Volkswagen rights its wrongs with the new ID.3 Neo
If the reveal of the Volkswagen ID.3 Neo doesn’t show you that VW listens to its customers, I suppose nothing else will. As facelifts go, this is up there with Beverly Hills’ finest.
‘Everything is new in the ID.3 Neo!’ is the slogan VW is going with, and that will be music to the ears of those who drove the much derided ID.3. Customer feedback certainly has been mixed, and VW clearly had to go back to the drawing board.
And when VW says ‘Everything is new’, it really does mean everything. A new name, exterior, interior and powertrain options give this electric hatchback the fresh start it needed after its predecessor took quite the metaphorical pasting.
Exterior
The ID.3 Neo’s exterior is a result of VW’s ‘Pure Positive’ design language, defined by Chief Designer Andreas Mindt. The main event is its newly designed and more horizontal front end, which has a new lighting signature featuring a continuous light strip and an illuminated VW badge.
Classic VW hatchback design elements are thrown back to in the ID.3 Neo, with the roof, rear spoiler and boot lid all painted the same colour as the rest of the car, rather than the previous black, to give it a more dynamic look.
Interior
Inside, the ID.3 Neo gets a completely new look compared to its predecessor, with VW promising a more pleasant feel than ever before, thanks to the use of high-quality materials on the seats and surfaces
One of the key criticisms has been addressed, meaning out goes the touch-sensitive multi-function steering wheel, now swapped for a flattened rimmed version with proper, old fashioned buttons. The rest of the cockpit comprises the new Innovision infotainment system with a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit and a 12.9-inch tablet central display screen. The screens display all relevant information and things you’ll actually be needing on your journey, like maps and media info, in a more responsive fashion. While logical functions like four electric switches on the driver’s side door to open front and rear windows have also been reinstated.
As for storage space, the five-seater hatchback comes with a 385-litre boot, which expands to 1,267 litres with the rear seats folded.
The range of tech and safety goes beyond the standard Lane Assist, Front Assist and turning brake function, adding optional Connected Travel Assist with traffic light recognition and one-pedal driving.
Other optional extras available to make the inside of the ID.3 Neo a more pleasant experience include an augmented-reality head-up display, a large panoramic sunroof, 360-degree Area View, a massage and memory function for the front seats, a premium sound system from Harman Kardon, and the memory function for Park Assist Pro.
On the exterior, there’s the option for a towbar-mounted bike carrier, which can handle a load of up to 75kg.
Powertrain Options
The ID.3 Neo is built on the MEB+ platform, and a more efficient drivetrain provides drivers with 391 miles of range, if you go for the biggest battery option that is. There are three of those — 50kWh, 58kWh and 79kWh — which are matched with 168bhp, 188bhp and 228bhp of output. This means respective ranges of 259 miles, 307 miles and the previously mentioned 391 miles.
In terms of charging time, VW expects a 10-80% charge to take between 26 and 29 minutes, depending on which one you go for.
Like other new ID models, owners will also be able to supply 3.6kW of battery power using the vehicle-to-load function to external devices, from e-bikes to electric BBQs.
Trim Levels
The three trim levels — Trend, Life and Style — replace Pure, Pro and Pro S seen on the predecessor. Life and Style trims add a range of safety, interior and lighting features above the entry-level Trend trim.
Price & Release Date
Pre-sales of VW’s latest electric hatchback begin in Germany and other European markets on April 16, with deliveries set to take place in July. UK specification and prices for the ID.3 Neo will be confirmed in the near future.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Volkswagen