Review: 2023 Volkswagen ID.3
Volkswagen ID.3 Review
Volkswagen’s ID.3 arrived as the car to kickstart the firm’s electric offensive. Of course, Volkswagen had made a smattering of battery-powered vehicles before, but it was the ID.3 that looked to both establish a new sub-brand - ID - while also pushing Volkswagen as a whole into a more electrified age.
But it was hampered slightly by its release in Covid-warped 2020 and early owners suffered niggles - mainly with the infotainment setup. So now, in 2023, we’ve already got a refreshed ID.3. But can it do what the original couldn’t quite manage? Let’s find out.
What’s new?
If you judged the new ID.3 on looks alone, you could be fooled into thinking nothing has changed. There have been some tweaks made here and there, of course, and we’ll dive into them a little later on, but it’s pretty much the same old design we saw in the second half of 2020.
It’s inside where you’ll find the vast majority of edits. The touchscreen has been given some more user-friendly software, while the quality of materials has been upped to make the ID.3 feel even more premium inside.
What’s under the bonnet?
You’ve got two options with the ID.3 - Pro and Pro S. The former gets a 58kWh battery which brings a range of up to 266 miles, but it’s the latter you’ll want if you’re after the most long-distance ID.3 possible, since it’s accompanied by a claimed range of up to 347 miles.
And while the one we’re checking out today is the Pro S, both cars use the same 201bhp electric motor which sends power to the rear wheels. You’ll manage 0-60mph in just 7.7 seconds, too. Importantly for an electric car, the ID.3 can charge at speeds of up to 170kW, meaning you could conduct an 80 per cent charge in just half an hour if you were connected to a suitably speedy charging station.
What’s the VW like to drive?
Volkswagen hasn’t tinkered with the way that the ID.3 drives but, in truth, we never had an issue with this area. Even on big 20-inch alloy wheels, it remains comfortable, though if you’re after the best possible ride quality then we’d still trump the smaller 18-inch alloys.
It’s got some good grip to offer, too, and you can get a sense of the ID.3’s rear-driven layout when pushing slightly harder through the bends. The immediacy of the electric motor’s power delivery also makes the ID.3 feel far zippier away from the lights than the figures suggest.
How does it look?
As we’ve touched upon, the changes to the ID.3’s design haven’t been seismic. In fact, you’d really have to have the previous model and this brand-new one parked alongside one another to pick out the differences. Look out for the gloss black strip at the top of the bonnet which has now been removed - it’s one of the key changes.
However, Volkswagen has also removed the quirky pattern applied to the front bumper and C-pillars in favour of a more conventional painted touch. It’s more grown-up, but is it a bit less fun? You decide.
What’s it like inside?
It’s pleasing to find that inside the ID.3, many of the harsher materials that let the older car down have been replaced. The dashboard and door panels now get soft-touch plastic and it all helps to elevate the feel of the cabin. It definitely feels more like what you’d expect from VW.
There also remains loads of rear-seat space, which is impressive for a relatively compact car - but bear in mind that Pro S models do without a middle rear seat as a result of the larger battery.
What’s the spec like?
You’re getting plenty of equipment with the ID.3 right from the off. For example, adaptive cruise control, ambient lighting, wireless phone charging and a 10-inch touchscreen all come as standard - regardless of model - so there’s plenty for eager button-pushers to get their teeth into. The new software also implements new shortcut menus which make it easier to navigate than before.
The only fly in the ointment is the MG4. It still manages to undercut the ID.3 on price - even in Extended Range form - but gets more equipment and is slightly sharper to drive.
Verdict
Though this might be a very subtle facelift, the changes that have been made to the ID.3 do well to make it feel even more well-rounded than before. The upgraded materials make a big impact inside and when you combine these with the good driving dynamics and impressive range, you end up with a very complete electric car.
Throw in plenty of standard equipment and you end up with an EV which is definitely worth checking out if you’re in the market for a new battery-powered model.
