When Volkswagen unveiled the ID.3 in 2019, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Positioned as nothing less than the third pivotal chapter in the company’s history—following the Beetle and Golf—this compact electric hatchback carried the weight of Volkswagen’s electric future on its shoulders.
Now, several years into its lifecycle and following a significant mid-life refresh, the ID.3 has evolved from promising but flawed pioneer into a more complete and compelling electric vehicle.
This article examines the current state of Volkswagen’s electric hatchback, its strengths and weaknesses, and how it fits into both Volkswagen’s broader electric strategy and the competitive EV landscape.
The Evolution of an Electric Icon
The ID.3’s journey has been anything but smooth. Its initial launch in 2020 was marred by software glitches and quality issues that undermined Volkswagen’s reputation for rock-solid engineering.
Early adopters found themselves navigating unintuitive infotainment systems, experiencing random electronic gremlins, and contending with interior materials that felt below Volkswagen’s usual standards.
Fast forward to today, and the picture has changed considerably. The comprehensive update introduced in 2023 addressed many of these shortcomings, bringing substantially improved software, enhanced interior quality, and refinements to the driving experience.
The once-problematic infotainment system now responds more intuitively, with physical sliders gaining illumination (a seemingly small but significant usability improvement for nighttime operation) and voice commands that actually understand natural speech patterns.
“We listened carefully to customer feedback,” explains Kai Grünitz, Volkswagen’s Board Member for Technical Development.
“The ID.3 represents our most important step into the electric future, and we recognized that the initial execution didn’t fully meet the standards our customers expect from Volkswagen. The updates we’ve implemented touch virtually every aspect of the user experience.”
These improvements haven’t fundamentally altered the ID.3’s character but have removed many of the friction points that hampered the ownership experience.
The result is a vehicle that better delivers on its initial promise: bringing accessible electric mobility with Volkswagen’s characteristic blend of practicality and quality to the mass market.
Driving Experience: Familiar Yet Different
Behind the wheel, the ID.3 strikes an interesting balance between traditional Volkswagen driving dynamics and the unique characteristics of electric propulsion.
The low-mounted battery pack (positioned beneath the floor in what Volkswagen calls the “skateboard” platform) creates a center of gravity that helps the car feel planted and stable through corners, despite weighing considerably more than a comparable Golf.
Current powertrain options include several battery and motor combinations. The entry-level Pro model features a 58 kWh battery paired with a 150 kW (201 horsepower) rear-mounted motor, providing an official WLTP range of up to 265 miles.
Stepping up to the Pro S brings a larger 77 kWh battery and extends the range to approximately 345 miles, though real-world figures typically fall 15-20% below these official numbers, particularly in colder conditions or at highway speeds.
Performance feels entirely appropriate for the compact family car segment. The standard model delivers 0-62 mph acceleration in around 7.3 seconds—quicker than most combustion-engine golf variants while providing the immediate throttle response characteristic of electric motors.
More importantly for everyday driving, the mid-range punch makes overtaking maneuvers effortless and confidence-inspiring.
Perhaps most impressive is the turning circle. At just 33.5 feet, the ID.3 can make U-turns in spaces that would defeat most vehicles its size, thanks to the rear-wheel drive layout and the absence of a combustion engine under the hood allowing for a tighter steering angle.
This makes the car remarkably maneuverable in urban environments, offsetting its somewhat limited rear visibility.
Ride quality leans toward comfort rather than sportiness, with the suspension effectively absorbing road imperfections while maintaining reasonable body control.
Road and wind noise are well suppressed at highway speeds, contributing to the refined atmosphere that was lacking in early models.
Interior: Space and Technology
One of the ID.3’s most significant advantages stems from its dedicated electric architecture. Without the need to accommodate an engine, transmission, and exhaust system, Volkswagen’s designers were able to maximize interior space within a compact footprint.
The result is a vehicle that occupies a similar street space to the Golf but offers interior room closer to the larger Passat, particularly in terms of rear legroom and headroom.
The flat floor further enhances the feeling of spaciousness, especially for center rear-seat passengers who don’t have to contend with the traditional transmission tunnel hump.
The dashboard design emphasizes this sense of space with a minimalist approach dominated by two screens—a compact digital instrument cluster mounted on the steering column and a larger central touchscreen handling infotainment and climate functions.
Post-update models feature improved graphics and responsiveness, though some users will still find the relegation of almost all controls to the touchscreen occasionally frustrating.
Material quality has seen noticeable improvement in current models. While still not matching the premium feel of Volkswagen’s highest-end offerings, the updated ID.3 features more soft-touch surfaces and robust-feeling switchgear.
The standard upholstery uses partially recycled materials, reflecting the vehicle’s environmentally conscious positioning.
Practical considerations haven’t been overlooked. The trunk offers 13.9 cubic feet of space—slightly less than a comparable Golf but still sufficient for everyday family use. The rear seats split and fold in a 60/40 configuration, extending cargo capacity to 50.6 cubic feet when needed.
Technology and Charging
The ID.3’s technological package centers around the “ID. Light”—an LED strip running beneath the windshield that provides visual cues for navigation directions, incoming calls, and charging status.
It’s a clever and intuitive system that communicates important information without requiring the driver to look away from the road.
Connectivity features include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Volkswagen ID app allows owners to remotely monitor charging, pre-condition the cabin, and locate their vehicle.
Over-the-air updates—initially a source of frustration in early models—now function more reliably, gradually adding features and refinements without requiring dealer visits.
Charging capabilities remain competitive rather than class-leading. The standard models accept DC fast charging at up to 170 kW, enabling a 10-80% charge in approximately 30 minutes under ideal conditions.
Home charging using an 11 kW wallbox takes around 6 hours for the 58 kWh battery version—essentially overnight charging for most users.
Volkswagen’s partnership with the IONITY high-power charging network in Europe provides preferential rates for ID.3 owners, though the network’s coverage varies significantly between regions.
In North America, where the ID.3 isn’t currently sold, Volkswagen has invested in Electrify America to provide a similar high-speed charging backbone for its ID.4 and ID.Buzz models.
Market Position and Competitive Landscape
The ID.3 occupies an increasingly crowded segment of the electric vehicle market. Its most direct competitors include the Cupra Born (essentially a sportier cousin sharing the same platform), Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric, and the slightly smaller Renault Zoe.
Against this competition, the ID.3’s strongest selling points include its practical packaging, solid range figures, and the reassurance of Volkswagen’s dealer network and brand reputation.
Its weaknesses—primarily the still-not-perfect infotainment system and charging speeds that lag behind the newest Korean and Chinese competitors—reflect the challenges of developing a ground-up electric platform during a period of rapid technological evolution.
Pricing positions the ID.3 as a premium mainstream offering rather than a budget choice. Starting at approximately €39,995 in Germany (with prices varying significantly across markets due to different incentive structures), it commands a noticeable premium over combustion-engine alternatives but undercuts premium-branded electric offerings like the BMW i3 successor and Mercedes EQA.
The Broader Significance
Beyond its commercial importance to Volkswagen, the ID.3 carries broader significance for the automotive industry’s electric transition.
As one of the first dedicated electric vehicles from a traditional mass-market manufacturer, it has helped normalize EV ownership among mainstream consumers who might view brands like Tesla as too unconventional or expensive.
The vehicle’s carbon-neutral production claims—Volkswagen offsets emissions from manufacturing at its Zwickau plant—also highlight the industry’s growing focus on reducing environmental impact across the entire vehicle lifecycle, not just during operation.
“The ID.3 exemplifies our commitment to making electric mobility accessible to everyone,” notes Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars.
“While we’ve learned important lessons from its introduction, it remains the cornerstone of our electric strategy and the embodiment of our belief that electric vehicles can be practical, affordable everyday cars for millions of customers.”
Looking Ahead
As the ID.3 approaches the middle of its life cycle, Volkswagen continues to refine and expand the offering. Rumors of a performance-oriented GTX variant with dual motors and all-wheel drive persist, potentially bringing additional excitement to the range, while entry-level models with smaller batteries may help reduce the price of admission in markets where shorter ranges are acceptable.
The lessons learned from the ID.3—both its successes and initial stumbles—have already informed the development of subsequent ID models, including the ID.4 SUV, ID.5 coupe-SUV, and retro-inspired ID.Buzz microbus.
They’ve also accelerated Volkswagen’s software development capabilities, with the company now viewing digital experience as equally important to driving dynamics and build quality.
Volkswagen ID.3 : Finding Its Place in History
While it’s still too early to determine whether the ID.3 will ultimately achieve the historic significance of the Beetle or Golf, it has certainly established itself as a capable and increasingly refined electric vehicle that stays true to Volkswagen’s core values of practicality and accessibility, albeit with an electric twist.
The initial software and quality issues represented a humbling lesson for Volkswagen about the challenges of electric transition, but the company’s willingness to acknowledge and address these problems has resulted in a substantially improved product.
Today’s ID.3 delivers a significantly better ownership experience than early examples, with continuous improvements likely as production continues.
For consumers considering the switch to electric driving, the ID.3 offers a compelling blend of familiar Volkswagen attributes and electric benefits. It doesn’t revolutionize the electric vehicle experience, nor does it try to.
Instead, it translates the essential Volkswagen formula—practical, well-engineered transportation for everyday people—into the electric age, gaining confidence and capability with each refinement and update.
As Volkswagen’s first dedicated mass-market electric vehicle, the ID.3 may be remembered less for being perfect from the start and more for being the vehicle that helped normalize electric driving for millions of mainstream consumers—a contribution that could ultimately prove just as significant as the democratizing influence of its iconic predecessors.