Volkswagen is investing massively in electric. It believes that it can produce the next 'people's car' in the same way that it did with the original Beetle and then the Golf. The ID.3 is the car that it thinks will spearhead that revolution and is the first in a long series of interesting models it has planned, ranging from a beach buggy to a reborn version of its classic camper van.
It has dabbled before in electric cars, with battery-powered versions of the Golf and Up! city car, but the ID.3 is the first VW to be designed from the ground-up as an electric vehicle. All of its future EVs will use this structure and layout, so it has gone all-out to make sure it is impressive.
Volkswagen has been careful to make sure the ID.3 is easy to drive and to live with, so it will be instantly familiar to anyone in the way it works, feels and drives. There are no nasty surprises or things which will need you to change the way you drive, except swapping petrol stations for charge points.
How often you need to charge depends on the battery size you choose. There are three different sizes but the bigger capacity power packs are obviously more expensive, so it only makes sense to choose one if you need to do long journeys frequently or don't have access to a charger every day.
Even the smallest, cheapest battery should be able to cover an easy 150-200 miles on a charge though, and it can be topped up at a rapid charger to 80% in about 30 minutes.
While you wait for the charge, you'll find the inside of the ID.3 is a nice place to be. It's a little short on leg space as the batteries make the floor feel high, but there's plenty of room above your head and the boot is bigger than a Golf's too.. The quality isn't up to VW's usual standards though, and the materials feel cheap, especially in the rear.
When you're back out on the road the ID.3 feels very Golf-like, but quieter. It's smooth and fast without being as outrageous as a Tesla. The most useful part is the steering, which turns a surprisingly long way, giving the ID.3 a really tight turning capability. It makes parking and manoeuvring much easier.
So could the ID.3 turn around VW fans and make them go electric? We reckon it could.
You can read more motoring advice from Ginny Buckley on the website: electrifying.com
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