New Volkswagen ID.3: Our photos, our impressions on board the restyled electric compact

The efforts were rather concentrated inside the vehicle. If it does not evolve concretely in ergonomics, the overall furniture has really gained in perceived quality according to the wishes of customers. Critics brought Volkswagen’s product teams to integrate into the dashboard as in the offices of foaming materials, and stitching. The seats are also more enveloping. And to be on page, the interior of the ID.3 does not include any animal leather, it dresses entirely with recycled materials.

Volkswagen ID.3: What is the new more accessible version of the electric compact is worth ?

Volkswagen gives a second breath to his electric ID.3 by offering it a restyled version. Designed in part thanks to customer feedback, it promises a better quality of finish and more equipment. And surprise, downward prices. But nothing is played.

Posted on 06/29/2023 at 7:30 p.m

New start, for a new life ? After a few launching hiccups that have not spared it, electronically and software, then industrial, ID.3 aspires to a better future. Or at least, its Volkswagen designer. Because these successive crises have greatly embarrassed sales of the brand’s 100% electric compact (ID range.) in Europe and France.

Quite rare, the manufacturer decided to resty the model after only two and a half years of marketing. A new version redesigned and simplified from customer feedback, which have been heard on many points. Because they are the ones who experienced the anomalies. Simple software updates have not necessarily solved the problems. Volkswagen made its mea culpa to the point of offering for this modified version a new face, a quality of finish perceived to the brand’s standards and new standard equipment. But maybe not yet enough … answer in our test.

Aboard the Volkswagen ID.3 improved

This boost inevitably goes through design. Volkswagen retouched the hood by inflating the lines a little and deleting the black banner at the bottom of the windshield. For a little more personality and sportiness, the front shield has been redesigned with side gown. A little more aerodynamics to allow better management of the flow for this electric model. On the other hand, few elements change at the rear, except in terms of optics with the integration of new interior led blocks. The fires recall those of the golf course. Global architecture does not change (4.26 meters long) and the trunk keeps its 385 liters.

The efforts were rather concentrated inside the vehicle. If it does not evolve concretely in ergonomics, the overall furniture has really gained in perceived quality according to the wishes of customers. Critics brought Volkswagen’s product teams to integrate into the dashboard as in the offices of foaming materials, and stitching. The seats are also more enveloping. And to be on page, the interior of the ID.3 does not include any animal leather, it dresses entirely with recycled materials.

Bug in full driving

The customers also allowed himself to bring back their complaints on the infotainment system. The central screen has evolved: it goes from 10 to 12 inches. If he is supposed to bug, that is what happened during our test, with a total black screen that occurred in full driving. It is also slow that pushes us to press the chosen function several times to activate it.

Physical keys on the steering wheel would also have been welcome, avoiding engaging unwanted settings. Say with a touch, they are far too sensitive. Moreover, touch controls will disappear with the next generation of Tiguan, according to the last statements of the manufacturer.

What is interesting for this ID.3 restyled is that it incorporates many standard equipment available on the upper segment, including driving aids, such as reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, parking assistance … The updated model now offers the semi-automated driving assistant as standard (latest version) with aid for channel change on highway.

Driving the 100 % electric compact

At the wheel precisely, we appreciate the maneuverability of the electric compact after simply pressing the brake pedal to start. Its turning radius is rather short, an advantage with propulsion. Comfort is ensured by a pleasant driving position due to multiple settings (steering wheel and seat), but also by soft suspensions, even if we undergo a little low speed on a damaged roadway. We still feel somewhat the road surface. It may therefore be necessary to think of the suspensions piloted and the rims smaller than 20 inches optional for more comfort ..

Also read Volkswagen is launching a test club between individuals

The management assistance is just as pleasant. ID.3 has very good road qualities, especially in town, it is easy to handle. But it does not have much character, even if the covers are very reactive, in Eco driving mode which is more. We still fear braking … because we really feel our weight (almost 1.800 kg). The pedal is firmer and the deceleration is desired on the first centimeters. But good point: with the absence of small operating or air noises, soundproofing is excellent, especially when you evolve on a highway. Perhaps the consequence of the new materials used in the passenger compartment.

An ID.3 cheaper

For this 2023 vintage, the ID.3 does not change engine or battery to always have 204 horsepower. The first version includes a 58 kWh battery for 240 Nm of torque and a range of 427 km (fast load 120 kW, from 20 to 80% in 30 minutes), and the other incorporates a 77 kWh battery and 310 Nm of couple for 557 km of autonomy (fast load 170 kW, from 5 to 80% in 30 minutes). The performances are better than the previous version, but in reality, it will be possible to make only 350 km on a mixed course and perhaps a good hundred kilometers less on the highway by driving at 130 km/h. A point that should have been improved for this restyling ..

With all these more or less effective small changes, ID.3 is more expensive ? No, on the contrary, the new version is available at the order from 42.990 euros (excluding ecological bonuses), a saving of almost 3.000 euros compared to the previous version. An advantageous and clever calculation in particular thanks to the simplification of the range.

Let us note a point still: there are more standard equipment, of course, but others have still passed the hatch on certain versions, such as recharging the phone by induction, the front seats and the heating steering wheel, the park Assist, the heating windshield with acoustic insulation.

ID.3 presents 5 versions available, including three eligible (entry -level models) in the ecological bonus in the amount of 5.Euros. Even for the highest finish because its price caps at 46.990 euros, within the limit of 47.000 euros in the allocation of purchase aid. To celebrate the launch of the new ID.3, Volkswagen adapts long -term rental offers (36 months or 30.000 km) with a call rent at 279 euros/month and after a contribution of 4.000 euros and the deduction of the ecological bonus as well as the premium for the conversion of 2.500 euros.

New Volkswagen ID.3: Our photos, our impressions on board the restyled electric compact

• 1/12
• 2/12
• 3/12
• 4/12
• 5/12
• 6/12
• 7/12
• 8/12
• 9/12
• 10/12
• 11/12
• 12/12
• 12/12

This model interests you ?
New Volkswagen ID.3: Our photos, our impressions on board the restyled electric compact

The air of nothing, the exclusive electrical of Volkswagen has come out three and a half years ago. It was time for her to receive a small update. A 2023 vintage that we were able to discover in the studio on the side of Germany.

Despite its status as a first exclusively electric model at Volkswagen, the ID.3 did not have easy life, far from it. In the absence of a delay in the design due to a capricious development of electronic architecture, the German compact therefore arrived on the market in the spring of 2020, that is on the eve of one of the largest crises that the automobile has never crossed. After Covid’s pandemic, component shortages have finished breaking the momentum. ID.3 ultimately arrived in concessions only in the second half of 2020, almost a year after its presentation.

She did not have the success that Volkswagen hoped, With some 14,000 copies sold in France and 216,000 worldwide. Three and a half years after its first appearance, the electric compact is therefore entitled to its mid-carrier restyling. A retouching that the manufacturer wanted visible, even if at first glance, it does not jump out.

To translate this impression of “there is something new but I do not know where it comes from”, you must first focus on the front of the car. The opportunity to note that the black banner at the foot of the windshield has disappeared and that the hood as well as the shield have been retouched. Details that are important and that reduce the monovolume – even minivan aspect ? – ID.3 and make it rebuilt rather among compacts. At the back, the stretching of fires also brings this new golf vintage closer.

A more rewarding interior

But Volkswagen did not just see the outside. The interior also receives its lots of novelties. Starting with more rewarding materials. Of medium quality, plastics are now more foamed at the top of the dashboard and can take color. What enhance the perceived quality, black point of the ID.3 since his arrival.

In addition, the multimedia system receives the latest updates in terms of features while the screen is now 12 inch in series (formerly 10 inches of standard, 12 inch optional). Well placed in relation to the driver, this slab is always reactive. On the other hand, the whole touch chosen by VW could not be changed along the way and, Despite the difficulty in changing the habitacle temperature or the volume of the radio while driving, it will still be necessary to deal with this little intuitive ergonomics.

If the driver can from time to time annoy, he will however appreciate the many storage storage left for his availability, a good point that the ID. canned. Likewise, rear passengers remain surprisingly welcomed in this compact only 4.26 m long. Whatever the size of the occupants, Leg space is very satisfactory. Only the high floor will imply, for the older ones, to fold the legs a little more, but it is by no means unacceptable.

An entry price estimated between 44,000 and 45,000 €

Available at the order in early April and in concessions this summer, the ID.3 restyled keeps its technical characteristics, Namely a single 204 hp engine which causes the rear wheels and, to supply it with electrons, two possible batteries: 58 or 77 kWh. While the vast majority of sales are made through the smallest of two (80%), VW even announces a potential return of an even smaller accumulator. Without doubt the 45 kWh “battery”, available at the launch of the ID.3 in 2020 and withdrawn from the market in 2021.

German prices have not yet been communicated, But Volkswagen hopes to see them begin between 44,000 and 45,000 €. It is cheaper than currently since the range opens today at € 46,000, but the firm also plans to review the catalog and equipment in order to offer an entry -level a little cheaper but also less well equipped.

Compare real autonomies of the best electric cars according to our standard of standardized measurements. Battery capacity, consumption, autonomy, we tell you everything !