Volkswagen ID.3 58kwh Pro Performance Life
Price £32,240 (before £2500 gov’t grant) Target Price £31,267 Target PCP £311 0-62mph 7.3sec Top speed 99mph Minimum charging time (10-80%) 33min
THE PROMISE OF a car that’s every bit as practical as the big-selling and iconic Volkswagen Golf, yet which is also kind to the planet, presents a humongous order to fill with the potential for huge disappointment. Thankfully, the ID.3 lives up to its promise, and then some.
Our recommended Pro Performance model has a single 201bhp electric motor, and while it doesn’t offer the kind of grin-inducing pace you’ll find in a Tesla, its instant surge of power nonetheless gets you up to speed quickly. And don’t forget that, thanks to its 58kwh battery pack, this ID.3 will take you farther between charges than the rival Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe, with an official range of up to 264 miles.
What’s more, the ID.3 can charge at a rate of up to 100kw – faster than either the Leaf or Zoe can manage. It means you could top up from 10-80% in as little as 33 minutes if you can find a suitably powerful charger.
Despite its relatively stiff suspension, the ID.3 offers ride comfort to rival the Golf, and that’s no mean feat, given the extra weight of its battery pack. Plus, thanks to its tight turning circle and decent grip, it handles better than anything else for the price. The Seat Leon is keener still, but that, of course, isn’t available as an electric car.
While some of the interior materials don’t seem in keeping with the price you’ll pay for the top trim levels, everything feels well screwed together. Fortunately, you won’t feel cheated if you stick with entry-level Life spec, which comes with all of the equipment that you’ll need. And while the ID.3’S infotainment system isn’t especially user-friendly, with laggy controls and a confusing layout, you can bypass it by using the standard Apple Carplay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring.
On the road, the view forwards is good thanks to the deep windscreen and slim front pillars, and parking should be easy, because every version gets front and rear sensors. Your family will be comfy enough, too; the ID.3 matches the Golf for rear seat space, plus its flat floor will be appreciated by whoever sits in the middle. It’s close to the Golf when it comes to boot space, too, although it’s trumped by the Leaf.
However, what seals the ID.3’S win here is the good news it brings at both ends of the buying journey. For starters, thanks to slow predicted depreciation, you won’t pay over the odds for the ID.3 on a PCP finance deal, and when you come to selling, you’ll get a decent proportion of your money back.