Two and a half years after launching the ID.3, Volkswagen has unveiled the facelifted model with major upgrades. The 2023 VW ID.3’s updates are more than skin-deep, with the German brand claiming to have addressed the pre-facelift car’s quality issues as well, providing a more refined and premium ownership experience.
The 2023 VW ID.3, like the upcoming ID.7 sedan, is one of ten new EVs that Volkswagen plans to bring to market by 2026.
Design
The ID.3 has always been appreciated for its friendly and urbane styling, which continues with the facelift as well. However, Volkswagen has made some interesting changes to a few design elements in order to make the electric hatchback look even more modern and mature than before.
Starting at the front, the new ID.3 features human eye-inspired IQ.Light LED matrix headlamps and a full-width light bar, both carried over from the outgoing model. There’s a revised bumper sans the honeycomb pattern on each side and with more pronounced side extensions lending a sporty touch, while also featuring sharper lines for a chiseled look.
The black strip under the windshield has now been removed and the hood has been physically raised for a more conventional appearance – both seem to work just fine. The new ID.3 is also more aerodynamically-efficient than its predecessor, in part thanks to the redesigned air curtains located at the corners of the front bumper. The inner-side extension of the LED tail lights, unlike on the outgoing model, is a fully-functional unit.
The facelift also brings a new Dark Olivine Green exterior color option. Volkswagen hasn’t announced any new wheel designs, though. The car you see in the pictures here features the ‘Sanya’ alloy wheels of the outgoing model.
| Dimension | 2023 Volkswagen ID.3 (facelift) |
| Length | 4,261 mm (167.8 in.) |
| Width | 1,809 mm (71.2 in.) |
| Height | 1,562 mm (61.5 in.) |
| Wheelbase | 2,770 mm (109.1 in.) |
| Boot Space (rear seats up/rear seats down) | 385/1,267 liters (13.6/44.7 cu.ft.) |
| Turning Circle | 10.3 meters (33.8 ft.) |
Interior & Features
One of the complaints owners of the ID.3 was the sub-par quality of some of the interior trim and fixtures, and Volkswagen says it has rectified those issues with the facelift. A new microfiber material called ‘Artvelours Eco,’ which consists of up to 71% recycled plastic, has been used for upholstering the seats and certain sections of the doors.
Volkswagen claims that the sustainable materials in the 2023 ID.3 have the look & feel of conventional materials while being just as durable. The whole cabin is 100% animal-free. Elevating the perceived quality and finish of this interior are soft-touch materials & contrast stitching on the seats, door pads, and dashboard. The 12-inch touch-infotainment system has been overhauled with a simpler user interface that requires fewer taps to open important menus.
The compact 5.3-inch digital driver’s display has been carried over from the outgoing model. The facelift also continues with the touch-control buttons on the steering wheel that are not the most tactile to use when driving. However, the well-calibrated AR head-up display is handy as it projects useful information such as speed and navigation instructions onto the windshield, meaning the driver does not have to look away from the road.
The new ID.3 has plenty of other modern driver-assistance technologies such as adaptive cruise control (ACC) with Lane Assist and optional Travel Assist with ‘swarm data’. Depending on market availability, the cloud-based swarm data system uses radars & ultrasound sensors to keep the EV in a lane with just one identifiable lane marking even when driving on remote country roads. Travel Assist will also look out for surrounding traffic & objects and can execute active lane changes once the driver selects the turn indicator.
Some of the other salient features in the 2023 VW ID.3 are a panoramic glass roof, automatic LED headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, 30-color LED ambient lighting, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, heated & cooled front seats, over-the-air (OTA) software update capability, ‘Hello ID. Light’ & cloud-based voice control, intelligent Electric Vehicle Route Planner and We Connect ID. app.
Specifications
Charging & Range
Based on the MEB platform, the 2023 VW ID.3 is available in carried over 58 and 77 kWh lithium-ion battery packs offered in the Pro and Pro S variants, respectively. Both battery packs have housing constructed out of aluminum and comprise modules consisting of 24 cells. Volkswagen could add the outgoing model’s Pure variant with the 45 kWh lithium-ion battery pack at a later stage.
The 2023 ID.3 Pro (58 kWh) can accept charging at up to 120 kW and needs 35 minutes for a 5-80% fast-charging session. The 2023 ID.3 Pro S (77 kWh) supports a higher charging input of 170 kW and takes 30 minutes for the same.
The 2023 VW ID.3 Pro (58 kWh) has a WLTP-rated maximum range of 426 kilometers (265 miles), whereas the 2023 ID.3 Pro S (77 kWh) has a range of up to 546 kilometers (339 miles) on a full charge in the WLTP test cycle.
Performance
Both initially available variants have one permanent magnet synchronous motor at the rear axle, in the same tuning. This motor produces 150 kW (201 hp) and 310 Nm (229 lb.-ft.) of torque, letting the standard-range variant hit 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 7.3 seconds and the extended-range variant accomplish the same in 7.9 seconds.
The ID.3’s first-gen drive unit consists of a two-stage, one-speed gearbox with a differential and power & control electronics – altogether weighing around 90 kgs (198 lbs).
| Aspect | 2023 Volkswagen ID.3 (facelift) specifications |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| Gearbox | One-speed |
| Electric Motor | Single permanent magnet synchronous motor (PSM) |
| Power | 150 kW (201 hp) |
| Torque | 310 Nm (229 lb.-ft.) |
| Top Speed | 99 mph |
| Acceleration (0-62 mph) | 7.3 (Pro) / 7.9 seconds (Pro S) |
| Battery Capacity (net) | 58 (Pro) / 77 kWh (Pro S) |
| Range (WLTP est.) | 426 km (265 miles) / 546 kilometers (339 miles) |
| Charging Speed (DC fast-charging) | 120 kW (Pro) / 170 kW (Pro S) |
| Drag Coefficient (VW est.) | 0.263 Cd |
Price & Release Date
In addition to the current Zwickau and Dresden facilities, the VW ID.3 for Europe will also be produced at the brand’s main plant located in Wolfsburg, Germany, starting in the autumn of 2023. The facelifted model is expected to go on sale in the domestic market, where its prices start at EUR 39,995 (USD 43,308), in Q4 2023 (October-December 2023).
The new ID.3 competes with cars such as the Cupra Born, MG4 EV, and Nissan Leaf. As with its predecessor, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.3 is not expected to come to the U.S.
In 2022, the ID.3 was Volkswagen’s second highest-selling EV, with 76,600 units delivered to customers during the year. The addition of the SUV version mid-decade could help the ID.3 post higher numbers, and eclipse the VW ID.4, which is the VW Group’s highest-selling electric car globally.
TopElectricSUV says
The 2023 VW ID.3 is almost the perfect daily driver for European customers, offering solid performance, great comfort and convenience, high energy efficiency, and great value for money overall. It’s a shame that the ID.3 is not in contention for the U.S., where customers are demanding more spacious and SUV-type designs. And on that note, the company is developing a VW ID.3 SUV, which should hit European showrooms in 2026!
2023 VW ID.3 FAQs
What is the 2023 VW ID.3 release date?
The refreshed ID.3 will go on sale in Q4 2023 in Europe. The model is not coming to the U.S.
What will be the 2023 VW ID.3 price?
The base 2023 VW ID.3 starts at EUR 39,995 (Germany).
Which cars will be 2023 VW ID.3 rivals?
The restyled 2023 VW ID.3 competes with the Cupra Born, MG4 EV, and Nissan Leaf.
Featured Image Source: Volkswagen Group
I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.
