When Volkswagen introduced the previous generation of Golf, Volkswagen also introduced a new platform-system. The MQB.
A modular setup which didn't only allow bigger and smaller cars to be based on the same platform, but a lot of different drivetrains as well.
Next to petrol and diesel, there now was space for natural gas-tanks, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully electrical vehicles as well.
Take the e-Golf for example. However, if you want to make everybody happy, it will become one big compromise.
With the new generation of Golf, there's no fully electrical version anymore. That's because Volkswagen now has an entirely new platform...
for their electrical cars, and the ID.3 is the first of the bunch. We had to wait for it for a while, and that's not only because of...
Corona, but because of some electrical bugs as well. However, it's finally here.
We have quite high expectations, and when we get in it seems to be incredibly spacious. Quite remarkable, because it's shorter than a Golf.
On the other hand, the wheelbase is very similar to that of a Passat and the height of the car reminds me of the Golf Sportsvan.
In the front, there's lots of space to play with. Lots of legroom in the back as well. However, the headroom isn't great, but that's partly because...
of the glass roof. If we move further back, there's a luggage space which fits 385 litres. Not groundbreaking, but very decent for the middle class.
The space in the front is more of a suggestion really. It has a very spacious dashboard which is all the way to the front,
and the only two features that are actually around me are these two screens. Other than that, it's incredibly minimalistic.
I've got a small screen on the steering column which holds all of the important information and I've got a head-up display...
which is pretty comprehensive, but due to software bugs not everything is available right now.
Also, there's a big central multimedia screen, which lets me operate all kinds of features. Too much if you ask me, there's too much in here.
There aren't enough physical buttons in here, and I don't like that. I'm able to swipe it, I can use gestures, I can touch it,
everything imaginable to use it, but when the screen freezes, you won't be able to do anything anymore. Luckily, there's voice control.
So if I were to get too hot, I'd say 'hello ID.' - What would you like to do?
I'm a bit hot. - Alright, I'll cool the left-front area for you.
And it automatically lowers the temperature.
The interior makes quite a premium impression, and it looks pretty colorful for a Volkswagen-product. However, when we touch the interior,
it's very different. Volkswagen seemed to go further upmarket for the past time, but in here there's only hard plastic to be found.
That's not what we're used to in Volkswagens. Also, the seats are pretty short.
Luckily, I'm driving a version with optional seat-extenders, and that's very necessary. Otherwise, long journeys will cause tired legs...
and this is easily able to take longer journeys. I mean, it has the battery capacity.
Another thing: operating the car. I don't know if it's minimalism or a cost cutter, but if I want to operate the rear windows as driver,
I first have to press a central button so I can control the rear windows, with the buttons to operate the front windows. Right...
Volkswagen has a whole range of electric motors in mind and some different battery packs as well. Or rather, different capacities.
Right now I'm driving the electric motor producing 204 horsepower, which is mounted at the back. That's why the boot wasn't groundbreaking.
You might think there's luggage space at the front, like in a Tesla, but you're wrong. This platform has been designed to eventually...
fit an electric motor in the front, to create a four-wheel drive-possibility.
The battery pack in this ID.3 produces 58 kWh, but a smaller battery pack will become available in the near future.
This battery pack however should be able to get me 426 km on a single charge according to the WLTP-cycle. However, when I...
left this morning, the display only said 340 km. However, that's not a bad thing at all. When the bigger battery packs become available,
and we're talking 77 kWh now, you should be able to easily surpass 400 kilometres on a single charge. Since we're talking about the power...
output, the motor produces enough power. It can easily go with the traffic flow, even on the Autobahn.
We're driving in Germany right now, that's why. So there's not a thing to worry about.
Charging the batteries can be done in two different ways. You can either use alternating current up to 11 kW with three-phase charging.
Also, you can use quickchargers. On the side of the motorway for example, and you can quickcharge up to 100 kW. When the bigger battery packs...
become available, quickcharging can be done up to 125 kW. However, those aren't available yet in the Netherlands. That's because the importer...
wants to sell as much ID.3's as possible before the 31st of December 2020. That's why they're only offering one drivetrain. One battery pack...
and one electric motor. That way, the factories won't have as much stress choosing certain components for the Netherlands.
And if the ID.3's are delayed, there's a chance it will be delivered after January 1st 2021, which isn't good for your tax benefits.
Whenever I release the throttle, it almost doesn't regenerate any energy. Only when I put the gear lever in 'B', the ID.3 regenerates. Just like a...
BMW i3, that's next to the steering wheel. But only then the car starts braking when the throttle is released.
Under normal circumstances however, that doesn't happen. That's when you have to use the brake pedal. Which looks like a pause-button.
The car weighs over 1.700 kg, which is very happy for a middle class-car. However, the springs feel very smooth.
Especially if you compare them with the dampers. Right now, I'm driving a version with adaptive dampers, and they're in Comfort-mode.
However, it's still very bumpy. That's a bit disappointing if you ask me. Luckily, the steering is very solid. It's a tad light and it doesn't always...
offer enough feedback, but you can always position it the way you want it. Also, the front wheels don't always have to process power.
That makes the steering a tad easier as well.
The version I'm driving right now has all kinds of driving aids and features that increase the safety and comfort of the ID.3.
And you can all control it through the big screen, if it works that is. Also, you should be able to use Apple CarPlay on that screen.
However, you won't be able to. The software doesn't support that yet, that'll come with the big software-update next year.
Anyway, Volkswagen found it too important to get this car to the dealers so they'll hotfix it with an update down the road.
It will reach Dutch dealerships in three variations. Those only apply on the kit and features, because there's only one drivetrain available like I said.
You can get the First, the First Plus, and the First Max. Pretty clear, but in foreign markets there are seven versions available.
The Dutch importer doesn't want to complicate the delivery process yet. Prices of the base version start at just shy of €38.000.
The most expensive version will cost €10.000 more. And that's nearing a price you'd pay for a Tesla Model 3.
I started the video with a lot of expectations for this car, but I might have to say that those expectations were too high.
Hard plastics, non-working systems... If Volkswagen calls this the third big car after the Golf and the Beetle, they should've put more effort into the finishing.