Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Volkswagen ID.3 review

The recently updated Volkswagen ID.3 hatchback is vastly improved inside, but the fiddly infotainment system remains

Overall rating

4.0 out of 5

Fuel Type:
Electric

Pros

  • Good to drive
  • Decent range and power
  • Stylish but not flashy looks

Cons

  • Weak regenerative braking
  • Glitchy infotainment
  • Bigger battery car only has four seats
Battery sizeRangeWallbox charge timeRapid charge time
58kWh265 miles9hrs 15mins (0-100%, 7.4kW)32 mins (10-80%, 120kW)
77kWh347 miles12hrs 15mins (0-100%, 7.4kW)28 mins (10-80%, 135kW)

Volkswagen ID.3 verdict

By bringing forward the car’s mid-life facelift, the Volkswagen ID.3 retains its competitive edge in a crowded part of the market. A simple lineup of batteries and specs means choosing the right car for you is easy, while big improvements in cabin quality finally make the VW’s electric family hatchback feel worthy of its near-£40k starting price.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s not without its issues, however. That aforementioned facelift didn’t include changes to the slow, glitchy and troublesome infotainment system – those looking for improvements there will need to wait until mid-2024 when VW is set to introduce a new 12-inch screen with backlit climate controls. It’s possible that these upgrades would allow the ID.3 to catch – and possibly even surpass – rivals from Renault, Kia and even Tesla.

Range details, specs and alternatives

The ID.3 was the first entry in Volkswagen’s rapidly expanding lineup of bespoke electric cars (following the ageing e-up! city car) which now includes the ID.4 SUV, ID.5 coupe-SUV and ID. Buzz minibus, while the ID.7 saloon is due to arrive later this year. It’s also the model that Volkswagen hopes will come to define how we see the next generation of family cars, in the same way the Beetle and Golf did in their respective eras. It’s clear that this is a very important EV for the German automaker.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Competition includes cars of all shapes, sizes, and fuel types. On one hand you have traditional petrol and diesel-powered hatchbacks like the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Golf. Then there are electric models such as the budget-friendly MG4 EV, sporty Cupra Born, long-lived Nissan Leaf, and stylish Renault Megane E-Tech. There are also a smattering of other zero-emissions family cars in the same price range, including the Kia Niro EV, the new Hyundai Kona Electric and even the Tesla Model 3.

The Volkswagen ID.3 lineup was facelifted in mid-2023 – 12 months earlier than originally planned. The main reason for this was to address a variety of common criticisms, particularly regarding interior quality. With the update came a simplified model lineup, now with just two specs and two batteries to choose from. Prices are more competitive too, with the base ID.3 starting from just over £37k.

That entry-level car is now badged ‘Pro’ and comes with a 201bhp rear-mounted electric motor and a 58kWh battery good for 265 miles of range. All cars get at least 18-inch alloy wheels (the horrid plastic wheel trims of the old car have been ditched) and LED lights, plus a 10-inch touchscreen, 5.3-inch digital instrument display and keyless entry and start. Every 58kWh model also gets 120kW rapid charging.

Upgrading to ‘Pro S’ gets the same motor but adds a larger 77kWh battery for a longer 347-mile range – there is no option to match the S spec with the smaller battery at the moment. These cars up the kit count with bigger wheels, and fancier seats with electric lumbar support. 

You’ll pay almost £6k more for the Pro S, but you’ll benefit from much faster 170kW charging, which means the range-topper can perform a 10-80% top-up four minutes faster (28 minutes total) than the Pro, despite its bigger battery.

Click here to see why you can trust DrivingElectric reviews, or for a more detailed look at the Volkswagen ID.3, read on for the rest of our in-depth review

Skip advert
Advertisement

Richard is editor of DrivingElectric, as well as sister site Carbuyer.co.uk, and a regular contributor to Auto Express. An electric and hybrid car advocate, he spent more than five years working on the news and reviews desk at Auto Express and has driven almost every new car currently on sale.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Skoda Epiq baby electric SUV to get £22k price point: Simply Clever or epic fail?
Skoda Epiq - header
News

New Skoda Epiq baby electric SUV to get £22k price point: Simply Clever or epic fail?

Skoda’s baby electric SUV will get a bargain starting price and offer a surprising amount of interior space
15 Mar 2024
Hot Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer GTX brings the space and the pace
Volkswagen ID.7 GTX Tourer - front
News

Hot Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer GTX brings the space and the pace

The ID.7 GTX is VW’s new electric flagship. It gets 335bhp and the choice for a hatchback saloon or estate bodystyle
13 Mar 2024
Top 10 electric cars with the biggest boots 2024
Boots
Best cars

Top 10 electric cars with the biggest boots 2024

Looking for an EV with plenty of space? We give a rundown of the electric cars with the biggest boots
28 Feb 2024

More on ID.3

Volkswagen ID.3 GTX is a 322bhp electric Golf GTI
Volkswagen ID.7 GTX - front
News

Volkswagen ID.3 GTX is a 322bhp electric Golf GTI

New flagship version of Volkswagen’s electric hatchback gets more power, more range and more touchscreen real estate
13 Mar 2024
Top 10 slowest-depreciating electric and hybrid cars 2023
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo x2
Best cars

Top 10 slowest-depreciating electric and hybrid cars 2023

Want to limit the amount you lose on a new car? These are the electric and hybrid models that hold on to the greatest proportion of their initial purc…
10 May 2023
Facelifted Volkswagen ID.3 is now on sale with one big flaw
Updated Volkswagen ID.3 front end
News

Facelifted Volkswagen ID.3 is now on sale with one big flaw

Volkswagen’s electric family hatchback gets refreshed styling and new technology... but no backlit climate controls
26 Apr 2023
Skip advert
Advertisement
New Volkswagen ID.3 SUV in the works, says CEO
Volkswagen ID.3
News

New Volkswagen ID.3 SUV in the works, says CEO

An SUV version of the popular electric hatch is in the works, alongside improvements to ID.3’s interior quality
27 Oct 2022
Twin test: MG 5 vs Volkswagen ID.3
MG 5 vs VW ID.3
In-depth reviews

Twin test: MG 5 vs Volkswagen ID.3

With affordable electric cars in high demand, does MG 5 estate or entry-level Volkswagen ID.3 stand out as the EV value-for-money champion? Let’s find…
6 May 2022
Green NCAP whole life car emissions study confirms small EVs are greenest
Fiat 500 front tracking
News

Green NCAP whole life car emissions study confirms small EVs are greenest

Fiat 500 and Renault ZOE are kindest to the environment, but findings prove some diesels greener than large electric SUVs
21 Apr 2022
2022 Volkswagen ID.3: range reduced to one model due to semiconductor shortage
Volkswagen ID.3
News

2022 Volkswagen ID.3: range reduced to one model due to semiconductor shortage

Only one version of VW’s electric hatchback is available to order right now: the £35,835 ID.3 Life
21 Feb 2022
Charging-speed increase for Volkswagen ID. electric cars on the way
VW ID.3 charging
News

Charging-speed increase for Volkswagen ID. electric cars on the way

An over-the-air (OTA) software update coming in early 2022 will see the maximum charging speed of existing VW ID. models with the 77kWh battery increa…
15 Dec 2021