The award-winning Volkswagen ID.3 electric car is now available in the UK in an entry-level model starting at under £30,000, which currently converts to around $AU53,000.
Volkswagen announced on Wednesday the release of two new ID.3 models, the entry-level City and the design-focused Style, which will now join the Pro, Prop Performance, and Pro S versions already on sale in the UK.
These two new variants come under the heading “Pure Performance” which is the company’s fourth powertrain offering up a lighter 45kWh battery generating 150hp and 310Nm of torque.
Though offering a smaller range when compared to the Pro, Pro Performance, and Pro S powertrains, the new Pure Performance powertrain variants will still provide all-electric range of around 345-kilometres.
This is certainly down on the various Pro Performance models (of which there are at least six) which all offer around 420-kilometres of range, but well down on the 540-kilometres offered by the ID.3 Pro S.
Nevertheless, the new Pure Performance variant models can still accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.9 seconds and match the 160km/h.
Pricing for the two new variants help make the VW ID.3 continually accessible to many middle-income earners looking to own an EV, with the ID.3 City Pure Performance priced at £28,370 ($AU50,500, converted) – though, worth noting is that this includes the UK Government Plug-in Vehicle Grant, which provides a maximum discount of £2,500. Similarly, the ID.3 Style Pure Performance starts at £32,470 ($AU57,800, converted) with the grant.
The UK Plug-In Vehicle Grant offers to pay for 35% of the purchase price of specific plug-in electric vehicles up to a maximum of £2,500, but only if the car in question costs less than £35,000. As such, both ID.3 Pure Performance variants come in under that threshold, doubling the number of ID.3s available under the grant.
“The City and Style are an important milestone in the ID.3’s life cycle, as they usher in the Pure Performance powertrain,” said Joe Laurence, ID. Family Product Manager at Volkswagen UK.
“The fact that the ID.3 City brings the entry price of ID.3 ownership into an even lower band is good news for everybody – and further cements the model’s reputation as The Electric People’s Car.”
The ID.3 City Pure Performance includes a 10-inch Discover Pro Navigation infotainment system and a Comfort Package including heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers and an auto-dimming rear mirror, two rear USB-C ports, and door mirrors with electric adjustment and folding, with integrated projection lights.
Also included are all-LED headlights and taillights as well as the ID. Light interface which allows the vehicle to communicate with the driver through different light patterns corresponding with functions including navigation instructions, phone commands, and battery charge status.
A suite of driver assistance features are also equipped as standard the ID.3 City, including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Front Assist as well as a Driver Alert system, Lane Assist, forward collision warning, extended and proactive pedestrian protection, as well as front and rear parking sensors.
The ID.3 Style Pure Performance sets itself apart from the City with 18-inch ‘East Derry’ alloy wheels, and comes fitted with the Design Package which provides IQ.Light LED matrix headlights, animation for the LED taillights, 30-colour interior ambient lighting, tinted windows, and an illuminated light band between the headlights and Volkswagen logo.
Also included is the Comfort Package Plus, which provides 2-zone climate control and a variable boot floor, while a rear-view camera, ‘Kessy Advance’ keyless entry system, and illumination for the door handles are also included as standard, thanks to the addition of the Assistance Package for the ID.3 Style.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.