The test – Volkswagen ID.3 facelift (2023): this is what learning from your mistakes looks like

The introduction of the ID.3 in 2020 was undoubtedly an exciting moment for Volkswagen. The model marked the beginning of the great electric adventure. There were already all kinds of ID models in the works that would copy its powertrain, design and operation from the ID.3. Let’s just hope it’s a success…

In the first year of sales, the ID.3 took off like a rocket in the Netherlands. With 11,000 units, only the Kia Niro sold better in 2020. But the following year, the fun was pretty much over. The electric hatchback dropped from second to fifty-second place in the sales charts. In retrospect, you could say that persistent software problems scared away potential customers, but the real reason may have been adding business. It jumped from 8 to 12 and then 16 percent.

Good ideas for the Volkswagen ID.3

Many of the ideas Volkswagen introduced with the ID.3 still make us happy. Like how the selector lever on an automatic transmission is behind the steering wheel and therefore within easy reach. This allowed the center tunnel to stay compact and you have a good amount of legroom up front. The fact that the floating touchscreen is oriented towards the driver looks very nice. We ignore the fact that the list is still a bit complicated.

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We’re still glad Volkswagen chose rear-wheel drive at that time. In an electric car, you’d rather be pushed forward than pulled. And since the electric motor is located in the back, the front wheels can rotate well. This added maneuverability remains a useful feature of the ID.3, which few manufacturers are imitating. The chassis still offers a nice balance between comfort and sportiness. Especially on clinker roads, the ID.3 has a smoother suspension than the somewhat stiff suspension Cobra is born.

Volkswagen ID.3 (2023): changes

As for the facelift, Volkswagen says it listened carefully to customers to implement the improvements. This mainly concerned the interior, for which the materials used were so cheap that even the VW accountants had to be ashamed. On the updated ID.3, the door panels are trimmed with a beautiful fabric and the dashboard has a soft-touch top layer and elegant decorative stitching. That’s just enough swagger for an electric car with a base price of €44,990.

The exterior has also been changed slightly, with the disappearance of the black hood bulge being the biggest change. In addition to the vertical air intakes in the front bumper, new 20-inch wheels (optional) and two new paint colors, there’s suddenly a new car in front of you. Our olive green test car shows off a new color and you can also opt for a bright blue metallic paint. At the back of the ID.3 we discover two minor changes: the C-pillars no longer have decorations and the taillight part on the tailgate now has a light and lights up. Previously, this part of the unit of light remained strangely dark.

bad thoughts

Volkswagen has done nothing about the annoying touch buttons on the steering wheel. They’ve been a thorn in our side with every ID model, but with the introduction of the updated ID.3, we’re giving them a second chance. With the adaptive cruise control set at 100 km/h, we focus on pressing the up arrow and see the speed gradually increase to 101, 102, 103 and then the required 104 km/h. It worked perfectly. Have we been so strict this whole time? Not real! The next day we did the same procedure and this time the speed was unintentionally set to 110, 120, 130 and 140 km/h. The car lunges forward and the other motorists look on in surprise. We look back as surprised.

We’re obviously pressing the wrong button, but if you can mishandle the button at all, that means there’s something wrong with the button itself. In short, the tactile buttons are bad. Thomas Schäffer, CEO of Volkswagen, shares our opinion. It does away with touch buttons and equips the new Tiguan, which will be launched next year, with a steering wheel with physical buttons. Unfortunately, of course, this change comes too late for the improved ID.3.

Conclusion

The Volkswagen ID.3 is now just as it should have been when it was introduced in 2020. With an interior that matches the hefty price tag in terms of looks and a slightly better all-rounder design. It’s unfortunate that the steering wheel still has touch controls, but that inconvenience will be addressed at some point in the future.