Volkswagen ID.3 hatchback - Range, charging & running costs
The range has been simplified, but a choice of battery sizes caters to different customers
The Volkswagen ID.3 is currently available with two different battery sizes but just one electric motor. The smallest 45kWh battery offered in the ID.3 isn’t currently available in the UK, and hasn’t been for some time – its limited real-world range restricted its appeal and as such we don’t expect it to return any time soon.
Buyers can now choose between the Pro (58kWh) or Pro S (77kWh) offering official ranges of 265 miles and 347 miles respectively. There is currently no option to choose the cheaper specification with the bigger battery or vice versa.
Volkswagen ID.3 range & charging time
The now discontinued 45kWh model had an all-electric driving range of 205 miles but was dropped shortly after launch due to its limited appeal. The bigger-battery 58kWh model (badged Pro from mid-2023) will do around 265 miles, while the range-topping 77kWh Pro S is capable of up to 347 miles on a charge. As with any electric car, it’s worth noting that range will be lower than the quoted figures in cold weather.
The range offered on Pro models is likely to be adequate for most buyers, and shouldn’t be sniffed at – the near-£6k saving over the flagship Pro S means this is the version we’d recommend. But if you find yourself doing longer trips, those cars with the biggest battery are certainly worth considering – not least because they also offer faster 170kW maximum charge speeds.
That’s not to say the Pro models are hampered with slow charge rates; models fitted with the 58kWh battery max out at 120kW, which should still be sufficient for a 10-80% top up in a little over half an hour. Pro S cars slash this benchmark charge to 28 minutes, despite their bigger battery.
Charging via a home wallbox (at 11kW) takes 6 hours and 15 minutes for the 58kWh model and 7 hours 30 minutes for the 77kWh car – or a little longer via a more common 7kW connection.
Check out our guide to the best chargepoint providers here.
Tax costs
The car costs nothing in VED each year, while recharging at home costs less than filling a fuel tank - although how much cheaper it works out depends on your electricity tariff.
The Benefit-in-Kind rate of 2% means that all electric cars are extremely cost-effective for company-car buyers. If your commute isn’t abnormally long or if you can charge at home or work, then the ID.3 could be a great way to save money on company-car tax.
