Sometimes a new car can be overwhelmed by anticipation. That was very nearly the case with Volkswagen’s ID.3, an all-electric model that has been teased and trailed for over four years. In that time, EVs have evolved and matured to the point where they’re no longer the leftfield choice – for a majority of people, going electric is now their first option. Admittedly there still aren’t that many modest-sized EVs on the market, with Nissan, Kia, Renault and others starting to fill up the yawning space below the pricier offerings from Tesla, Jaguar, Porsche and the big three German manufacturers. Volkswagen is hoping to go to the top of this pile.
If there’s any criticism of the production ID.3 it’s that it isn’t really the game-changer it could have been, certainly not in the way that its distant ancestors the Beetle (1950) and the Golf (1974) were back in their day. For a start, the ID.3 presents no automotive design revolution; it’s a conventional five-door hatchback, with a body shape that appears mildly over-polished, like a piece of used soap. These days, car makers are inherently conservative – consistency is a safer way of protecting the bottom line than an all-out revolution.
That’s why the ID.3 wears its technology lightly. The detailing, inside and out, is excellent, with no-nonsense VW switchgear and graphics, a straightforward interface and airy, light-filled interior spaces. The ‘one-box’ hatchback design has clean surfaces, and no fussy edges. Cutting edge tech is subtly implemented. Inside, a band of light runs across the top of the dash that can flash red to warn of upcoming hazards, blue to indicate lane changes or white in response to voice commands, while an optional Head-up display puts the most essential info onto the screen in front of you.
Although it’s basically the same size as a Golf, VW have made the most of the ID.3’s bespoke electric platform and its underfloor batteries to expand the interior dimensions in every direction. Pair this with an optional panoramic glass roof and you get an interior that feels like it belongs in a much larger car, especially in the back. With the ID.3, Volkswagen has hit upon the optimum size for a modern electric car. This alone is a breath of fresh air. The relentless upscaling of car models has long been a criticism of the auto industry and it’s a trend that electrification is doing very little to address; most prestige EVs are SUV scaled to soak up the space and cost of batteries. Case in point – the ID.3 will soon be joined by the ID.4 electric SUV, and then in a year so we’ll get the ID.5, rumoured to be a large saloon/estate car combo. In an ideal world, there would be an ID.1 and ID.2 on the horizon as well – perhaps even an ID.0. In an electrified future, how much longer will the ‘bigger equals better’ equation survive?
This is a digression, because the ID.3 is here right now and it is nothing short of excellent. Whatever the company’s future strategy, this modest but meticulous EV deserves to do brilliantly. The debut ‘First’ limited edition trim, shown here, is joined by no less than seven variants, with different levels of tech, range and price, starting from the base ID.3 Life model all the way up to the ID.3 Tour, which promises a class-leading range of 336 miles. Just like the Beetle and the Golf before it, the ID.3 is as much car as most people will ever need.
INFORMATION
Volkswagen ID.3, from £29,990 (Life spec) to £39,290 (Tour spec)
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