The Volkswagen ID.3 is a battery electric small family car (C-segment) produced by Volkswagen since 2019. It is the first production car to utilize the MEB platform, and the first model of the ID. series. It was unveiled on 9 September 2019 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, after being first shown as the I.D. concept car at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Deliveries to retail customers began in Germany in September 2020.

Overview

I.D. Concept

The ID.3 was previewed as a concept car called the Volkswagen I.D., first shown at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. It was the first concept model of the new all-electric I.D. sub-brand. According to Volkswagen, the I.D. featured innovations such as virtual wing mirrors (using video cameras), "chocolate bar" battery design, and retractable LiDAR sensors used for autonomous driving, not all of which made it to the production version.

Production model

In May 2019, Volkswagen confirmed the production model based on this prototype was named Volkswagen ID.3, instead of the rumoured I.D. Neo name, and officially presented at the International Motor Show Germany in September 2019. The ID.3 is one of five new Volkswagen models based on the MEB platform. Smaller cars bearing the ID.1 and ID.2 names are expected, and bigger models will range from ID.4 to ID.9. Volkswagen has also applied for trademark protection of an additional "X", supposedly for a SUV. Reservations (€1000) for the launch model of the ID.3 started on the 8 May 2019, which were set to be delivered in midyear 2020, whereas the base model, expected to cost under €30,000, will be delivered in 2021. Volkswagen named high expected demand as a reason. It received 10,000 buyer reservations within 24 hours after pre-orders opened and 30,000 before the unveiling at IAA 2019. Retail deliveries began in Germany in September 2020.

The production version of the ID.3 was unveiled on 9 September 2019 at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA), along with the new Volkswagen logo and branding. The cars are assembled at Volkswagen's Zwickau factory, where the company expects the full plant capacity (330,000 cars per year) to produce electric cars based on the MEB platform for the Volkswagen Group from 2021 onwards. In 2021, an additional ID.3 production line was started at the Transparent Factory in Dresden.

In 2021, Volkswagen stated they were considering a convertible version, releasing 2 design illustrations.

Facelift

In March 2023, Volkswagen released the refreshed version of the ID.3. The facelift features a slightly redesigned front bumper and air intakes, as well as improved interior material quality. The ID.3 will be launched in Australasia alongside the ID.4, ID.5 and ID. Buzz in mid-2024.

Specifications

At launch, the European-market ID.3 was available with a choice of two models: "ID.3 Pro Performance" and "ID.3 Pro S". Both the Pro Performance and the Pro S shared the same APP 310 traction motor, which has an output of 150 kW (204 PS; 201 hp) and 310 N⋅m (229 ft⋅lb). The difference was in the storage capacity of the battery; the Pro Performance battery had a useful capacity of 58 kWh, while the Pro S battery was 77 kWh.^: 21 A third model (tentatively named "ID.3 Pro") was planned to follow, with an output of 107 kW (145 PS; 143 hp).^: 21 An entry-level model was released as the "ID.3 Pure Performance" in April 2021. The Pure Performance was equipped with a smaller battery of 45 kWh^: 4 and slightly upgraded output of 150 PS; 110 kW (148 hp). A high-performance variant with the name ID.3 GTX and ID.3 GTX Performance have been announced to be released at the end of 2024, which will have an upgraded 79kWh battery with an output of 201 kW (286 hp) and 240 kW (326 hp), respectively.

Three different battery choices are offered with the ID.3. The modules in the Pro Performance and Pro S are each 14 cm (5.5 in) high and 145 cm (57 in) wide. For the Pro Performance, the length is 144 cm (57 in), while the larger Pro S battery is 182 cm (72 in) long.^: 24 The Pro S battery is 495 kg (1,091 lb).^: 24 A liquid-cooled thermal management system is fitted to improve power output and service life, and VW guarantees the battery will retain 70% of its original capacity after an operating period of 8 years or 160,000 km (99,000 mi).^: 24–25

Charging rate for the Pro Performance and Pro S is limited to a maximum of 11 kW using the on-board AC charger; when a DC source is connected through the standard CCS inlet, maximum input power rises to 100 kW (Pro Performance) or 125 kW (Pro S).^: 25–26 The charging rates for the basic model were planned to be limited to 7.2 kW (AC) and 50 kW (DC), with an option for 100 kW (DC).^: 12 The MEB platform supports up to 125 kW charging. The 58 kWh version supports 120 kW DC charging.

The 77 kWh variants have four and five seat options; the others seat five. All but the 77 kWh variant will have an optional panoramic roof that can be combined with a bike rack on a support hook at the back. In 2024 an upgrade will increase the battery capacity for the Pro S to 79 kWh, have 5 seats and the optional panoramic roof and bike rack.

The drag coefficient of the car is 0.267, frontal area is 2.36 square meters, and the minimum turning circle is 10.2 metres (33 ft).

Trims

It was first available in three different launch trim levels, namely ID.3 1st, ID.3 1st Plus and ID.3 1st Max, all based on the Pro Performance model (58 kWh battery).^: 11 The battery size and powertrain remain the same across all three trim levels; however, there are different levels of equipment, styling options and wheels. The wheels provided are: 18 in (460 mm) for ID.3 1st (215/55R18), 19 in (480 mm) for ID.3 1st Plus (215/50R19) and 20 in (510 mm) for ID.3 1st Max (215/45R20).^: 11–12

Software issues

In early 2020 it was announced that delivery of the ID.3 was going to be delayed until at least September 2020 due to software errors that VW had yet to be able to resolve. Some stripped-down cars were delivered in September with cloud-connected ones being delivered at the end of 2020.

Awards

• In January 2021, the ID.3 Pro Performance Life was named Small Electric Car of the Year by What Car? magazine. What Car? awarded the ID.3 five stars out of five in its review of the car.

Sales

Almost 57,000 units were delivered in 2020, ranking among the world's top-ten best-selling plug-in cars in just four months on the market.

See also

• e-Golf
• Electric car use by country

References