Volkswagen's Beatle once attracted half of the Germans, and its successor, Golf, even shaped its own class, or rather, an entire generation. Will ID.3 now be the new successor?
Three big projects at the same time? Such a request is a bit excessive even for the general public. In addition to golf with a modified MQB platform, Wolfsburg is also developing the ID.3 modular electrical drive system (MEB) and the central infotainment and assistance system MIB for both. However, the advance of the electric car wave has left Volkswagen with no time to think about which car is more suitable for it. The electric car has completed the latest update with a remote upgrade function, and the biggest bug seems to have been fixed. So we can finally discuss, is the ID.3 the biggest revolution for Volkswagen since the Beetle? And did golf not wait for its time? To figure this out, we need to test it. Start with the powertrain.
The ID.3 is a pure electric vehicle with two power levels (150 and 204 hp) and three battery capacities (45, 58 and 77 kWh) to choose from. There are still plenty of options in the Eighth Generation of golf: gasoline, diesel, natural gas, light or plug-in hybrids, almost everything possible. In a comparative test of the base model, Volkswagen sent a compact four-door car with a 1.0 eTSI into the race. This is a wise choice, after all, the three-cylinder car with the light hybrid system is generally quite economical (test fuel consumption 6.7 liters/100 km), and the official WLTP fuel consumption is only a little more than 5 liters.
But its driving performance is as restrained as its energy consumption. The Golf with the light hybrid system (always equipped with a dual-clutch transmission) accelerates to 100 km/h in 110 hp and 200 Nm in 11.1 seconds, with maximum torque only achievable in a small range of 2000 to 3000 rpm. Yes, it feels the same way it feels when you read its name. The only thing that makes people feel is the three-cylinder engine, except for the motor power, it does not seem to be delicate, especially when there is a load. Fortunately, the 48-volt start-generator shuts down the engine in idle mode (e.g. in front of a red light) and is quiet.
ID.3 does not need this. Instead, it uses traffic to reclaim energy. It can even be used for energy recovery independently if desired. When the traffic lights turn green, it accelerates softly, but faster than the golf, accelerating to 100 km/h in 9.3 seconds. Even when overtaking, the low-power version of the electric motor (150 hp) performed better (both subjectively and objectively), as the synchronous motor consistently propelled the vehicle forward with a torque of 310 Nm. However, the ID.3 accelerates up to 160 km/h, while the golf can even break the 200 km/h mark. Regarding energy consumption, the average test value of the ID.3 is 22.3 kWh/100 km, and the 45 kWh battery and optional heat pump (990 euros) have an endurance of only 215 km in the summer. That doesn't sound like much, and even less mileage in the winter. But golf can run more than three times as far with a single tank of oil.
Nevertheless, the endurance of electric vehicles should be sufficient for the daily lives of most people. But if you want to go on vacation by car, you should order a 110 kW fast charging accessory worth 650 euros, which allows the ID.3 to charge up to 80% in 28 minutes. Or you can add 58 or 77 kWh battery packs with larger capacities (3500 euros and 10 660 euros).
If the price is right
As you can see, this is an expensive offer. We have to consider the cost: the golf test car costs 30 975 euros, which is not cheap. In particular, many accessories must be paid for separately, such as the infotainment system (at an extra cost of 1950 euros). Although the ID.3 made this standard, the test car added up to 37,015 euros, in part because of the expensive 20-inch rim. Happily, the subsidy policy for electric vehicles can just save you 9570 euros. If you also need a charging case to charge at home (the maximum power is 7.2 kilowatts, and it takes about six and a half hours to fully charge the battery with alternating current), the government will provide a 900 euro purchase subsidy for this. Although the initial investment is large, it is worth it in the long run, because electric vehicles are exempt from vehicle tax, and maintenance and energy costs are lower, and maintenance costs will be about 1/3 less than golf.
And, it gets better. If the two compact cars are in the same configuration, the purchase of the ID.3 saves about 7,000 euros. Experience has taught us that the more ticks you tick when choosing a configuration, the smaller the price difference between the two cars. Volkswagen puts the ID.3's add-on features in a more expensive optional configuration package, and you can configure the golf almost as much as you want with that money. There's also a reason to choose Golf: used cars are easy to sell. Although Volkswagen provided an 8-year battery guarantee for the ID.3, no one was able to guarantee the retention rate of the electric vehicle.
Now we're on the road again. The road became very windy and not flat enough. The choice of 18-inch sport tires and standard suspension of the Golf didn't leave us with any impression on the road: it swallowed all the bumps effortlessly and stabilized the body even in narrow corners. Is it also necessary to install adaptive shock absorbers like those on id.3 (worth 1150 euros) on the Golf? While the electric car's suspension is also good, it doesn't control its taller body well on bad roads, probably also because it has fewer driving modes (economy, comfort, and sportiness). Especially in sharp turns, the weight of the body pushes towards the outside front wheels, and the low rolling resistance of the 20-inch economy tires can easily push the limits of the lateral grip, which leads to a vague steering feel. But in normal road conditions, everything is not bad.
One reason for this performance is that id.3 weighs 1777 kg, almost half a ton more than golf! It sounds exaggerated, but it is hardly felt heavy when driving, because the car has a low center of gravity and a relatively balanced weight distribution. As a result, id.3 is flexible in curves and does not affect the driving experience even when making a two-lane change (emergency line change). However, the electric Volkswagen also needs more time and distance to fully brake from 100 km / h. At this time, it needs a braking distance of 36.1 meters with rear axle drum brakes, while the Golf with disc brakes and sports tires can completely stop after 34.4 meters.
More space, less load
Finally, let's look at the value of the interior. And that's the most important thing, isn't it? Although the length and width of the two Volkswagens are similar in interior and exterior, they give a completely different sense of space. In the transparent ID.3, the MEB's skateboard structure and battery pack located between the axles increase the wheelbase to 2.77 meters (Golf: 2.62 meters). The driver's position is raised by 9 cm and there is more room for movement. When night falls, up to 30 colors in the car set off the futuristic display.
Regrettably, however, hard plastic is used almost entirely inside the car, and the important control panel under the centre display is not illuminated. There are fewer problems in the back seat. When passengers get on the bus, the wider doors make it more comfortable than golf. In the case of a three-seater, rear passengers are also free to stretch their legs, as the drive shaft passage was eliminated in the design.
Since the luggage compartment capacity of the two is almost the same, and only the loading edge of the ID.3 is 10 cm higher, one should ask: Where is the hook on this? Answer: No, at least there is no hook that can be used to tow the trailer. You can only tie the bike rack to the hinge of the ID.3 tailgate, but you can't tie the box to the roof. And, since there is no luggage compartment in the front, the charging cable can only be placed in the back.
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But the Golf can load nearly half a ton of cargo, or tow a 1,300-kilogram trailer. Although the rear seats are softer than the ID.3, the driver will feel better in the sports seats. In addition, the simple materials of the Golf interior or the operation of the infotainment system are less annoying, because the car computer is operated in the form of classic buttons rather than a touch screen, and the display is easier to read. Therefore, golf, although more expensive, is still a car that is more suitable for people.
However, every iteration takes time: the Golf's journey from launch to production is similar to that of the Beetle, which has taken 1/4th of a century, and ID.3 has just been introduced.
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