The Volkswagen ID.3 hasn’t exactly had a good time of it since it was revealed just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Software issues delayed its market launch by several months, and once it did go on sale it was lambasted over its poor quality, sluggish tech and usability sacrifices in the name of reduced switchgear.
A facelift in 2023 helped to address some of these problems, but in a bid to tide buyers over until a brand new ID. Golf arrives in 2028, the ID.3 is set to receive a far-reaching revamp come mid-April. Now christened the ID.3 Neo (yes, just like the new MacBook), the electric hatch will sport a freshened exterior and the company’s latest technologies that VW hopes will finally put user complaints to bed.
Teaser sketches show an updated front fascia, with the headlights being joined by a black strip and a thicker full-width light bar that cups the main lamps. This, together with the illuminated VW badge, should give the car a familial resemblance to the forthcoming ID. Polo. A U-shaped full-width air intake will also be added.
The ID.3 Neo will also dispense with some of the lingering quirky design touches, such as the black roof and tailgate. These will instead by painted in body colour, giving the car a more conventional look. The trim strip running from the A-pillar to the rear spoiler will also be finished in black, while new wheel design options are expected to be introduced.
Inside, the ID.3 Neo will gain Volkswagen’s latest Innovision infotainment system, slated to be introduced on the ID. Polo and ID. Cross. This integrates a new app store that enables users to subscribe to functions and services, as well as an optional smartphone-based digital key that notably does not require a separate app. A 3.6 kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) function will also be added.
Just like on the Mk8.5 Golf, the ID.3 Neo is set to gain physical buttons on the steering wheel, finally dispensing with the much-maligned capacitive controls. Hopefully, these will be joined by switches for controlling the air con, similar to what the ID. Polo and ID. Cross will have. A larger instrument display compared to the tiny existing 5.3-inch screen wouldn’t go amiss, either.
Other new features include a long-awaited one-pedal driving mode and traffic light detection, the latter adding to the capabilities of the Travel Assist Level 2 semi-autonomous driving function. All these technologies have already been added to the ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs and the ID.7 sedan, making them the first cars from the VW stable to come with them.
Speaking of the ID.4 and ID.5, the base Pure will come with a new 190 PS (140 kW) APP 350 rear motor (its name suggests it will offer around 350 Nm of torque). This is not only more powerful than the 170 PS/310 Nm APP 310 unit, but also more efficient. Combined with the new 58 kWh LFP battery – which replaces the old 52 kWh NMC pack – this results in a range gain of up to 40 km on the WLTP cycle to 438 km.
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