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This comment section is silly. It's just people bashing the ID.3 because it's not the best thing since sliced bread. I don't think I ever saw this being pushed as a premium EV, and it was never meant to be. It's a car. It's a Volkswagen. It's not a one off premium sports car. It's not a Halo car. People who were expecting a Mercedes interior bolted to a Tesla powertrain are stupid. This doesn't have to be the best possible car (and it isn't), it has to be a good enough car to get people to switch to EV, and I'd say it'll do that. People will buy either it or the other derivatives of the ID product line for their own reasons, and quite frankly, that's fine. It's an EV from the largest car maker in the world, that's what's important.

Hate that volume and air con on many EV is getting more difficult not easier to use whilst driving. Overall good platform but leaves questions any buyer. Honest review very informative.

VW isn't the only manufacturer that has overly complicated the human/machine interface, Tesla is master of it with the Model 3/Y. I simply don't know why engineers have to keep "reinventing the wheel." Nothing beats a simple knob or physical press button. Trying to integrate everything into a electronic display menu, electronic slider or finicky electronic button is counter intuitive for many people. Dr. McCoy "Bones" said it the best in STTMP, "I know engineers, they love to change things."

With a car the most important thing has to be the hardware, after all most of the time is spent driving and only very little time is spent changing temperature or rear mirrors. Therefore, I think this looks like the best EV out there right now: The price to range ratio for e.g. the "Pro Performance" version (35.500 Euro in Germany including tax and before incentives, 426 km WLTP) is better than ALL other options from the competitors, as far as I can see. And this is what really matters to most, I think.

Thomas, another spot on review particularly your views on the imprecise and complicated touch controls! It’s difficult to believe that they won’t cause a few accidents.

I would buy one and would love to see it in Australian cities. Good review: I understand that it’s inferior to Tesla in some respects, but I like the design and trust the quality of VW. Looking forward to EV being the norm for urban driving. The sooner the better.

►In-depth version of this review: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jsCodMh-p9rTg5s.html ►Compare the Mazda MX-30: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rMWbdZVzvMq5aYE.html ►Compare the BMW i3: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jdyonceg0L6VYH0.html ►Compare the Tesla Model 3: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fLGkgZijp8_FlnU.html ►VW Beetle vs Golf vs ID Concept: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ndyfp9Wfl8-Ykps.html

Excellent review some good comments on issues outstanding.

Some additional information: - the electric motor is a permament-magnet-synchronous motor, comparable from the principle to the new ones that Tesla is using - While you could score the official range with city and countryside driving by reaching 13-14 kWh / 100 km, highspeed Autobahn driving (effective tested max. speed 165 km/h) resulted in about 23 kWh / 100 km. - The left capactive button fiel on the steering wheel lets you control the cruise control with +10 and -10 km/h by a deep click, and if you just click in a very soft and shallow way, you can control +1 and -1 km/h with the very same button... just have to be very gentle...

A nice looking car. Should sell well. The controls seem rather clumsy, but I'm sure they will change these over time..

It seems better than I expected 🙂👍

Very good and thorough review. Love the car and its potential to be a fun, practical, and reasonably priced EV. As a Honda owner I hope VW does the work on reliability as well as the software elegance and simplicity work you mention. Thank you!

I also like the Digital Equipment Inside the Car. 1st Edition Models look smart

Love it ☺️

Enjoyed watching the Video Review. The Best Volkswagen Electric Car

Someone wake me up when car manufacturers stop using capacitive controls in cars... Just what you need while driving - requiring you to take your eyes off the road to see what you're pushing :(

Saw one of these, in a hypermiling article, in battleship gray with black top, looked great. Question is, is the ride smooth enough in this as it was in the top of line Golf. Should be better given the weight of the batteries.

I think id3 will be my next auto next year

Good, well-balanced review. Overall I like the look of the exterior, but wasn't crazy about the internal displays (either one). I've been looking forward to VW's all-electric debut, and I think they are on the right track. But after seeing this video, I'm thinking I may have to wait a couple of years for them to really work out the kinks.

It looks like a great car, like it’s cousin the Golf. We didn’t get one because of the dodgy charging infrastructure and slower charger times here in the UK. If that gets sorted and the software then this car will be a winner. The automakers really need to step up and simplify and rapidly roll out charging infrastructure!!

Great review as always Thomas,very informative 👍 Long time ago VW had concept model called Chico and somehow ID3 reminds me on it. Btw I don't like it so much. Danke und tschußi 🙂

We have a 2019 Kia Niro EV EX Premium; I have driven this car 7,500 miles in the last 8 months, including 2 trips of 900 miles each. I agree with another member that the Tesla supercharger network was the best idea Elon had. Otherwise, the charging infrastructure for traveling is sketchy, even in CA, where EVs are prevalent. Now to the cars. The Niro EV has every feature of the Id3, but it's front wheel drive. It is a very 'ordinary' car in that if a friend steps into it he/she can simply drive away. There is nothing to figure out. There are absolutely no issues with this car. Well designed; well built; long warranty. Based on everything I've seen, there is no car that fulfills the EV vision as well. I know, the Tesla fanbois will take issue, but I wouldn't own one because of build quality issues, warranty and service issues and the single flat screen to control absolutely everything. Bring it on!

Another season is coming for our movement. It looks beautiful. Excellent presentation and shots. Good evening from Greece.

I love this car and also the interior!

i liked gauge cluster. compact lcd design does the job enough. nobody needs more than that. but multimedia screen must be a lot more larger.

The BMW I3 started this design, VW using some of the great features of the I3 with some improvements.

seems like a great start for VW on fully electric cars, nice design, spacious have only to see real life mileage and most importantly reliability, however on the right track in every aspect!

Is there any heating/cooling battery systems, as at Tesla`s batteries?

"also has the best door closing sound" love this guy. Absolute best reviews.

steering wheel controls are very bad. old scroller button design was very good and usefull. button layout is like going back. also i like to use knobs on multimedia and climate control. they are easy to use while driving. touch controls are does not give enough feedback to use them without looking

I just don't get the hate for the sweeping touch controls but I'd have to drive it. Sweeping a thumb or finger to flick up temperature feels like a natural think to want to do.

Great car let down by its retrograde interior telematics and ergonomic nightmares. Let's hope they fix soon!

What's your take on that?

Great film, as always. I really want to like this car, but the heavy use of cheap piano black plastic and touch controls really irks me, just like it does in the Mk8 Golf. Also disappointing to see so many hard-pack plastics. BRING BACK BUTTONS AND ROTARY CONTROLS!

I like the car the way it is. I will only change the look of the tire rims, the rims the e-Golf has looks more sporty.

4.4 miles/kWh (2.7 km/kWh) is not too bad for careful driving, but not quite at the level of the Korean cars (and model-3) which is a bit of a shame for this small car. I look forward for more standardize range testing by Bjørn Nyland.

A bit weird that an electric car with 204HP only does 6.5 0-60, while my EP3 Type R with exactly 200HP does it in 6,3. Both reportedly by the manufacturer of course. Shouldn't electric be better for acceleration?

If they get the actual buying price right this car could be a game changer.

Those steering wheel controls are stupid but I like it other than that. I just hope this will go up against the Zoe & Leaf in terms of price rather than the model 3.

Hitch? How many kg can it tow? I need a car that can tow around 600-800kg(trailer 250 cargo 550)

Beautiful car but argh I hate touch sensitive buttons!! I want to actually feel that I pressed the button. same as the new Ioniq The motor power is pretty disappointing. The 62Kwh leaf is 160kw motor and the 62kwh Id3 is only 107kw

Yeah .... VW has for sure up through it's history had some iconic cars with both identity and charm, but for me one must back decades in time. Let me mention the Beatle, Transporter (like the old California), Karmann Ghia, the old Golf GTI and the Corrado. For me is the ID 3 chemically free of anything that can point in the direction of identity, style or charm. The minimalist design Is about as interesting or exciting as buying an turquoise fridge - both when it come to the exterior and interior. So I look forward to when it's siblings - the Skoda Enyaq and Audi Q4 - comes out. The Q4 would probably be what I like most. Generally for EV - when it comes to user interface with everything on that screen it is not good. It is cheaper for the car manufacturer to do it like that, but it takes attention away from the road - when you shall mess with all these menues /submenues. Recently I saw that the court in Karlsruhe had made a Tesla driver responsible for causing an accident when paying attention to the screen and not to the road. The driver should only activate the windshield wipers, but the court ment that it takes to much time and attention away from the road. I hope that the ruling from that court will set new standards for the German car industry by bringing back some of the most used controls as manul knobs or switches.

Funny you chose the music BMW uses for its BMW "How-to" videos to review a VW :D

The interior is a disappointment! Hopefully the Audi-version of this car will be nicer... But I kind of understand why the interior is so cheap. The most important selling factor for EVs is their range relative to price. That tiny display with large plastic bezels doesn't help either. Tesla is much better with their large, small bezeled display with a much better infotainment.

I like the look of the id3 but I will wait until they are completely animal free materials before thinking of buying one, but I love your reviews I purchased a Smart EQ cabrio based on your review.

Would love to see an R version. Only thing that looks odd to me is the matte black plastic lower trim on the front and rear bumpers and side sills, it should be gloss black like the hatch, wheels and roof. Just looks dated on a car this modern in design.

I wanted to love this car... especially as I love VW. For a car that's supposed to be "the 3rd important car in VW's history" it certainly doesn't bode well when I have personally forgot the car exists until today. But I digress. Bad naming aside, the car's good it seems at just being a fun daily driver, kinda like a Golf GTI. But I think it needs a lot of work done before it gets out of the Golf's shadow and become the third chapter of VW's historybook. And don't get me wrong, the new Golf needs some work too, especially with the unintentutive basic controls... just use some buttons VW ffs

What’s the specs of the tested car - battery, version, engine?

providing its priced correctly, i.e. under a tesla model 3, then they have a winning formula.

LOL at the laggy UI....come on!!

A great review again. But it´s way too expensive to become a popular car, at least here in Spain. Saludos.

It's reliable if it's a Volkswagen electric car, Very Good.

anyone else laugh when they said it shouldn't be possible to tune it?

well my hope they tamed road noise was ended with this video - funny how he says its silent when you can hear the roar of the road

A digital Drivers Display would have been better rather than Just a smaller screen

I find the dashboard design and interior design terrible. The buttons on the steering and entertainment are not great also. Oudside is ok, but not for me.

The interior is where the car falls apart. The instrument cluster already dates the car.

I'll drive my auris hybrid for another year then think of trading it in for one of these.....

I like it and hope we get them?

LOL I wish the shade is an option on the Model 3....

So it drives well - so great to hear - that’s the main thing. But the software embarrassment prevails. No satnav in the centre screen in 2020? That’s disappointing. I guess they are playing to their strengths and keeping the price down with all the cheap touch controls and budget-looking screens. Maybe it won’t matter, I’ll reserve judgement till I’ve sat in one.

At least we cant be lied to and conned about emissions by Volkswagen can we !!

Interesting tech but that two tone body with dots is going to age badly. The capacitive controls look like they'll be infuriating too. What's wrong with just physical buttons and dials?

Yes I wanted to love this car but the interior is terrible and plastic buttons on the steering is awful. The entertainment system looks plastic and horrible....why not put a dash like the Mercedes . I quite like the exterior but once you opened the door I thought totally disappointing. They really need to up their game in the interior

Needs a hot hatch version

Inside is a hot mess compared to my TM3P. Rest of the car is pretty good, good start, not yet close to Tesla

I honestly think people will love this car. VW, Bring it to the States!

I don't know I'd trust the electronics and reliability. But if I were forced to choose between this and a Tesla, I'd choose VW ID. 3.

Those wheels have ‘curbed’ written all over them....

They’re not going to “fix” the plastics, that’s how VWs of late are.

Gutted. If the interior and dashboard was better I’d 100% buy one. It just looks old already - the Honda e has the interior this car should have. Now, if honda made a slightly bigger car ( the Honda e is a bit small) with 250 mile range they’d sell millions

Looks like I'm the first to watch :)

Schon ein sehr solides Auto. Wenn die Materialien etwas besser wären und diese Software!!! vielleicht über OTA updates wirklich verbessert wird gar nicht schlecht. Hab mal die Konfigurationsseiten von Tesla und id3 verglichen. Das ist auch etwas Määäh bei VW 😉 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eMt2lcKLyrTDqn0.html

Takethis car with 4 persons, plus airco,plus 100 km on highway! WHAT IS THE RANGE??

People won’t think of the id3 as the true 3rd gen it’s missing to many options plus being rear drive is a love or hate for so many people, the id4 and all derivatives with the option of 4 X4 but not only that vw have shined away from a gti version or R , creature comforts are missing from leather seats or simulated leather and compared to the mk7 and 7.5 golf it’s a poor second rate interior, why does every new gen car want to emulate Tesla, if I wanted a Tesla I’d order one , I hate to say it but Kia and Hyundai got the interior design right I still cannot understand why vw cut therear window switches from the driver seat

Interior controls are totally disappointing...

To shatter every ones expectations, iv'e just got the financial details to buy pre-ordered ID3 based on 25k miles, £4k deposit you are looking at PCP £580 per month or if lease £589 based on 4 year contract. Yep may as well buy a Tesla model 3 and have £42 extra in my pocket. VW finance 6.2% !!! They may as well try and sell sand to the Arabs, but not this Arab.

Lots of design miscues which will be corrected in years to come. Great idea, but not executed well.

12:48 wtf...

No more full, length, full width, full HD? lol

I can’t believe how bad the interior is. Everything just seems wrong from badly positioned controls such as the gear selector to having touch slider controls on the steering wheel which could easily get knocked while driving. Also the quality of the switches and controls look so bad. People have been critical of the Golf 8 for its interior with its touch controls but the Golfs interior is in a different class to this. At least the Golf has a better overall design and the quality is just so much better.

VW should had released this car in year 2012......Tesla is at least 5 years above everyone....a lot of traditional car brands will no longer exist!!!

Animale free is called in English Vegan !

The car is great but has some issues. Great design, great platform, space and seats. That infotainment and steer is not good enough. Sometimes feels cheap and that is not what you pay. Vw has to be better in EV.

Seems like a better choice than Tesla offering once the software gets refined. But I would still buy the ICE vehicles.

I am concerned with the rear wheel drive on the ID.3 as a mass market car. For high performance and people who can drive to a high level there are advantages, and certainly on the track where you can use the over-steer and the dynamics for higher acceleration as you note. For 99% of the population a front wheel drive has advantages as the under-steer that is typical in these car is more "expected" by most drivers who tend to react by turning the steering wheel more. In rear wheel drive you have to unwind the over-steer which can be unnatural to most people. When you finally completely make a mistake a FWD car tends to drive forwards off the road and head on into a solid object - using the strongest part of the car to protect the passengers, in a RWD car you tend to spin out and side swipe resulting in much higher G forces and injurys. Lastly, RWD tends to handle badly (tire equivalence) in snow or low traction conditions, we have all sniggered at BMW drivers in their summer tires trying to get out of drive in winter. FWD is much more of "peoples" car option as it remains the most predictable and easy to drive for the day to day driver.

Ta!

What's wrong with buttons? There is nothing wrong with buttons! All these silly touch surfaces for basic functions need to be forgotten. I would never buy a car with a UI design like this, period.

I was liking the vehicle untill I saw how bad the interior is. The shiney cheap black plastic on every place you touch is frustrating. Then there is the terrible user interface and graphics/resolution that look like a downgrade compared to the Mk7.5 Golf. I don't like the direction VW is taking with there new vehicles. The slider volume and temperature control is a step backwards from simple knobs. Way too many hard, cheap plastics inside. I expected more

What a joke, a gamechanger🤣 I can‘t see any brand new ideas against the competitors. In opposite I think there is design mistake from the higher front bonnet to the lower door line. And the little window after the A-pillar with a massive A+ pillar. The solution would be a larger door or another angle of the windscreen. Why there is no Frunk?🤔 Is there an App available for control many car functions and smartphone opening and closing?

Waiting for id 4. this one is ugly and faceless (a box on wheels)

It’s ugly, I hate the touch interface inside and software is not intuitive. They should have made an eGolf 8 instead and then just have put an 15” screen with android interface like the polestar has in it 👍

What a shitty user interface!

This car is perfect for the money. Comparable Model 3 is 10 000 - 15 000 euros more expensive and that Tesla is no way a premium car but cheap plastic trash.

ungliest car ive seen...looks good from the sides but thats about it... the interior llooks like a cheap car game from the 90´s fucking embarassing

Dam that's a hideous interior. The exterior simply projects the image of a car that doesn't ask to be taken seriously. So disappointed.

Boring intro