Volkswagen ID 3 long-term test: report 3
When we group tested the Volkswagen ID 3, we were so impressed that we named it Small Electric Car of the Year. But does it continue to cut the mustard during the daily grind?...
The car Volkswagen ID 3 Pro Performance Family Run by Allan Muir, managing editor
Why we’re running it To see whether this electric hatchback has the versatility to be Volkswagen’s new people’s car
Needs to Be at least as comfortable and practical as an equivalent Golf and deliver on the promise of a better real-world range than its nearest rivals
Mileage 3085 List price £34,995 Target Price £34,480 Price as tested £37,270 Test range 175 miles
8 January 2022 – At close range
In my experience, running an electric vehicle (EV) becomes a lot easier if it can cover at least 200 real-world miles between charges. That sort of range means I can pretty much go where I like, when I like without a second thought.
And that was what my Volkswagen ID 3 was achieving in the early days, happily dispatching around 220 miles before needing a top-up. But now, with the weather having turned colder, the indicated range has fallen to around 190 miles and the distance I can actually cover between charges to 175 miles.
To be fair, all EVs suffer a similar drop-off in battery performance in cold weather, so it’s no surprise that it has happened to my ID 3 too. And this doesn’t mean I can no longer do some of the journeys that I’d usually do; a 175-mile range is still respectable in comparison with what most other small electric cars can manage in the same conditions. However, that earlier sense of freedom has been diminished somewhat.
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here
Read more on our long-term Volkswagen ID 3 >>
Read about more long-term test cars >>
Best plug-in hybrid cars 2024 – best and worst PHEVs named
Plug-in hybrid cars can reduce fuel consumption to an absolute minimum, but which models are the best all-rounders and which ones should you avoid?
