John Challen reports back on our Volkswagen ID.3 long-termer.

Volkswagen ID.3 Pro S 77kWh

OTR PRICE £43,275 | BiK 2% | RANGE 346 miles | ON FLEET RANGE 280 miles | EFFICIENCY 3.3mpkWh

Report 2:

I mentioned before about my concerns over available space in the ID.3 but, as time goes on, I’m getting more and more used to the relatively compact (compared with recent long-term cars) dimensions of the small Volkswagen. I’m coming to the conclusion that it is more than sufficient for the driver and passengers and it’s probably a reminder that we don’t all need to be rolling around in medium-sized SUVs.

Some of the concerns people might have with cars such as the ID.3 is how they perform out of towns – which is probably seen as their natural habitat. But I’ve completed a few motorway runs up and down the country now and it’s a dream. There’s little cabin noise, save for a bit of grumble coming from the tyres, but that’s almost a given with pretty much every car these days. Especially the concrete section of the bottom of the M25, but we’ll save that rant for another day.

Equally, the ID.3 is more than at home in towns and cities. Easy to manoeuvre, helped by a tight turning circle and light steering – but still with a bit of feel. A few trips along the road to Brighton has seen the ID.3 come into its own with the ability to squeeze into small gaps and navigate roads where people have double-parked – standard for the Sussex city, to be honest.

Visibility is good, even without the front and rear cameras, which makes the job even easier!

Report 1:

There’s a new ID in town – and on the FW fleet – and it’s been quite a revelation, if I’m honest.

As the smallest member of Volkswagen’s electric family, the arrival of the ID.3 Pro S left me fearing the worst with five of us, including three growing Challen Jnrs.

In reality, I – and my passengers – have been seriously impressed with the relatively cavernous interior of the ID.3 as well as the quality and switchgear, which has undergone a bit of an upgrade since the original model. The main criticisms were that things had been stripped too far back and the controls were difficult to operate. Now, having taken a leaf out of the ID.7’s layout, elements such as volume and mirrors are much easier to adjust.

It’s often an overused phrase, but our ID.3 is probably close to fully loaded. As well as the standard kit there’s adaptive chassis control (£955), assistance plus (£2,240) and interior plus (£3,865) packs, carpet mats (£105), panoramic glass roof (795), variable luggage floor (£75) and a transport hitch for a bicycle carrier (£365). Add in the £810 colour scheme and this particular model comes in at £52,485 – quite the premium over list.

Out on the road, first impressions are positive, although the claimed economy of 4.2mpkWh doesn’t seem to be in reach right now. but most of the journeys in the ID.3 have been in and around town, which might explain that. With a few longer runs coming up, I’m hoping that the needle will shift a bit there soon.