf.
Design and Build
The exterior changes made as part of the 2023 upodate were subtle, but quite effective. There's a re-profiled front bumper with vertical air ducts. Plus a re-shaped bonnet, based around a completely new pressing that does away with the previous black panel below the windscreen to give the car a more elongated appearance and a sleeker drag coefficient. The tail lamps are different too, with distinctively-illuminating X-shaped daytime running lights and smarter scrolling indicators. Otherwise, things are much as before, which sees this as a slightly larger car than a comparable Golf. And this EV is 60mm taller than a Golf too, thanks to the need for battery installation in the thicker floor. There's a swept-back windscreen (raked to better accommodate the head-up display system).
Inside, the mid-life changes are much more evident, highlighted by a larger 12-inch central screen in place of the previous 10-inch monitor. This works with an optional cloud-based speech recognition system, now upgraded to provide faster reaction times, while the optional Head-up display now supports augmented reality functions. The animal-free triming seems quite a bit more up-market - and appropriate for the relatively high prices Volkswagen wants here. Higher-grade plastics feature on the lower part of the dash (not before time), while higher-specified variants get smarter materials for the upper part of the dash too.
As before, there are plenty of stowage cubbies and a decently-sized central storage bin resides between the front seats. Due to a 145mm wheelbase increase over a Golf, rear seat room is almost Passat-like, but you don't get a huge boot, though the 385-litre capacity will be sufficient for most.
Market and Model
Volkswagen's goal with the ID.3 was to make the switch to full-EV motoring more affordable for more people - but that's not going to happen until it's quite a bit cheaper than it is right now. Expect pricing to start at around £31,000 for the base 52kWh 'Pure Essential' version, also offered in plusher 'Match' form for just over £32,000. The core 58kWh 204PS 'Pro Essential' version costs from around £36,000. You'll need just under £1,000 more for the same car with plusher 'Match' trim; and the 77kWh 'Pro S Essential' model is priced from around £39,000 (again 'Match' trim is around £1,000 more). The top 326PS GTX Performance version is much pricier - around £46,000.
All models get Matrix LED headlamps, keyless entry, diamond-turned alloy wheels of at least 18-inches in size, 'Air Care' 'Climatronic' air conditioning, ambient lighting and a removeable luggage compartment floor. A 12-inch centre-dash infotainment screen is now standard across the range and features a neat 'touch-sensitive bar', using which you can swipe across various screen zones to control both stereo volume and cabin temperature. Volkswagen's latest natural voice control system also features, enabling you to ask the car virtually anything as long as you preface it by "Hello Volkswagen". We'd want to specify the clever head-up display system, which projects augmented-reality navigation arrows, hazard alerts and pedestrian detection messages onto the inside of the windscreen in front of you as you drive.
The new model also marks the introduction of option packs, which are available for both trims and group together popular options according to personal preferences. The Exterior Pack, for example, allows new two-part LED tail light clusters on the tailgate instead of reflectors. When it comes to paint and trim design, there's a new colour - 'Dark Olivine Green', an iridescent metallic paint shade that changes appearance depending on ambient lighting conditions: one minute it looks an earthy green, the next it offers a warm golden glow, or a chic grey. The roof with this finish is completely black and the roof trim strip is finished in high-quality matt silver to emphasise the paint colour.
Cost of Ownership
The brand has increased the ID.3's maximum DC rapid-charging rate with the 77kWh 'Pro S' battery from 125kW to 170kW. The 58kWh 'Pro' battery charges at up to 165kW. The base 52kWh battery charges at up to 145kW. As before, Volkswagen reckons that a typical ID.3 user will save about £730 a year in operating expenses over what they'd pay to run a comparable combustion-engined model. It's not only that your energy costs will be lower: you should also make savings in insurance, road tax and the fact that no oil changes are required. Volkswagen says that its aim is to make sure that the battery pack lasts as long as the car and, sure enough, that battery pack is warrantied to have at least 70% of its usable capacity after eight years or 100,000 miles.
As usual with an EV, around 80% of charging will be done via programmable overnight replenishment using owners' garage wallboxes - bespoke versions of these are available through Volkswagen. With the 58kWh version, a 7.4kW wallbox will charge the car in 9 hours 15 mins (12 hours 15 mins for the 77kWh version). Out and about, in the unlikely event that you find a 100kW rapid charger, around 180 miles-worth of electricity can be taken on board in just 30 minutes. The 58kWh 'Pro' model takes on 5-80% of charge in 35 minutes, while the 77kWh 'Pro S' needs only 30 minutes.