Volkswagen ID.3 - Reliability and safety

The ID.3 was awarded the maximum five-star crash safety rating after it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2020. Adult and child occupants were deemed to be well protected with scores of 87 and 89 per cent, respectively, while the ID.3’s raft of active safety equipment was recognised with a Safety Assist score of 88 per cent.

Standard safety kit includes a driver fatigue alert system, dynamic traffic sign display, Lane Assist, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors for the front and rear, and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with cyclist and pedestrian monitoring. Like all electric cars, the ID.3 also emits an artificial noise at low speeds to warn cyclists and pedestrians of its presence.

More driver-assistance tech is available, though. The optional Driver Assistance Pack includes Park Assistance Plus, a reversing camera and a proactive passenger protection system, which prepares the seat belt tensioners in advance of a collision. The Driver Assistance Pack Plus also adds an area-view camera set-up, lane change assist and Volkswagen’s semi-autonomous Travel Assist system. Adding one of the Interior Comfort Packs can also get an augmented-reality head-up display.

The ID.3 didn’t make it into our latest 2023 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, but the brand came a disappointing 27th place (out of 32) in the best car manufacturers – down from 17th place in 2022. Some work needs to be done if the brand is to catch up to rival electric car makers, such as Kia, Hyundai and Tesla, which all featured higher up the list.

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Warranty

Volkswagen provides a three-year/60,000-mile warranty on all its cars, with separate cover for the ID.3’s battery for up to eight years or 100,000 miles. The ID.3 also benefits from three years of roadside assistance, whereas other Volkswagen cars are limited to 12 months.

Servicing

The ID.3 should follow a fixed servicing schedule, with a basic inspection after two years (unlimited mileage) and subsequent services every year or 20,000 miles. Volkswagen offers service plans for the ID.3 to help spread the cost of scheduled maintenance.