2023-06-29 16:05:38
AND BREF
Restyled version of the ID.3
100% electric compact sedan
Battery 58 kWh or 77 kWh
Autonomy between 418 and 557 km
From €42,990
When it was launched, the ID.3 received, and deservedly, a volley of criticism. It was not the first 100% electric car from Volkswagen (the e-Up! assuming this role), but the first studied as such from the start. However, it is difficult to excuse a quality of finish unworthy of the brand, and the price, complex ergonomics, and repeated bugs that have ruined his early career.
But, Volkswagen, beating its guilt, swore to us its great gods that they took into account, for this restyling, the criticisms of the customers (and the auto press!). And that if they might not solve all the problems, they put their work back on the job to present a more successful product.
Is it true ? The answer is yes, at least in part.
A subtly revised plastic
Aesthetically to begin with, the Wolfsburg firm has removed some incongruities (sorry… originalities), such as the big black bead on the hood or the textures on the rear pillar. The first therefore becomes smoother, seems longer, and has two grooves on the sides. As for the uprights, they simply go back to body color.
The ID.3 in “phase 2” before its new, more dynamic shield and a bonnet that seems elongated.
Before restyling, we had a big black bead on the hood and a shield carved with small diamonds.
At the same time, the front bumper is redesigned. No more small diamonds dug above the air intake. The latter changes shape and is now flanked by two air intakes which guide the flow towards the wheels.
On the profiles, the inserts mentioning the version have been skipped, and at the rear, the LED lights take on a 3D effect in the Style and Style Exclusive finish, while the part located on the tailgate now lights up.
New colors are finally introduced, such as that of our test model, called “Dark Olivine Green” (option at 900 €), as well as “Bleu Côte d’Azur” and “Black ebony”. Black contrasting roofs and tailgate are still on the program.
The front features a revised shield, energized by two air intakes at the ends. The hood seems longer because the black plastic bead has disappeared. At the rear on the other hand, no change except for 3D LED lights on the Style and Style Exclusive finishes. And the part located on the tailgate now lights up.
An upgraded cabin quality
In the passenger compartment, the emphasis has been placed much more on improving the quality of materials than on design. This is what had to be done, as it was unworthy of the brand and the price level charged.
That said, the storm doors still change design. And everywhere, hard plastics give way to foamy surfaces. The upper part of the dashboard was already at heart, the lower part joins it, the front doors too. And topstitching appears to enhance the perceived quality. The central air vents have been subtly revised and display the ID.3 badge in their center.
Ambient lighting is implemented, and the multimedia screen increases to 12 inches diagonally on all versions. The lion’s share is made of recycled materials, so the steering wheel is now adorned with “vegan” faux leather, and the door panels and seats with “Artvelour” microfiber material made up of 71% recycled plastic waste.
The quality of the materials of the dashboard is very visible improvement, and that’s good. The screen increases to 12 inches for everyone and the multimedia system in version 3.5 is smoother and less buggy. But there is still room for improvement.
The instrumentation in front of the driver, also digital, remains small (5.3 inches), and always attached to the steering wheel when it is adjusted, which is an excellent ‘ID’. And the latter returns to the keys on which it must be pressed to obtain the desired result, rather than tactile.
The multimedia system, sharply (and rightly) criticized for its slowness and its bugs, has been improved. Not its ergonomics, but version 3.5 of the software allows all the same to have less bugs (remains a voice command which is triggered more than reason when nothing has been asked of it …), and a little more of speed. That said, we are still very far from what Renault offers with its Open R Link system, Tesla, or even Stellantis with its latest system. The delays are still on the program.
The multimedia system screen increases to 12 inches for everyone. Software version 3.5 improves responsiveness and fixes many bugs, but it’s still not perfect. The ergonomics of the touch keys below, for the air conditioning, can always be improved.
But connectivity is improving, with the possibility now of carrying out updates without moving, in OTA (Over the Air), and of buying, or renting equipment monthly, via the online car store. . Thus, for example, you can afford ambient lighting in 30 colors instead of 10 once morest €59 to purchase, or €15 per year, or even €1.50 per month. Bi-zone air conditioning instead of one costs €289 to purchase, but €73 per year, or €7.50 per month. Finally the navigation can be yours, on the basic version which does not have it as standard, once morest 905 € in purchase, but 225 € per year, or 23 € per month, during the holidays for example…
Navigation that has the advantage of offering a trip planner that takes into account actual consumption, any change in type of driving and therefore consumption, the outside temperature, etc., to suggest the best charging stops. Only the entry-level Life Plus finish does not have it, but you can use the smartphone ID application. Connect to plan trips and recharge.
The rear seats are spacious for legroom and headroom. The width is medium.
The boot volume is 385 liters with the bench seat in place and 1,267 liters with the bench seat folded down. These are average values. the double floor of the boot provides an almost flat surface with the bench seat folded down.
At the rear, the storm doors remain solid, but the passengers benefit from a good space and sufficient glazed surfaces. Nothing to do with the feeling of confinement in the back of a Mégane. The trunk volume remains at 385 litres, which is average, the same Mégane offering 440 litres. Seat folded down, we measure 1,267 litres.
No big technical changes
Technically, the ID.3 only evolves marginally. It still offers a single engine power, 204 hp, two battery capacities. The small one offers 58 kWh of net capacity, a torque of 240 Nm and a range of between 418 and 427 km depending on the finish and the size of the rims (combined consumption WLTP between 15.3 and 16 kWh). It’s a few kilometers better than before, thanks to electronic management optimizations. But nothing notable. The integrated charger allows you to recharge at 11 kW of power, or around 6 hours at a public terminal. In direct current, we climb to 120 kW admissible (100 kW at launch), i.e. a passage from 20 to 80% in 35 minutes.
Two batteries for the ID.3: one 58 kWh and one 77 kWh. The first accepts 120 kW in fast charge, the second 170 kW. And the maximum ranges are 427 and 557 km respectively.
With this battery, the 0 to 100 km / h is shot in 7.3 s. and the maximum speed is set at 160 km/h.
The large battery offers a capacity of 77 kWh net. The engine torque climbs to 310 Nm, and the range reaches 547 to 557 km in mixed. However, the performance regresses compared to the small battery. The fault with an additional weight of 118 kg (493 kg once morest 375 for the battery, 1,933 kg once morest 1,815 in all). The 0 to 100 is shot in 7.9 seconds. Which is still quite correct.
Charging still caps at 11 kW in AC, but thanks to different cell chemistry (the supplier is not the same, SKI instead of LG or CATL), fast charging can go up to 170 kW (compared to 125 at the moment). launch). this allows you to go from 20 to 80% in 42 minutes.
To note : the 77 kWh version is (for the moment) approved for 4 seats only, and has a 2-seater bench seat at the rear, hollowed out in the middle. The 58 kWh is homologated in 5 places. The explanation lies in dark stories of authorized weight…
Power and torque are still sent to the rear wheels, obviously no change there.
To gauge dynamic qualities, we have selected for our test a small battery version, which currently accounts for 80% of salesin the mid-range Style finish, with a few options.
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