NEW VW ID 3 facelift review! – is it fixed?? | What Car?

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In this new VW ID 3 review, we go through all the new changes with VW's electric hatch and tell you if the problems from before have been fixed. Or are the Cupra Born and MG 4 still better electric alternatives?




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[SteelPorcupine]

It goes to show that the market doesn’t really want ‘techy’ solutions for normal car functions. VW thought they were doing the right thing, developing those silly controls to attract tech savvy people but the reality is most people just want solid buttons and simple controls for basic features.

I think the basis for the car is pretty good given what Cupra and Skoda have made from the same platform. The only reason why I’m rooting for it is I want to see more electric hatchbacks instead of SUVs and the MG4 is ridiculously overstyled. Let’s hope the ID2 is better.

[andrewroberts]

Four weeks ago I took delivery of a ID3 Pro 58kW with the latest 3.5 software. I have owned electric cars since 2014. I looked at the MG4 but a test drive showed the cheap plastic inside. Road noise more dominant than the ID3. Excellent value though but p/x offered by dealer not so good narrowing the price difference. The dealer was also 20 miles from me. VW dealer 2miles away and offered to collect the car for any work needed.

I am disabled and that support is a major point in favour. I garage the car so where the charger is located is important. Kia, Hyundai & Renault all out for that reason.

As for the VW ID3, it’s quiet, comfortable, spacious, well built, I love the use of recycled materials. I have no issues with the haptic controls & info screens. The latter are completely free from lag. The adaptive cruise control is excellent and the controls on the steering wheel do have feel. As for the air con, I check the temperature before driving and that’s it - why do you need to fiddle with it on the go, me I am concentrating on the driving conditions around me. No other distractions to affect that.

The car delivers a excellent 4.2 miles/kWh at a steady 70mph, overall after a month of driving, the car is showing 4.7 miles/kWh.

Lastly the VW app is excellent and connects instantly to the car.

So is it worth it? For me yesterday it is.

[mbc]

'cause, you know, rushing things out worked really well for them last time.

[connclissmann]

My daughter has an ID.3, now 2 years old. Asked the dealer for a software update appointment in April 2023 and was given one in October 2023. This from a company that promised OTA updates. VW, please kick your dealers into action. Your early adopters deserve better than this!

[TL-xwfh]

The ID3 is actually more expensive than a Tesla 3 when you include the essential options.

[tobybushnell]

I really want VW to succeed, but this update feels pointless when it still has touch buttons on the wheel and the heating controls aren’t backlit.

[cristianseres]

It is always a pleasure to watch a review by Doug Revolta. VW should reduce the price.

[thomasabbott]

VW really dropped the ball on this one. Probably due to the reported $34 billion loss from Dieselgate sandal.

[Roll_the_Bones]

The VW comment regarding the four-seat only option when using the 77kWh battery being down to weight (mass) overload, is highly dubious, since an extended MEB platform is used for the larger, heavier, ID.4 / Skoda Enyaq / Audi SUV series vehicles with the same motor, none of which have this restriction. It's likely more to do with packaging, as the addition batteries have to be fitted into the central rear seat space on the ID.3 (as far as I know?). Which is also why the ID.3 cost is so high for a mid-range vehicle, it's main cost element is the same heavy-duty platform designed for the bigger higher-price-point vehicles, and why they had to cut costs on the interior to make it remotely affordable.

[hkad]

Bought the facelift and love it to bits. 500 km of realistic range with my driving style, so far not a single software issue. Even all the phone & app stuff works 100%.
Performance and comfort are two classes above the old BMW I drove before. The haptic touch buttons on the steering wheel work excellent as well. Never had an accidental input.

I really dont understand the hate its by miles the best car I ever had and on par with much, much more expensive combustion cars.

[chrisweston]

£37k starting price. Want a glass roof? That'll be the "Exterior Pack Plus with Panoramic Roof" pack for £3k. Want speakers in the rear? That'll be the "Interior Comfort Pack Plus" pack for £4k. Add a heat pump (should be standard) for £970. Add those together and you're now at £45k. I like the car but way too expensive IMO

[yudefeated]

I’ve had a Cupra Born since October 22 and can clearly see the improvements still don’t fully close the gap. The overall look is subjective and I appreciate some will prefer the ID3 but I’m still happy with my choice.

[rootypoots]

The exterior actually looks decent now! Still not a fan of their infotainment screen (but then again, I don’t think any car manufacturers are getting those right just yet—we’re still in that liminal space where it’s obvious cars will have great infotainment systems eventually, but nobody’s learned how to do them right yet). And I’m afraid those touch buttons on the steering wheel would drive me absolutely batty. Switch those out for physical buttons and this could be a car I’d be happy enough to live with!

[viator]

I’m honestly not quite sure why but I just love this car lol

[shaywhelan]

Why is it so hard for VW to change the climate controls? They used to set the benchmark for cabin high quality, but in many car reviews now, on any platform, the reviewer will compare the climate controls to VW's awful system

[DanRyzESPUK]

The car is good, its just a pricing issue. They need to reduce by 8k the price across the board to start with.

[ramman]

I’m deeply bothered by this refresh, as it’s not the full refresh, expecting owners hold fire, 6 months after the refresh vw is expected to launch a new motor and battery tech, also surrounding cameras are not unlockable even with the refresh, that comes with the motor, the screen size and hardware upgrades, even upgraded parking sensors are only after the refresh, this was a really bad move by vw they tried to do a t but fumbled, and still 3 years after launch, it still struggles to do over the air updates taking a whopping 6-8 hours that can’t be rescheduled

[ericvetb]

9:58 German car makers are very good at that… charge absolute fortune for extras which are included in many other similar cars.

[Teslaudi]

Model 3 is a similar price, and it's faster, nicer to drive, has better efficiency, is more practical, has a better warranty, and has a better charging network. The German/China built ones are also probably just as well built as this VW and with far better material quality. The only reasons for getting one of these over the Tesla is needing a hatch, preferring the looks or brand loyalty.

[Makonnexion]

I very like it but the problem is the big screen, the buttom on the steering wheel and the price.
IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE!!!!