Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen ID.3 hatchback - Range, charging & running costs

The range has been simplified, but a choice of battery sizes caters to different customers

Carbuyer Rating

4.4 out of 5

Owners Rating
Be the first to review
Range, charging & running costs Rating

5.0 out of 5

The Volkswagen ID.3 is currently available with three different battery sizes and two different electric motors. 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. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Buyers can now choose between the Pro (58kWh) or Pro S (77kWh) offering official ranges of 265 miles and 347 miles respectively, and a 79kWh battery in the GTX with a 375-mile range. 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 77kWh Pro S is capable of up to 347 miles on a charge and the 79kWh GTX range-topper up to 375 miles. As with any electric car, it’s worth noting that range will be lower than the quoted figures in real-world driving, and shorter still in cold weather, though both the Pro S and GTX should pass the 300-mile mark in normal driving without much effort.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

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.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Andy is Carbuyer's managing editor, with more than a decade of experience helping consumers find their perfect car. He has an MA in automotive journalism and has tested hundreds of vehicles.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Volkswagen ID.3 review - solid EV, but infotainment lets it down
Volkswagen ID.3 GTX
In-depth reviews
13 Sep 2024

Volkswagen ID.3 review - solid EV, but infotainment lets it down

Most Popular

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
1 Nov 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers

Best used cars: our 2025 Best Used Car Award winners
Carbuyer best used cars 2025
Best cars
30 Oct 2024

Best used cars: our 2025 Best Used Car Award winners

It’s official – the Dacia Duster is the Carbuyer Car of the Year 2025!
Carbuyer Car of the Year – Dacia Duster
News
23 Oct 2024

It’s official – the Dacia Duster is the Carbuyer Car of the Year 2025!

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
21 Oct 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024