Volkswagen ID.3 (2023-) Review

Introduction

The Volkswagen ID.3 was heralded as the future when it arrived in 2020. Here, finally, was the electric car that would eventually replace the Golf as VW’s flagship family hatchback. And while that hasn’t quite materialised – electric car sales haven’t killed off conventional combustion cars yet – the ID.3 has certainly made an impact on the market. So much so, in fact, that the ranks of electric hatchbacks have swollen noticeably since the ID.3 first hit the market.

Against that background, the ID.3 has been revamped, getting a slightly sportier design and a more premium interior, as well as a different specification. As upgrades go, it isn’t massive, but the ID.3 was already a frontrunner in its class, and Volkswagen will be hoping subtle tweaks are all the ID.3 needs to keep its place in the leading pack. The question is, will that prove to be the case?

At a Glance

The differences to the ID.3’s deign are subtle – the basic shape remains much as it was – but the new bonnet and more aggressive grille have given it an altogether sportier look. There are new lights, too, adding to the overall impression of a modern and sophisticated electric family car.

Inside, meanwhile, the changes are less prominent. More premium materials dominate the dashboard, and VW will eventually launch a big new touchscreen, but for now the focus is on quality and sustainability. VW has certainly improved some of the cabin materials, and there cabin is now animal product free as standard.

Cabin space is decent, too, with the same competitively sized boot as before and more than enough room to sit four adults in comfort. Combine that with a mature ride (assuming you stick with the 58kWh battery) and it’s a very pleasant mode of family transport.

For those wanting to go further afield, though, the Pro S model with its larger battery may prove more appealing. The official range of well over 300 miles on a charge is optimistic, but it should easily cover more than 200 miles between trips to the plug. The only downside is the weight of the cells make the car slightly less comfortable at low speeds.

Key Features

Perhaps the most important aspect of the new ID.3 is its new look, which includes new bumpers with sportier, more aggressive and more aerodynamically active shapes, as well as some new lights and a new bonnet. It doesn’t sound like much, but it has helped the ID.3 become noticeably more modern and cleaner than ever before, ensuring the rounded design stays up to date despite the somewhat newer rivals.

Similarly, the revamped interior also plays a part. Whereas the old car was hamstrung by some of its interior materials, the new version has moved to improve things with more tactile dashboard trim. It’s a partial success – in places it only really serves to highlight the shortcomings of other parts of the cabin – but it’s largely an improvement, giving customers a slightly more upmarket interior to enjoy. Better still, you can enjoy it without the guilt, because VW is keen to point out there are no animal products in the ID.3’s cabin at all.

Range & Batteries

VW is offering the revamped ID.3 with a choice of two different battery packs. The Pro model has a 58kWh pack, allowing it to cover 265 miles on a single charge, according to the official economy test. On the right roads – around town, we mean – it might get close to that, but you’ll be doing well to regularly top 200 miles on longer journeys. The larger 77kWh battery is standard for the Pro S model, and that increases the official range to 347 miles. Again, you might struggle to top 300 miles on the regular, but it should make it past 200 without too much trouble.

If range is your priority, you can find our list of this years longest range EVs in our guide.

Performance & Drive

No matter which version of the ID.3 you choose, it’s only currently available with one electric motor – a 204hp power unit that drives the rear wheels alone. With more than 200hp in such a compact car, the ID.3 is pretty potent for something of this size, allowing the Pro to get from 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 99mph. The Pro S, meanwhile, offers predictably similar performance.

But while the two versions might offer similar performance, there’s a noticeable difference in the way they drive. With a heavier battery on board, the Pro S is slightly less supple than its shorter-range sibling, feeling a little stiffer and less compliant around town. There, the weight of the battery seems to drag the Pro S over the other side of bumps quite sharply, causing a slightly jarring ride.

At higher speeds, the Pro S seems to settle down a bit, returning to inoffensive ride of the Pro model. Both vehicles are perfectly comfortable on the motorway or a fast A-road, but the Pro feels a bit more composed around town, with a little bit of body movement allowing it to soak up the undulations quite happily.

That body movement causes a few issues when you want to drive with a bit more verve on a good back road, and that environment really isn’t the ID.3’s home. Not only does it roll in corners, but the steering is a bit too light to really provide much in the way of engagement. Happily, though, the ID.3 is much better around town, where the light steering makes it feel manoeuvrable, rather than vague.

Charging

How the ID.3 charges will largely depend on which model you pick. Not only will the 58kWh want less energy from the plug, but it charges more slowly. Both vehicles charge at up to 11kWh from a domestic charging point (assuming you have a three-phase electricity supply) but the Pro will manage 120kW from a public charger. The Pro S, however, will take on charge at 170kW, allowing for more rapid charging relative to the size of its battery. But even a 7kW home charging unit should easily fill the ID.3 overnight.

Be sure to get the most out of every charge by consulting our guide to picking your ideal electric car charger.

Running Costs & Emissions

Of course, charging overnight at home is almost always going to be the cheapest way of running any electric vehicle – especially if you have cheap-rate off-peak electricity. And because the ID.3’s batteries aren’t especially big by the standards of other long-range electric cars, it shouldn’t prove ruinous to run. However, charging on a fast public charge point, where you can take advantage of the 170kW maximum speed, will prove significantly more expensive. Arguably the best bit, though, is the low company car tax rates attracted by electric cars such as the ID.3. Of course, that applies to most of the car’s rivals, too, but it’s still going to prove relatively cheap to run for a car with a list price approaching £40,000.

Interior & Technology

Volkswagen has tried to address press concerns about the early ID.3 models’ cheap cabin materials, fitting more foam-padded plastics on the dashboard and generally improving the quality on show. To an extent, it has been successful – the dashboard is certainly more tactile than before – but it still isn’t problem-free. For a kick-off, the more upmarket dash only goes to highlight shortfalls in other areas, not least the cheap plastics on the glovebox and centre console.

As before, though, the ID.3’s cabin design is still minimalist and modern, with just a few items of switchgear joining the central touchscreen and the small digital instrument display. In truth, neither screen is particularly jaw-dropping – the instrument display is cramped and the touchscreen’s menus are a bit confusing in places – but it’s more stable than the old ID.3’s tech, which was prone to the occasional hissy fit.

Instead, it’s more likely to be the driver having a hissy fit, with irritating touch-sensitive sliders used to control volume and temperature. They’re fiddly at best, but because VW still hasn’t thought to backlight them, they’re basically impossible to use at night. Apparently backlighting will come later, with the introduction of an even bigger central touchscreen on the horizon.

But while the ID.3’s tech might have some customers pulling their hair out, the environmentalists will have no problem with it at all. That’s because the ID.3 now comes with an interior made with recycled and recyclable materials, but no animal products at all, in a bid to satisfy customer demand for greater sustainability.

Practicality & Boot Space

Because VW hasn’t changed the ID.3’s basic structure, the car is just as practical as before, with a 385-litre boot that exactly matches the VW’s closest rival, the Cupra Born. It’s also more spacious than the luggage bays in the MG4 EV and the BYD Dolphin, and it’s very slightly larger than the boot in the petrol-powered Volkswagen Golf. In short, it’s one of the most capacious boots in the electric family hatchback market.

Cabin space is pretty good, too, although the very tallest drivers and front-seat passengers might find their heads getting perilously close to the roof lining. However, for the vast majority of passengers, the headroom will be perfectly adequate and the same goes for rear legroom, which is more than generous enough. Few other models in this class offer such a mixture of cabin and boot space.

Safety

The ID.3 has a very solid safety rating, achieving five stars in the Euro NCAP crash test. Admittedly, the car tested was the outgoing model, with different bumpers and a modified bonnet, but the cars are structurally much the same. That means you can rest assured the ID.3 is a pretty safe bit of kit, with solid performances in every category, even if it didn’t set the scoreboard alight in any one area.

And anyway, in the ideal world you’ll never have to put the crash structures to the test. The ID.3 comes with lots of tech to help prevent accidents happening in the first place, including lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control that maintains a safe distance to the car in front. VW has fitted little glass panels in the front roof pillars, too, although there’s still a noticeable blind spot for customers to be wary of.

Options

VW is offering the ID.3 in a choice of two trim levels, but both come with a reasonable amount of standard equipment, and they’re inextricably linked to their battery sizes. The basic Pro model gets a 58kWh battery pack, while the Pro S ups that to 77kWh. Both versions, however, come with the central touchscreen and digital instrument display, as well as the digital instrument display and two-zone climate control. Front and rear parking sensors are standard, too, and you get keyless entry and start across the range. Pro S versions, meanwhile, add a heated steering wheel, sportier upholstery and a handful of other choice options.

Rival Cars

When the ID.3 was launched back in 2020, it faced a fairly small selection of competitors, but that number has grown significantly thanks in no small part to the influx of budget brands of Chinese descent. First, MG launched the brilliant MG4 EV, which mixes comfort, range and handling in one appealingly priced package. Then GWM Ora launched the Funky Cat, a car with an intriguing name, a bit of style and reasonable road manners, while BYD was working on the new Dolphin, which is comfortable and roomy, if not especially brilliant to drive.

All these newcomers joined a market already being dominated by mainstream brands, including Nissan, which has long been building the venerable Leaf. Although it doesn’t have everything its own way these days, it’s still a competent and well built family car that won’t break the bank.

The same also goes for the Cupra Born, which is the ID.3’s closest rival and its closest relation. Under the skin, the two cars are essentially the same, but Cupra has packaged its family hatchback in a sharp suit and some futuristic design features.

Verdict & Next Steps

Volkswagen has not made wholesale changes to the ID.3 – this is very much a case of evolution over revolution – but the updates are well considered and timely, making the car a slightly more appealing proposition than it was before. Those who have just taken delivery of the outgoing model needn’t worry, though. In the ways that matter, the ID.3 is much the same, but small differences have made the new model feel that bit more premium in places, and that means it’s a car worthy of its place among the best electric cars on the market.

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Volkswagen ID.3

**Correct as of 30/08/2023. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments or £3,576.96 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.