Well, this is a site committed to the top segment and functionality of the automotive industry. But we are told that the long term is “electric”. And even if we’re not going through to do everything we can to upgrade our collection with electric vehicles, it’s an electric car as a second, third or fourth car. After all, some cities can loop and block traditional cars, while others already dedicate special lanes and parking privileges to electricity.
This week, we drove one of the most talked about electric vehicles: the Volkswagen ID.3, priced at around 35,000 euros and described as the “pioneer of a new era of mobility”. The call might even recommend that this be VW’s third correct idea, following in the footsteps of Beetle and Golf. An ambitious legacy; Let’s see if the water analogy.
The ID.3 is technologically significant, as it is the first application of the purely electric MEB modular architecture, intended for use in a large number of nearby electric cars, adding Audi’s Q4 e-trunk. Some key issues are impressive: the front/rear 50:50 load distribution is ideal 50:50, and the EB platform is smooth, in the monetary constraints of a car waiting for VW to start through its plants in large quantities.
Initially, the ID.3 will be powered by a 204 horsepower electric motor, which will have a 58 kWh or 77 kWh battery; at a later stage, VW will offer a more pedestrian engine of 146 horsepower. The maximum torque of the 204 hp engine is 310 Nm, transmitted to the rear wheels via a gearbox at a speed.
The ID.3 moves quickly: the run from 0 to one hundred km/h takes 7.9 seconds, or 7.3 seconds with the smallest battery. While this would have been the territory of the GTI a few years ago, the most sensitive speed is seriously compromised: the ID.3 is governed at a speed of 160 km/h. Remove the foot from the throttle and the car will start rolling; For electric vehicle enthusiasts who prefer a “one pedal” feel, the recovery rate can be particularly higher by settling in the “B” position on the speed selector.
The power source is instantaneous and transparent, and the car rushes with force even above 130 km/h. Autonomy, of course, is the Achilles heel of each and every electric, and the official cycle, conscientiously designed through bureaucrats to make electric cars more beautiful than they are, is valued at 426 kilometers, but VW has the feeling of offering a wide “customer-oriented” aisle, known for the diversity of 290 to 420 kilometers. Any electric car is extremely sensitive to the taste of driving and we expect the actual numbers to accumulate around the decrease figure.
The well-insulated transmission remains virtually inaudible, while wind and tyre noise is minimal. The chassis and frame are acoustically decoupled and the main points, such as teardrop-shaped holes at the base, are more acoustic. The sound of a pedestrian precaution of up to 30 km/h, a synthetic groan, can actually only be heard from the outside.
The address is accurate and direct, as in the Golf and Passat. And thanks to the heavy battery, the ID.3 feels firmly planted along the way. Despite its rear-wheel drive design, it is very unlikely to cause oversteer, and the stability formula operates with such rigor that it can almost immobilize the car. The priorities are clear: while longitudinal dynamics, at least in the speed-decreasing range, are reaching GTI levels, Wolfsburg is playing the protection card in terms of lateral dynamics.
However, the damping is strangely difficult, regardless of the “Comfort” or “Sport” mode. This lack of convenience to drive can also be the result of a thin rubber that is fixed on 18 to 20 inch tires. By the way, the rear propulsion platform for a small turning radius, right between an Up and a Golf.
This EV comes with a number of systems, the same for Golf. The track maintenance assistant likes to play a small ping-pong between brands and does not even intend to allow autonomous driving. This is probably a much higher technique than Tesla’s autopilot, which regularly provides a false sense of security until it stops.
The interior is covered with high quality surface materials; Even hard plastic segments don’t seem cheap. Gently flooded through the panoramic roof, the front seats offer intelligent-looking support. The ID.3 is a convenient car, with a seat in the back seat near the Passat and a decent 385-litre trunk.
We found that the center console is too bulky, as its only objective is to place two cup holders; more area and more legroom would have been better. The swivel front armrests, on the other hand, are too narrow and the fact that the inner mirror has a bulging plastic frame turns out to be a flaw in this in a different, ultra-clean and futuristic way.
The tools are clear, logical and intuitive, and the small screen versus the driving force will rotate with the guide wheel. The speed selector is constant directly, with its label hidden through the wheel. The giant head-up demo features perfectly designed graphics, but navigation graphics only represent paints for short-range navigation, while long-range graphics will be added later. Unfortunately, the head-up demonstration failed twice in our verification, reflecting electronic upheavals we encountered with the new Golf on some other occasion.
Volkswagen insists that the software parts that are still functional will be installed through dealers in January. Tesla’s long-awaited “air” updates, which Tesla uses to repair endless insects, will come even later. Presumably VW doesn’t want this feature as much as Americans.
In its German domestic market, the ID.3 is presented for a value of more than 35,000 euros, while the charged is close to 50,000 euros. Depending on the market, beneficiary subsidies can be deducted.
By the way, Volkswagen claims that the new ID.3 has a “better carbon footprint” than a comparable combustion engine, but once it has crossed the 100,000 kilometers. Meanwhile, the battery has a warranty of 8 years or 160,000 kilometers; So far, VW promises a capacity of 70%.
Electric mobility comes with many question marks about the excitement and sympathy of driving, as well as the true environmental impact. But if you need an electric, the ID.3 is the ultimate full and compelling offer to date. It is compact and agile, a laugh to throw and a laugh to look at. Even if we keep our regular cars, we might be tempted to try.