By Andrea Hargraves 
Following the inauguration of Wolfsburg’s new electric ID family in 2019, the Volkswagen ID.3 now arrives in Portugal, in its latest development. A new move that focuses on design, remarkable quality and enhanced technologies, as well as a more exciting GTX version. But only for 2024.
They were launched on the market at a very difficult time, when not only were electric cars worth about 5% of the entire national passenger car market, but the country itself was on the verge of being plunged, like the rest of the world, into a global pandemic like the coronavirus. -19, the truth is that the years of confirming what will be the first model of the new electric Volkswagen family have not been easy.
As we mentioned, this Thursday, at the national presentation of the new ID.3, the current Marketing Director of the German brand in Portugal, Felipe Moreira, the little success registered by the model, during those years, ended up finding an explanation, specifically, in These are difficult times. It must be said that this is far from over, although these days this is due to increasing competition, which has even led to a repositioning of the German model.
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However, it is the General Director of Volkswagen Portugal, Marilia Machado Santos, who assumes that, also with the support of the new ID.3, forecasts indicate that sales of the brand’s electric cars, currently worth around 20%, on the market with Growth of 18%, this trend could be maintained until the end of the year (25%, versus 21%). Although supported, for the most part, by companies, the director believes, should continue to ensure 90% of electric vehicle sales.
Less mature, more mature and powerful
As for the ID.3, the confidence of those responsible at Volkswagen Portugal stems, from the beginning, from a renewal process that takes into account, according to the manufacturer, customer suggestions and wishes. Which will highlight aspects such as quality, design and operability, which are areas where German electricity can improve.
To all these requests, Volkswagen ended up responding with the ID.3 with an exterior image that is “no longer so nice,” as Felipe Moreira also described in his intervention, but now more mature and powerful, seeking to improve not only the aerodynamics, through new solutions. Such as the renewed bumpers, with improved air inlets, but also noticeable quality, with the disappearance of the plastic strip next to the windshield and the placement of a new, longer and more uniform bonnet. Added to this are new optics, interconnected by a “traditional” light bar, and providing a reworked light signature.
Also new is the fact that the Edition designation no longer appears on the sides, but there is now metal trim defining the top of the windows, while at the back, not only do the headlights feature a new design, but also now the lighting is in the parts on the trunk lid. A solution that also makes a difference, with a body that acquires three new colours: olive green, Costa blue… and black.
Interior with more changes
However, despite all these new solutions, the ID.3 sees the biggest evolution in the cabin, first of all, by dispensing with and replacing a large part of the much-criticized plastics, both on the dashboard and on the dashboard. . Doors with better coatings, quality, sustainable origin and a more pleasant touch.
In fact, this effort is also noticeable on the steering wheel, which ditches the leather and adopts a pleasant-to-the-touch, faux-leather coating, made from 70% recycled plastics. Added to this are new, equally comfortable seats, which also seek to facilitate access to the new central touchscreen of the infotainment system, which ranges in size from 10 to 12 inches. In addition to displaying the latest programs available for the brand.
As standard equipment, in a model now available with two equipment levels – PRO and PRO S – it guarantees, starting from the initial version, solutions such as LED headlights, 18-inch light-alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and automatic air conditioning. , 10-colour ambient lighting, Light Assistant, voice control, lane assist, keyless go, the aforementioned 12-inch infotainment system and the Connect via Wireless app. Adding the PRO S version to this list is upholstery with technical graphics, electric adjustment of the front seats with a massage system, and 19-inch alloy wheels.
With no changes to habitability or cargo space, especially since the MEB base remains untouched, the “bespoke functionality” that was already available in this model also remains. Volkswagen Which translates to a connected navigation system and the possibility of increasing the number of interior lighting colors, which can still be purchased at any time during the life of the car, in addition to over-the-air updates, “cloud”-based voice control and dual charging functionality.
Two batteries with the same power
Speaking of batteries, an offer that in Portugal consists of two options, the entry-level PRO version announces, in this class, a capacity of 58 kWh, while the PRO S promises 77 kWh. This also means that with both versions advertising the same 204bhp, the smaller battery promises a range of around 428km, while the larger one is up to 559km.
As for charging, the same limit is 11 kWh when using AC power, while in DC, the 58 kWh battery supports charges up to 120 kWh and the 77 kWh battery accepts up to 170 kWh. Which means that, in AC, undertaking a charge from 0 to 100% takes between 06h15m (58 kWh battery) and 07h30m (77 kWh), while in DC, it recovers from 5 to 80% in 00h35m (58 kWh). and 00h30m (77 kWh).
But if all these values definitely and soon deserve a longer evaluation on our part, that is, through a real test, the same can be said about driving, because in this first contact on national territory, there is the possibility of being able to where driving the renewed ID.3 has never been more About eight kilometers! Perhaps also because, again, as far as the rolling base is concerned, this development does not bring anything…
Cheaper than its predecessor…but not than the Model 3!
As for prices, and with a group of competitors, where Volkswagen itself chooses the Tesla Model 3 as its main competitor, giving it a reference price in the national market of less than 40 thousand euros (39,990 euros), the German brand still prefers it, so there is no need to… So. Entering the Euro war and setting the new ID.3 is slightly above this value. More specifically, €42,460.
As for the remaining versions, the PRO S, with a larger battery, is now available at a price of 48,415 euros, while the more exciting GTX version, which should only arrive in Portugal in mid-2024, has only an estimated price at the moment. , at a price of 52,930 euros.
Regarding the entry price of this new ID.3, it is worth noting that although it is higher than that of the main competitor, it is still lower than the asking price of the model sold so far, i.e. pre-refurbishment. The new product now includes not only more advanced software, but also better materials and new equipment…