Volkswagen ID.3 - Practicality, comfort and boot space
With a big boot, plenty of passenger space and decent electric range, the ID.3 is a practical family car
The five-door ID.3 is easy to get in and out of, and once you’re sitting inside the cabin, you’ll immediately notice the extra space compared with the current Golf. Comfortable seats with standard arm rests make it a relaxing place to spend time in, while the pared-back interior contributes to the feeling of space. Visibility is generally good, although, much like the Cupra Born, the chunky front pillars can be awkward to look around at tight junctions.
The modern, very minimalist cabin also includes lots of storage options for everyday items. Up front, there’s an enormous storage bin with an adjustable partition, ahead of which is two deep cupholders. The centre console also contains a slot for your smartphone to keep it out of the driver's line of sight, so you’re less tempted to look at any notifications while driving. We like that the large front door bins are carpeted to stop things like keys and coins rattling around.
However, it's worth noting that while the entry-level Pro-spec models come with five seats – as you’d expect in a family hatchback – Pro S models with their larger 77kWh battery can only seat four people. Both versions feature three sets of ISOFIX mounting points: one on the front passenger seat, and one for each of the outer rear seats.
Size
The Volkswagen ID.3 is roughly the same size as its famous Golf sibling. Or to be precise, at 4,261mm long, 1,809mm wide and 1,568mm tall, the ID.3 is 135mm shorter than the Mk8 Golf, but 20mm wider and 77mm taller. The MG4 is slightly larger overall, but only just, while the ID.3’s sister car, the Cupra Born, is longer and lower than the VW.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
Thanks to some clever packaging and the use of a bespoke electric car platform, Volkswagen has achieved decent space in the ID.3 for both the driver and passengers. There’s a completely flat floor in the rear, so passengers get plenty of room for their feet, plus headroom and kneeroom is ample. Compared to the MG4, the ID.3 is the more spacious electric hatchback.
Boot
The Volkswagen ID.3 has a 385-litre boot with the rear seats in place, which is just four litres up on the Mk8 Golf, although the Renault Megane E-Tech has a 440-litre luggage capacity, and the Kia Niro EV beats them both with its 475-litre boot. The ID.3 doesn’t have any additional storage space under its bonnet, so we’d advise you to choose the false boot floor option for £75, because it lets you tidily stow away the charging cables. It also allows you to create a level loading area when you fold the rear seats to make loading longer items easier. With the false floor removed and the rear seats down, the ID.3 can carry up to 1,267 litres worth of stuff.
