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Volkswagen ID.3 review - Range, charging and running costs

The ID.3 should be cheap to run day to day and range is competitive for an electric hatchback

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Range, charging and running costs Rating

4.0 out of 5

  • Good looks
  • Decent range
  • Refinement
  • Some cheap interior trim
  • Fiddly infotainment system
  • Heavy
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For a brief time, the ID.3 was available with three battery sizes, including a relatively small 45kWh unit that offered just over 200 miles of range. Now though, following the electric hatchback’s recent facelift, there are just two battery sizes available, with rapid-charging capabilities also varying depending on the model you go for.

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The entry-level ID.3 Pro uses a 58kWh battery, which Volkswagen says is good for a range of up to 265 miles on a single charge. When we tested this particular version of the ID.3 in the UK it indicated well over 200 miles of range when we set off (with the battery at 92 per cent capacity), and we averaged over 3.3 miles per kWh efficiency during our testing. That’s not too bad, especially because we were trying to test the car’s handling abilities, not hypermile it. We reckon you could see closer to 4mi/kWh in normal driving, as we saw when we drove the larger-battery version in the UK.

Pro S models are fitted with a 77kWh battery that boosts the range up to 347 miles. During our twin test between the facelifted ID.3 and an MG4, which included driving across a variety of roads, we managed to achieve 3.8mi/kWh from the ID.3 Pro S. That equates to a real-world range of 293 miles.

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The optional heat pump should also help improve the ID.3’s range come winter, because it warms the cabin without using the car’s main battery.

For context, the Renault Megane E-Tech has a 280-mile maximum range, and the MG4 Long Range will cover up to 281 miles between charges – a few miles further than the ID.3 Pro can manage. However the MG4 Extended Range can only do 323 miles before its battery runs flat, and the base Tesla Model 3 has a range of 305 miles, so the ID.3 Pro S does trump those rivals on paper.

The ID.3’s maximum charging speed depends on which model you go for. Pro-spec cars can charge at up to 120kW, while Pro S models will hit 170kW if you use a suitably fast charging point. A 10-80 per cent top-up for both versions should take about half an hour.

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When it comes to topping up at home, a typical 7.4kW home wallbox will fully replenish the ID.3 Pro’s 58kWh battery in just over nine hours, or roughly 12 hours for the 77kWh ID.3 Pro S.

Insurance groups

Insurance ratings for the ID.3 are higher than your average hatchback, but still competitive for a family-friendly EV. The ID.3 Pro sits in insurance group 25 (out of 50), while the pricier ID.3 Pro S lands in group 27, so it shouldn’t be more expensive to insure than a Renault Megane E-Tech (groups 26-27) or Kia Niro EV (groups 28-29).

You can get personalised car insurance quotes fast with our comparison tool powered by Quotezone...

Depreciation

Residual values for EVs continue to strengthen, particularly with batteries proving more reliable. According to our latest expert data, the facelifted ID.3 is expected to hold onto between 49 and 54 per cent of its value after three years and 36,000 miles of ownership, with the smaller-battery ID.3 Pro projected to retain the most value. 

The ID.3’s sister car, the Cupra Born, is expected to hold onto around 52 per cent of its list price after the same ownership period, while the Renault Megane E-Tech should retain about 55 per cent.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool...

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