Volkswagen ID.3 review

Equipped with the smallest ‘Pure Performance’ battery the ID.3’s electric motor kicks out 150hp, and promises a claimed range of just under 220 miles. The bigger 58kWh unit is available in ‘Pro’ and ‘Pro Performance’ guises, which make 145hp or 204hp respectively, but deliver the same maximum claimed range of 263 miles. The 77kWh ‘Pro S’ cars, meanwhile, also make 204hp, but that range figure jumps to 366 miles.

As with all electric cars, however, there’s a bit of a difference between claimed and real-world range. So far we’ve only driven the 204hp versions of the 58kWh and 77kWh models. In the former, we were able to cover 220 miles before the battery died; while the 77kWh Tour model returned a theoretical range of 231 miles based on an energy consumption rate of 3.0mi/kWh.

However, that figure was produced on a route that was mostly motorway, where EVs are at their least efficient. On a more conventional city route, that number should jump significantly.

The downside of going for a larger battery is that it will take longer to charge. A 7kW home wallbox will top the 58kWh model up to 100% in 9.5 hours, while the 77kWh model will need 13 hours. On a DC rapid charger, the 58kWh model can be topped up to 80% in just 31 minutes, while the 77kWh model needs just under 40 minutes.

We’ve not yet driven the 145hp or 150hp models (which promise respective 0-60mph times of 9.6sec and 8.9sec), but the 204hp cars are more than swift enough. With the 58kWh battery, the 204hp ID.3 will hit 60mph in 7.3sec; with the larger unit, it needs 7.9sec.

Electric vehicles tend to be at their best in the city, and it’s certainly here where the ID.3 is at home. In 204hp guise, acceleration from a standstill is instant and surprisingly punchy, so you can nip in and out of gaps in the traffic with ease. This acceleration remains strong as you reach the national speed limit too, which is very helpful for performing safe overtakes on the open road.

Stuck in stop-start traffic? Switch the ID.3 into B mode and the rate at which it regenerates energy as you ease off the accelerator will increase and boost efficiency even further. It doesn’t quite make for a genuine one-pedal driving experience, but the rate at which it slows the car is still very comfortable – this is an incredibly easy car to get along with.

The steering is reasonably light and pleasingly accurate, but this is by no means a sporty-driving family hatchback. Along with excellent forward visibility, this makes the ID.3 an easy car to drive around town and thread down narrow city streets. Less helpful is the small rear window, which restricts the view out the back. Usually this might make the ID.3 a tricky car to park, but thankfully VW has fitted rear parking sensors as standard.

If you’re used to the suppleness of a Volkswagen Golf you’ll likely be a bit surprised by the firmness of the ID.3’s ride, but that’s the downside of a car that weighs 1.8 tonnes. At lower town speeds it can feel a wee bit shuddery over lumps and bumps, but it’s far from uncomfortable.

That firm set-up helps the car to grip tenaciously and change direction well on faster country roads, too, and at motorway speeds it settles down nicely to become a comfortable long-distance car. You will notice a fair bit of road noise, but thanks to the ID.3’s slippery shape wind-noise is kept at a low level.