VW’s ID.3 gets a facelift, new software and faster charging speed – the price also increases

The ID.3 was VW’s first electric car based on the Modular Electric Toolkit (MEB) in 2019 and has since become one of the most popular electric cars in Europe. The ID. family has now grown to four models: in addition to the compact ID.3, there is the larger SUV ID.4, the SUV coupé ID.5 and the E-Bulli ID.Buzz.

Now the ID.3 is getting an early facelift: Although it’s only been on the market for about 30 months, VW has announced a major facelift for the electric alternative Golf. The manufacturer mainly responds to the criticism of appearance and atmosphere. The manoeuvrable Stromer therefore has a design with significantly more character on the outside and is equipped with high-quality materials on the inside.

The plastics on the door panels and dashboard are now soft foamed, the seats are upholstered in a more elegant way, and fabric or vegan leather will be adorned on many consoles in the future.

New software 3.5

In addition, VW is installing new software with which the ID.3 automatically registers at the charging station and can charge bidirectionally in the future. The latter is particularly interesting for owners of a photovoltaic system on the roof of the house. With the current flowing in both directions, the ID.3 becomes a buffer memory.

With the software update, VW also promises an improved e-route planner and generally faster response times with touch controls. The e-route planner automatically calculates the best charging stops if the range is too small. In addition to the battery status, it also contains the current traffic situation and the performance of the charging stations.

Old features like the augmented reality head-up display are still on board.

In the future with variant with all-wheel drive and more payload

The equipment of the basic variant has been expanded. A large touchscreen, the inductive charging station for the smartphone and extensive software services are now standard equipment.

The charging capacity of the ID.3 Pro S increases to a maximum of 170 kW with the large battery. Furthermore, nothing changes in terms of technology. It starts with two battery sizes of 58 or 77 kWh for a range of up to 546 kilometers and a rear engine with 150 kW/204 hp. An ID.3 GTX with four-wheel drive and significantly more power will come later.

Originally, the ID.3 cost less than 32,000 euros in Germany, again minus the environmental surcharge of 9,570 euros at the time. That yielded about 22,000 euros – a real Volkswagen. Barely three years later, the cheapest ID.3 costs no less than 43,955 euros. And so twice as much. This is mainly because the third variant with the smallest battery is no longer available.

The update comes unusually early. But VW must continue to ask the critics for patience: Although the ID.3 is now also being produced in Wolfsburg, new customers will not receive it until the fourth quarter of the current year – ie in winter – at the earliest. The much-criticized touch keys on the steering wheel and the unlit slider for controlling the climate and volume survive the facelift for the time being. Nothing will change until the summer of 2024.

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(t online)