Volkswagen ID.3 Review 2024

Volkswagen ID.3 At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
A Volkswagen ID.3 will slot into your life as perfectly as, well, a petrol or diesel Golf. It's an excellent all-round package that combines a comfortable interior with low running costs and an enjoyable driving experience.

+Easy and relaxing to drive. Impressive range (especially from the ID.3 Pro S). Improved interior from 2023.

-Flimsy interior plastics in early cars. Frustrating infotainment system. Strong competition.

Insurance Group 19

The Volkswagen ID.3 has all the hallmarks of a good car rushed into production with a few rough finishes and electrical gremlins chucked in for good measure. A recent update means the Volkswagen ID.3 is now a more competitive choice... but is it the best electric car you can buy? Read our full Volkswagen ID.3 review to find out.

The Volkswagen ID.3 arrived to a fairly lukewarm reception when it first went on sale in 2020 - even when, back then, competition was limited to the ageing Nissan Leaf, oddball BMW i3 and SUV alternatives like the Hyundai Kona Electric. Critics complained about its high price tag, drab interior and frustrating infotainment system.

It's not necessarily surprising, then, that Volkswagen chiefs have chosen to prioritise giving its electric hatchback a refresh. The competition these days is quite fierce - think cars like the Renault Megane E-Tech, Vauxhall Astra Electric and Citroen e-C4 to name a few.

So what's new with the latest Volkswagen ID.3? Cosmetically, not a lot. You'll notice revised front and rear bumpers as well as a few new exterior colours.

The bigger changes are inside. No, not a new infotainment system (unfortunately...), but some higher quality sustainable materials. The dash is no longer offensively scratchy, while the door trims are more becoming of a Volkswagen.

The Volkswagen ID.3 remains just as spacious as before, and that's a good thing. Because it sits on the brand's dedicated EV platform, the ID.3 feels like a much more spacious family car than the popular Volkswagen Golf (despite the two having similar exterior dimensions).

There are two models available: the Volkswagen ID.3 Pro and the ID.3 Pro S. The ID.3 Pro uses a 58kWh battery pack, while the Pro S has a bigger 77kWh battery. The latter has a headline-grabbing 347-mile range, but we reckon the Pro's 266-mile range will be more than enough for a lot of buyers.

A single electric motor drives the rear wheels, which means the Volkswagen ID.3 feels agile and easy to drive around town. It's set up to be softer than its platform-sharing relation, the Cupra Born, so it's a surprisingly comfortable long-distance companion.

Prices for the new Volkswagen ID.3 start in the region of £37,000, while the top-spec Volkswagen ID.3 Pro S is nudging £43,000. That'll make you wince if you haven't bought a new car in the last decade but it's no pricier than the competition (except the ultra-cheap MG 4).

You get plenty for your money, too, with all the ID.3 range now featuring adaptive cruise control, alloy wheels and heated seats as standard. Still too expensive? A used Volkswagen ID.3 can now be picked up for as little as £20,000... that's almost cheap enough to justify the harsh materials used in early cars.

Ask Honest John

What are the risks of leasing for the over 80s?

"My current VW ID.3 lease will end next year shortly before my 80th birthday. I am currently in good health and I would like to continue to lease electric (Megane E?) but I understand that should I need to end a lease early (maybe due to increasing high insurance cost or sudden ill health) it would be very expensive. Would I be better advised to purchase via PCP under the circumstances?"
The penalty for an early termination of a lease are specific to the individual company, but typically the amount is around 50% of your remaining lease payments, so this could be very expensive if this is required during the early stages of your term. With a PCP you can end the agreement under voluntary termination if you have paid 50% of total amount payable, whether this is solely through monthly payments or an additional lump sum, so this may be a better option although still not without some risk. Alternatively you could look at shorter term leases where you pay a higher monthly fee but with less risk should you need to end the agreement early.
Answered by David Ross

Can you recommend all-season tyres for my VW ID.3?

"Please would you recommend replacement mid-price all-season tyres for my Volkswagen ID.3, East Derry 19-inch alloys?"
The only all-season tyres our readers recommend are Michelin CrossClimates and Continental All Season Contacts.
Answered by Dan Powell

Can you recommend an EV estate car?

"My son needs to change his car. At present he is running a Volkswagen Golf estate and needs to change it for a similar size and spec electric vehicle. I’d be grateful for some advice as to what we should look at. What are the options? "
Take a look at the MG 5 EV. It's a really good electric estate car that represents excellent value for money. Otherwise, you could look at the Volkswagen ID.3 (although it's not available as an estate) or alternatives like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Which electric car is right for me?

"I have a BMW X1 automatic on a lease that expires this November. I would like to replace it with an electric car, which needs to be large enough to transport golf clubs and trolley, or take 3 passengers and have a range of 200+ miles. The car needs to be stylish. My husband says we should wait for at least a year to buy an electric car but I then have the problem of what to do when my lease ends. Any advice please including cars I should consider? I do not want a large car, something slightly smaller than the X1 would be preferable."
A Volkswagen ID.3 should have enough range and a big enough boot for your needs, also worth giving the larger ID.4 a look – it more closely matches the size of your X1. I'd also recommend the Kia Soul EV and the Hyundai Kona EV. Most small EVs – cars like the Mini Electric and the Honda e – won't have the boot space or range you need, however, it's worth checking out the Peugeot e-208, which has a long range for a small EV, though can't guarantee your kit will fit.
Answered by Russell Campbell
More Questions

What does a Volkswagen ID.3 cost?