New Volkswagen ID 3 Neo introduces smart Golf-inspired look and physical buttons aplenty
Volkswagen has released a new, updated version of its once-troubled all-electric ID 3 hatchback with a fresh appearance, a much-improved interior, and a new name: ID.3 Neo.
From the outset, the biggest difference between the new Neo and the outgoing ID 3 is its internal and external redesign. While updated in 2023 with a new front bumper, new colour-coded body panels, and improved cabin materials, the outgoing ID 3 was still criticised for its anamorphic one-box design.
Taking on board customer feedback, the new ID 3 Neo is the first all-electric VW to adopt the brand’s new, more conservative ‘Pure Positive’ design language, which was introduced in an attempt to woo back buyers after the first ID 3 failed to meet expectations.
The Pure Positive ethos will carry over to the upcoming ID Polo, ID Polo Cross, and all future electric-only ID models. In shaping it to the ID 3’s distinctive design, Volkswagen’s designers have fitted the ID 3 Neo with a new Golf-style grille, which connects the headlamps via a lightbar centred with an illuminated VW logo.
Wheel sizes range from 18 to 20 inches, and Volkswagen has ditched the black windscreen pillars, roof, and rear panel between the rear lights to give the ID 3 Neo a more grown-up, uniform look over its predecessor.
Volkswagen ID 3 Neo interior design
VW describes the new ID 3 Neo’s interior as “the biggest jump forward” over the old car. As such, its designers have banished its haptic switchgear, along with its overall idiosyncratic cabin layout and design, firmly to the parts bin of history.
Up front, the ID 3 Neo gets a row of physical switches for the air-conditioning, a tactile volume knob for the stereo, two cupholders, and a dual-smartphone charging pad. An all-new centre console is also introduced, with hidden storage space for a 13-inch laptop or tablet.
Both the 13-inch, landscape-mounted infotainment touchscreen and the new 10.25-inch driver binnacle can be selected to display a digital version of the Mk1 Golf’s instrument display, adding an element of likeability and humour that was absent from the old ID 3 – for example, the original Golf’s fuel gauge has been reintroduced and reimagined to display the ID 3 Neo’s battery percentage (State of Charge/SoC).
The new two-spoke steering wheel comes with physical buttons for operating the infotainment system, driver display, and cruise control, while a swathe of fabric has been added to the upper section of the newly-contoured dashboard for a more premium, trad VW feel. Practicality remains the same with a modest frunk, and 385 litres of boot space with the rear seats up, and 1,267L with them folded.
Battery and range
The ID 3 Neo continues to be rear-wheel-drive (RWD) only, and it’s available with three variants of VW’s new, cheaper-to-produce lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery. The battery sizes are a 50kWh pack paired with an 168bhp motor, a 58kWh pack with a 188bhp motor, and 79kWh pack with a 228bhp motor.
The 50kWh and 58kWh cars can achieve a respective 259 and 307 miles on a single charge, while the biggest and most efficient of the bunch gives the ID 3 Neo up to 391 miles worth of range.
Charging speeds are also improved, with the ID 3 Neo now maxing out at 183kW with a fast charger, ensuring a 10% to 80% charge can be done in 29 minutes. Volkswagen has also promised an ID 3 Neo GTI later in the year, which produces significantly more power thanks to its new AP550 electric motor. Volkswagen has yet to confirm pricing for the ID 3 Neo.
