It appears that Volkswagen is finally sweeping the last bits of that emissions cheating fiasco under the carpet with the reveal of the ID.3. The ID.3 is the first production car on the MEB modular electric-car platform that will underpin all of its models under a new range of EVs (you know, the type of vehicle that apparently is the answer to all our car pollution problems).
The ID.3 seems to have been designed with the same philosophy as when VW built the Beetle—to offer a car that is practical and affordable for the common folk. Starting at €30,000 (presently only available in Europe), the ID.3 is cheaper than the Nissan Leaf or VW’s own e-Golf, both of which are priced at around €35,000.
But that doesn’t mean you will be getting a poor man’s version of an electric car. The ID.3’s styling takes after the Golf, just taller and straighter, longer and wider. The inside is more spacious too, with the MEB platform using a rectangular battery pack that lies flat on the vehicle’s floor.
Options for 45, 58 and 77kWh battery packs will get your 205, 261 and 342 miles on the road respectively before needing a recharge, and that’s impressive. (Consider the Tesla Model 3’s range of 240 miles or 310 miles with the Long Range version.)
There’s nothing overly fancy about the interior: a digital gauge cluster, a central touchscreen, minimal control buttons/knobs and a roomy storage space in the centre console. In summary, functional.
Affordable, no-frills, practical, enough range to make it reliable, fits an entire family in it. It looks like the ID.3 is shaping up to take over the Beetle as the People’s Car in an electric-car-filled future.
