Volkswagen ID.3 review - MPG, CO2 and running costs
The ID.3 is cheap to run day-to-day and will hold onto its value, but insurance premiums could be expensive.
Running costs are the ace up the sleeve of any EV and, although the price of the ID.3 can move up to the £40,000 mark, it’s true value is really highlighted by its decent range and zero CO2 emissions. For business users that means a 0% BiK company-car tax rate, while driving into congestion charge areas will also be free of charge.
There shouldn’t be any issue with the ID.3’s range, as the mid-spec 58kWh version can cover up to 260 miles on a single charge, while Volkswagen claims the top 77kWh variant will go 336 miles before needing to plug-in.
Our own in-depth test of the ID.3 revealed the average cost of covering 12,000 miles (solely from charging a 7.2kW home wallbox) would be around £490. In comparison, an average petrol-powered hatch would cost around three to four times as much.
Insurance groups
Insurance ratings for the ID.3 are reasonably high, but still competitive with rivals. All cars sit in either group 27 or 28, depending on trim level, while comparable Nissan Leaf versions are in group 26. The Kia e-Niro is in either group 26 or 27. Interestingly, the petrol-powered Golf GTI, with 242bhp, is also in group 28.
Depreciation
Residual values for EVs continue to strengthen, particularly as batteries are proving more reliable. The ID.3 is expected to hold onto around 48% of its value after three-years and 36,000 miles of ownership, while the Nissan Leaf isn’t quite as good a performer with 46% retained over the same period.
