Volkswagen ID.3 2023 Review – International

How much does the Volkswagen ID.3 cost?

It’s far too early for pricing and specification for the Volkswagen ID.3 line-up in Australia, insiders say, given the long-overdue Golf-sized electric hatchback is not expected to arrive until late next year.

While we continue to wait, it’s worth considering the ID.3’s Spanish cousin, the Cupra Born, went on sale earlier this year with one powertrain in a single model grade priced from $59,990 plus on-road costs.

At that price, based on the current market, the ID.3 would be similarly positioned as a premium alternative to other EV hatchbacks such as the MG4 (from $38,990-$55,990), BYD Dolphin (from $38,890-$49,990) and GWM Ora (from $39,990-$51,990), a bit bigger and more mainstream than the Fiat 500e (from $52,500), while still undercutting the popular and soon-to-be-updated Tesla Model 3 mid-size sedan (from $61,900).

It will also face the long-serving Nissan LEAF (from $50,990, or $61,490 in LEAF e+ guise), while a host of other EVs come into play above $60K, including the Polestar 2 (from $67,400) and Renault Megane E-Tech (from $64,990). There will be more to choose from by late 2024, too.

Options on the ID.3 are likely to be limited, but should extend to premium paint, larger 20-inch wheels and possibly some undisclosed packs that will bundle adaptive dampers with Matrix LED headlights and VW’s progressive steering.

Like the Cupra Born, be careful what you order, as tick too many boxes and Volkswagen may be forced to remove the middle rear seat, converting your ID.3 to a four-seater. Apparently, the extra kit tips the vehicle over its gross vehicle mass (GVM) rating with five on-board.

What equipment comes with the Volkswagen ID.3?

Standard equipment for the Volkswagen ID.3 should be generous, with VW Australia unlikely to import the base model offered overseas.

That brings us to the 2023 sold in Europe, which comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, LEDs for the headlights tail-lights and fog lights, automatic high beam, tinted rear windows, keyless entry/start, 10-colour ambient interior lighting, a leather-clad steering wheel and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

There’s also four USB-C charging ports in the cabin, natural voice control, sat-nav and a wireless smartphone charger.

The ID.3 will be backed by Volkswagen’s standard five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia, while its battery pack should be supported by a separate eight-year/160,000km warranty – both par for the course.

Volkswagen says it’s not ready to release servicing costs for the ID.3 but it is likely to mirror the Cupra Born, which was introduced with a capped-price service regime that is priced at $1590 for the first five years/75,000km.

In Europe it’s recommended the ID.3 visits the workshop every two years or 30,000km.

How safe is the Volkswagen ID.3?

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.3 hasn’t been tested by ANCAP yet, but back when it was launched in Europe the car received the full five stars for safety from Euro NCAP.

That testing was conducted in 2020, when assessment protocols were less stringent than they are today.

We expect standard driver assist safety systems on the ID.3 to include adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking (Front Assist) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keeping aids (Lane Assist), auto parking (Park Assist) and blind spot monitoring (Side Assist with Rear Traffic Alert and Exit Warning).

Also count on the inclusion of seven airbags, Pre-Crash Assist, driver fatigue alert, tyre pressuring monitoring, a 360-degree camera and parking sensors front and rear.

What technology does the Volkswagen ID.3 feature?

One of the key motivating factors with fast-tracking the facelift of the 2023 Volkswagen ID.3 overseas – now on sale in Europe around 12 months earlier than originally planned – was improving the feeling of cabin quality while upgrading the infotainment system.

Like before, ahead of the driver is a useful 5.3-inch digital display that combines with a cool augmented-reality head-up display that can project navigation instruction 10m ahead of the car.

There’s also a 12-inch central infotainment system that replaces the old glitchy 10-incher and continues to run most of the car’s functions via touch or voice control, while the entire menu structure has been altered to put the most frequently used tabs in the most prominent places.

As well as a new wireless phone charger there’s an App Connect function that allows media to be directly streamed through Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink to the car’s sound system.

The fresh software that runs the ID.3, along with the new hardware, is said to speed up the performance of the infotainment system and allow over-the-air (OTA) updates for the first time, which could in the future see owners add new functions to their car – for a price.

What powers the Volkswagen ID.3?

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.3 is powered by a 150kW/310Nm rear-mounted electric motor that is fed by a 77kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

Against the clock, Volkswagen says the ID.3 Pro S should be capable of a 0-100km/h sprint of 7.9 seconds and a limited top speed of 160km/h.

That’s some way off the rear-wheel drive Tesla Model 3 (0-100km/h 6.1sec, 201km/h).

When it comes to topping up the battery, Volkswagen says the ID.3 Pro S can be fast-charged from 5-80 per cent within 30 minutes at a maximum DC charging rate of 170kW.

Use an 11kW AC wallbox and Volkswagen says a full charge (0-100 per cent) takes 7.5 hours.

How far can the Volkswagen ID.3 go on a charge?

VW says the 2023 Volkswagen ID.3 will travel 546km on a single charge, based on the WLTP method.

That’s actually 3km less than the pre-facelift car but more than the 513km range claimed for the equivalent RWD Tesla Model 3.

What is the Volkswagen ID.3 like to drive?

The prospect of driving a small rear-wheel drive five-door with 150kW is the stuff of hot hatch dreams, but sadly the 2024 Volkswagen ID.3 Pro S is no Golf GTI substitute.

In truth, it was never meant to be.

After all, the ID.3 weighs the thick end of 1.9 tonnes, and if you push hard, it feels it.

The good news is it also rides better than the current Tesla Model 3, but the bigger American EV still feels the sharper of the two on a challenging country road.

Accept that, and its relative lack of straight-line acceleration, and you’ll enjoy the ID.3’s precise steering and rear-wheel drive balance.

Refinement is also another strong point of the Volkswagen’s dynamic armoury. There’s little noise from the rear-mounted motor and inverter and mercifully no piped-in noise to replace the lack of a combustion engine.

Based on Volkswagen Group’s MEB architecture, the ID.3 gets a five-link rear suspension and a MacPherson strut front-end. It’s stopped by 330mm front brake discs but curiously gets drum brakes at the rear.

At least the pads for the rear brakes are said to last the life of the car, such is the level of regenerative braking used on the move.

Annoyingly, our test car had an inconsistent brake regen that left the ‘real’ braking a little late for our tastes, providing for a few heart-in-mouth moments.

Other vehicles didn’t suffer this fault, but the long and spongy (at the top) brake pedal feels like it needs some work and appears to be a common problem shared with the Cupra Born.

As per the Born, we also miss being able to vary the regen using a pair of steering-mounted paddles. Instead, you only have the choice of ‘D’ (Drive) or ‘B’ for extra brake regen force. There’s no one-pedal driving mode that’s beloved by some EV owners.

So, overall, the refreshed ID.3 remains a brisk and surprisingly refined way of covering ground without any tailpipe emissions and avoids the crashy ride of its popular US rival.

What is the Volkswagen ID.3 like inside?

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.3 benefits hugely from its mid-life overhaul, with the cabin featuring more upmarket materials that remedy the original car’s cheap-feeling hard plastics.

The most basic interiors are now made from 71 per cent recycled plastic on the seats and door trims.

A soft leather-like material now covers the lower half of the dashboard and feels expensive, although all ID.3 cabins are now free of animal products.

We much prefer the 12-inch infotainment unit, which has been improved by the small lower shelf of shortcut buttons and backlit sliders, although the natural-speak voice control was all too easily triggered by accident.

Despite being shorter than a Golf by 23mm, VW says the ID.3 is more spacious, thanks to the lack of a bulky combustion engine and transmission. That leads to a light and airy cabin.

The ergoComfort seats, meanwhile, are comfortable and supportive, and it’s easy to find a decent driving position behind the wheel.

Space in the rear is good with enough legroom and headroom for adults sitting behind adults.

What’s missing is a pair of rear air vents and, as mentioned earlier, get too busy with the options list and the middle seat disappears altogether, which is annoying.

At least there’s generous door pockets.

ISOFIX child restraint attachment points are also provided for rear outboard seats.

Boot space is limited to just 385 litres – which is only 4L more than the Golf and some way off a Tesla Model 3 (425L). There’s also no frunk (front trunk) to store the charging cables.

One other point to note is that you can’t tow with the Volkswagen ID.3, with no provision for a tow hook.

What you can do, though, is mount bicycle carriers, and in future Volkswagen says it will offer optional box attachments to boost the ID.3’s load lugging potential further.

Should I buy a Volkswagen ID.3?

If it’s keenly priced with a high level of standard specification, the Volkswagen ID.3 should make for a tempting alternative to other electric hatchbacks and even the Tesla Model 3 sedan when it arrives Down Under late in 2024.

Impressive refinement, build quality and a comfortable ride all work in the favour of VW’s small EV, although the Tesla remains the quicker, better-driving, better all-rounder in the low-$60,000 retail price bracket.

Competition is really heating up in this corner of the EV market, and it’ll be even hotter when the VW ID.3 finally lands in Australia.

We saw the ID.3 as a pioneering model when we first drove it in Europe more than three years ago, and it remains an appealing car today.

But a lot can happen in the space of a year, so the jury’s still out while the ID.3 remains offshore.

2023 Volkswagen ID.3 Pro S at a glance:
Price: $59,990 est (plus on-road costs)
Available: Late 2024
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 150kW/310Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 77kWh lithium-ion
Range: 546km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 15.7kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP 2020)

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