Used Volkswagen ID 3 2020-present review

The Volkswagen ID 3 is the first-born child of the manufacturer’s expanding all-electric ID series. Launched in 2020, it currently serves as VW’s family electric car, replacing the 2013-2020 Volkswagen e-Golf.

It’s built on a bespoke electric vehicle (EV) platform, meaning the model is green through and through, and there's not a petrol, diesel or hybrid variant in sight. Exciting stuff, we know – especially now examples are common on the used market.

The ID 3 was treated to a mid-life refresh at the end of 2023. This brought in some styling updates to the outside and tweaks to the interior, including the use of better-quality materials and the updating of the tech on the infotainment system.

Specifications: The entry-level battery choice is the Pure Performance 45kWh. It has a 148bhp motor that enables a claimed 0-62mph time of 8.9sec. For most, this will feel quick enough, especially from a standstill where you can experience the instant acceleration electric cars are known for.

Next up is the 58kWh battery, which is available with two power outputs. In Pro form it's 143bhp, but if you opt for the Pro Performance variant it has 201bhp, delivering 0-60mph in an impressive 6.6sec during our testing. Finally, the larger Pro S 77kWh battery powers the same 201bhp motor, but 0-62mph takes 7.9sec because it's heavier.

Trims and equipment: In terms of trim levels, Volkswagen gives you a good amount to choose from. Life is sufficiently well equipped and, as standard, you get a multifunction steering wheel, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, power-folding door mirrors, the front and rear parking sensors and a 10in infotainment system.

Stepping up to Family trim introduces some particularly useful kit including two-zone climate control, while Max trim gets all the goodies, including adaptive suspension and progressive steering as part of a Sports pack. It's more expensive, though, and so too is Tour trim, which is only available with the largest battery.

Ride and handling: The ID 3 has an excellent turning circle and light steering, so manoeuvring it around town is a breeze. Beyond the urban sprawl, the steering is accurate and sensibly geared, so it’s not a flighty car to thread along B-roads.

It doesn't give much finger-tingling communication or weight build-up when cornering in the default Comfort driving mode, but if you select Sport mode, you get a bit of useful extra heft. Grip is decent and, for an everyday electric hatchback designed to get you from A to B with little drama, the ID 3 handles very well indeed.

A heavy battery requires a stiff suspension set-up to support it, so don’t expect the ID 3 to offer luxury car levels of ride comfort. It’s far from harsh but, around town particularly, it gets choppy over potholes and it frequently fidgets a little on the motorway.

Interior and practicality: The interior of the ID 3 has a futuristic feel without being so revolutionary that it’ll scare anyone with an acute fear of change. There's a digital pod behind the steering wheel with a small but clear 5.3in display that shows the speed, range and sat-nav instructions, and a rotary-style gear selector on the side.

In terms of layout, the position of the driver’s seat in relation to the steering wheel and pedals is very good, leaving you sitting relaxed at the wheel. You get height and reach adjustment for the wheel as standard. If you want front seats with adjustable lumbar support, you’ll need to splash out on getting an example in Max or Tour trim.

All ID 3s come with a 10.0in infotainment touchscreen, which is a similar size to many of its rivals, but quite a bit smaller than the 15.0in display in the Tesla Model 3. Sadly, VW's latest infotainment software is nothing like as slick as the Model 3’s. It's trying to be, with fancy pictures of the car that twirl as you change screens, but it's all style over substance, proving laggy and confusingly laid out.

We will grumble at the lack of 'real' buttons, though. All the controls are touch-sensitive, including the temperature controls, which are touch-sensitive sliders that don’t even illuminate at night. Everything else is operated from the central infotainment touchscreen. We can't help wondering why it has to be so distracting to change anything on the move. Proper physical buttons and knobs – as found in many rival cars, including the Kia e-Niro – are so much easier to use.

Front and rear passenger space is excellent, with plenty of head and leg room available. The boot is about the same size as the one in the Volkswagen Golf, which is fine for the typical requirements of fitting in a buggy, the weekly shop or a couple of reasonable-sized suitcases. It gets a thumbs up from us.

If you're interested in finding a used ID 3, or any of the other electric cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Used prices for the Volkswagen ID 3 begin at around £12,500. That’ll get you a good 2020 example. These will feature the less well equipped trim levels, such as Life, but will most likely come with the 143bhp or 201bhp 58kWh battery. Spend between £13,000 and £18,000 on good 2021 and some 2022 cars and expect to pay in excess of £20,000 for 2022 models. For nearly new Max or Tour trimmed cars from 2023 or 2024 with the 201bhp 58kWh or 77kWh battery, some models will set you back closer to £30,000.

Check the value of a used Volkswagen ID 3 with What Car? Valuation

The Pure Performance 45kWh has an official range of 217 miles, which is longer than what the e-Golf could ever offer. With the 58kWh battery, the ID 3’s range rises to 226 miles, whereas the Pro S 77kWh can officially travel 336 miles on a single charge. That's up at the sharp end of the EV ranges available today.

The ID 3 has the ability to fast charge at up to 100kW (125kW for the top model). That should be enough to get the mid-range 58kWh battery from a 10-80% charge in around 30mins. Most service stations chargers are 50kW, so you'll be waiting for around 60mins to go from a 10-80% charge. With a 7kW home wall box, you’re looking at empty to fully charged in around nine hours.

Insurance costs are low and servicing costs should be reasonable.

Reliability

The Volkswagen ID 3 received mixed reviews in our 2023 Reliability Survey, based on real-world owner feedback.

Many praised its reliability, highlighting minimal maintenance needs. However, frequent software issues, such as malfunctioning infotainment systems and warning lights, were noted.

Opinions on dealer service varied. Some owners appreciated the prompt and efficient service, while others reported slow response times, delays, and poor communication regarding repair status and costs.

Overall, the Volkswagen ID 3 is reliable, but addressing software problems and enhancing dealer service would improve the ownership experience.

Learn more about the used Volkswagen ID 3 reliability on our dedicated reliability page.

We’d recommend going for the Pro Performance models. These cars come with the 201bhp 58kWh, which is our preferred battery option. It has plenty of poke and a praiseworthy range.

Life is our preferred trim. It may be the entry-level trin on the pre-facelift models but it is well equipped. It's also the most prevalent on the used car forecourts.

Our favourite Volkswagen ID 3: Pro Performance 58kWh Life

There are a few rival electric cars that spring to mind as attractive alternatives to the Volkswagen ID 3.

There’s the Kia e-Niro and Hyundai Kona EV, for example. Both have great real-world ranges, spacious interiors and good levels of equipment. Price-wise, the Kona EV tends to sell for less than the ID 3 and e-Niro, which is worth taking into consideration.

The Nissan Leaf is good to drive and easy to live with. You'll get good performance, it's easy to live with, there's loads of standard kit and it's generally cheaper to buy than the ID 3. Later models badged e+ also get an impressive amount of range, although still not as much as the ID 3, e-Niro and Kona EV can offer.

If you're interested in finding a used ID 3, or any of the other electric cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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