Back to Basics: Volkswagen ID3

Normally Volkswagen is a brand where we can be quite short of substance in this section. Why? Because the standard equipment is often on the sparse side. With the ID3, the brand from Wolfsburg is also changing course in that respect, because the brand’s first purely electric model is already quite good in its stuff in the basic version.

Volkswagen ID3 58 kWh Life

€ 37,890

The ID3 can already be called a hit in our country: 3,398 copies have been registered since delivery started in September. There are no variations in the powertrain as yet: the ID3 is only available with a 204 hp and 310 Nm strong electric motor, powered by a 58 kWh battery pack. In any case, this makes the price list clear. As the ID3 has only just entered the market, Volkswagen offers a number of limited trim levels: the 1st, 1st Plus and 1st Max. The two regular versions on the price list are the Life and Business. The latter must yield € 41,490. Because the limited editions will soon disappear from the market, only the regular editions will be discussed here. It is true that the ID3 1st is an attractive offer compared to the Life. For an extra € 100 you get 18-inch alloy and a contrasting pattern on the C-pillar.

Steel wheels

That alloy is one of the most prominent options, because the Life is standard on 18-inch steel wheels with hubcaps. The Business is also featured on this footwear, so in that sense the regular versions are clearly distinguishable from the ‘First Editions’. The ID3 Life is painted in Moonstone Gray and always has a contrasting black roof. In terms of colors, if you do not want to pay extra, you can only choose from ‘Makena Turquoise’. The other four exterior colors each cost € 795, with ‘Stonewashed Blue’ being the most colorful option. Furthermore, the choice is limited to dark gray metallic, black metallic and white.

Volkswagen ID3

Furthermore, the ID3 has LED headlights and rear lights as standard. You don’t have to pay extra for electrically adjustable, heated and folding exterior mirrors on the Life. If it is your thing, you can still equip the mirrors with dynamic indicators for € 281. In addition, the Volkswagen logo is always projected on the ground when you open the door. Furthermore, the ID3 is standard suitable for DC fast charging up to 100 kW and AC charging up to 11 kW. Volkswagen supplies a charging cable for the wallbox or public charging. For € 199 you can order an extra charging cable to also charge via a 230V socket.

Lots of gadgets

As mentioned earlier, at Volkswagen you usually have to make a big cut before your car is a bit nice in its stuff. The ID3 is an exception to that rule in a positive sense. We’ll get to that in a minute. In terms of upholstery, the interior is not very spectacular at first. The cloth seats are gray with a diamond pattern and parts of the dashboard and center tunnel are decorated in shiny black plastic. In order to still bring a bit of atmosphere to the interior, the mood lighting is adjustable in 10 colors. In terms of multimedia, however, you are in the ID3 right from the start. The 10-inch ‘Discover Pro’ touchscreen is standard, as is wireless charging for the phone and a total of four USB-C charging points. Furthermore, the Life has automatic air conditioning with the option of preheating the interior. Thanks to a heated steering wheel and seat heating, you don’t have to suffer from cold during the ride.

Volkswagen ID3

Other comfort enhancing features that are standard on the ID3 are an automatically dimming interior mirror, a rain sensor and parking sensors front and rear. In terms of safety systems, you will also not get bad. Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go function is always present, as are traffic sign recognition, a fatigue assistant, Lane Assist and an emergency call system that automatically alerts the emergency services in an emergency situation.

Volkswagen mainly works with equipment packages for the ID3, because the separate option list for the ID3 is limited. Above, we mentioned a number of options, which are actually the only things you can get as extras on the Life, in addition to a set of rubber floor mats and various separate sets of alloy wheels. The ID3 Business has a few things compared to the Life that may be worth considering. That equipment level includes Matrix LED headlights with the characteristic connecting LED strip, dark red rear lights with dynamic turn signals, tinted windows, Keyless Access, a reversing camera, Pre-Crash passenger protection and, yes, mood lighting that can be set in 30 colors.

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