ID.3 juicy target in Chinese invasion

FACELIFTED VW STILL LEFT BEHIND IN EV RACE

There’s more and more talk about the Chinese car invasion. In the last quarter of 2023, BYD outsold Tesla globally. We tested all BYD’S cars available here (all EVS) and while not best in class, they’re very credible.

The name BYD, and other Chinese brands such as Chery and GWM, are familiar to board members of European car firms. These high-tech newcomers, well made and keenly priced, are keeping old-school makers on their toes.

So for Volkswagen to have got things wrong with its ID.3 when it launched it in 2020 was a big blunder. With a recent facelift, some of the issues have been addressed. Some, not all.

One of the biggest criticisms was directed at the poorly thought out dashboard and infotainment system. Software was slow and clunky and having heating controls that are touch sensitive but not illuminated at night was a ridiculous move.

Other issues included a rather poor-quality interior with cheap scratchy plastics where they shouldn’t be. That is, on display and where you’ll touch them.

Late last year, Volkswagen gave the ID.3 a facelift which, annoyingly, doesn’t include

sorting out the infotainment and controls. That’ll come some time this year. What is welcome is a simplification of the range.

There used to be six trim levels – that’s been cut to two: Pro and Pro S. The Pro comes with a 58kwh battery and has a WLTP range of 266 miles and the Pro S comes with a 77kwh battery and has a range of 356 miles.

There used to be a version with a 45kwh battery but that entry-level model has been dropped. We’re testing the Pro model which has a nice selection

of goodies, including the Exterior Pack Plus.

The Extra Pack Plus brings LED Matrix headlamps, rear tinted glass, adaptive chassis control with dynamic steering plus a panoramic glass sunroof.

A further option on our car is the Kings Red metallic paint and black roof. The car looks attractive with this combo but hardly stands out.

This is probably not a time for Volkswagen to keep to conservative styling.

Most will struggle to spot the changes: the bonnet is new (a substantial change as it requires new tooling to be made), new intakes have been added to aid cooling and ID badges have gone from the front wheel arches.

Inside, things are more noticeable. There are new door trims and soft fabric has been used that contains 71% recycled materials. There are also many more square inches of soft-touch plastics.

We covered the infotainment system – back-lit temperature sliders and a larger screen will be arriving soon. This car does use VW’S 3.5 software version but the useability is still not great. Perhaps over the air software updates will improve matters.

Volkswagen needs to be careful as this is an area where Chinese car makers are particularly formidable.

The ID.3, like its siblings the ID.4 and ID.5, is rear-wheel drive with a 201bhp electric motor (in Pro and Pro S).

Rear-wheel drive, turning on its head decades of front-wheel drive hatchbacks, is apparently more efficient for EVS.

MG (also Chinese) uses

‘‘ This is probably not a time for VW to keep to conservative styling

rear-mounted motor in its MG4. That car is one of the most fun EVS to drive but the ID.3, while competent, could never be described as entertaining.

Looking at our ID.3 test in 2020 I notice while we heavily criticised the heating controls and infotainment, we were pretty positive about the car.

In the world of electrification a lot changes in four years.

The MG4 arrived and so, last summer, has BYD’S very good Dolphin hatchback.

Volkswagen needs to raise its game to keep new upstarts from stealing sales.