Latest news with #ID3
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
How much battery range has this electric Volkswagen lost after clocking 107,000 miles in four years?
One of the biggest concerns with electric cars is the lifespan of batteries and how quickly they degrade over time due to high mileage and repeat recharges. But a team of professional vehicle testers have revealed the impact of heavy use on the condition of EV battery is not all that dramatic. ADAC, Germany's equivalent to the AA, and its team of vehicle accessors have been extensively using an electric Volkswagen ID.3 for the last four years. In that time, it has clocked 107,000 miles. As such, it has now exceeded the 77kWh high-voltage battery's 100,000-mile warranty. It analysed the battery's health and found it had declined 9 per cent – an average of 2.25 per cent annually. However, this has translated to a loss of just eight miles for its measured full-charge range, the motoring organisation claims. Now find out how much it has cost service, fix and run in general... Due to the relative infancy of EVs, for the meantime it is difficult to truly measure the lifecycle of their batteries. While testers can accelerate the impact of mileage and charging by repeatedly running them in artificial scenarios in laboratory conditions, this is not a robust reflection of typical driving behaviour - and doesn't play to the advantages of batteries, which do not perform optimally when subjected to extended periods of consistent use. Therefore, ADAC's latest 'endurance test' results using a Volkswagen ID.3 with the 77kWh battery (costing from £39,000 in the UK, which is marginally over the threshold for Labour's new Electric Car Grant) can be considered an accurate depiction of what drivers should expect from EV battery performance and longevity as these cars get older and driven over longer distances. The same car it originally tested in 2021 was retained by the team of testers and driven by various employees over the last four years through all seasons. The VW has been regularly recharged up to 100 per cent and left at that level for several days while being shared by its team of engineers, it explained. The company says most recharges have been completed using a rapid charger at its testing headquarters, meaning the battery was fast charged much more often than would be the case for a typical EV owner. Studies have shown that UK drivers of electric cars are most likely to recharge using a slower 7kW wallbox at their home overnight using their domestic energy tariff. ADAC's report at 107k miles says that software updates over the car's life have gradually improved its energy efficiency, which has offset some of the losses from the battery. When it lab tested the ID.3 in 2021, it was measured at covering 3.11 miles per kWh. Having retested the same vehicle after surpassing the battery's warranty, it is now doing 3.40 miles per kWh. The team has also calculated the real-world performance outside lab conditions, with the EV achieving an average of 2.70 miles per kWh over 107,000 miles. Over the air software updates provided by Volkswagen since 2021 have also improved the battery's charging speed as well as range efficiency. Four years earlier, ADAC said the ID.3 was measured drawing a maximum of 125kW when charging. However, since the software upgrades, it can now achieve charging speeds of 160kW. This translated to a two-minute time saving when charging from 10 to 80 per cent, it said. Tests of the battery's sate of health was also consistently monitored. Between 13,500 and 43,200 miles, ADAC said it was showing a sustained health level of 96 per cent, dropping by 1 per cent when it reached the latter distance. It fell again to 95 per cent at 52,400 miles, slipping to 93 per cent at 64,000 and 92 per cent by 80,000 miles. Between 90,600 and 107,000 miles, it has a battery health reading of 91 per cent. This puts the battery condition well above the battery warranty's minimum level, which is 70 per cent after 100k or 10 years, whichever comes first. Its team of technicians said more recent VW models should perform even better than the ID.3. This is because newer EVs from the German car giant have battery heaters that can be activated remotely by drivers, meaning they will require shorter charging breaks during colder temperatures. Last year, a separate study of 5,000 'real-life' modern EVs concluded that batteries are showing slower signs of degradation than engine components used in petrol and diesel cars. Geotab - a leading firm in fleet and business telematics - carried out analysis of the battery health of fleet and private EVs, using 1.5 million days of telematics data to explore how the latest battery technology holds up to the rigours of daily use. The data suggested that EV batteries in current models degrade, on average, by 1.8 per cent annually. When it conducted the same study back in 2019, it found that the efficiency of batteries was declining at a rate of 2.3 per cent per year on average, suggesting advances have been made in the last five years to extend the lifespan of the technology. The report went on to say that EV batteries now 'generally degrade more slowly than internal combustion engine drivetrain components'. ADAC drove and charged the VW ID.3 through all seasons over the last 4 years. The battery has now surpassed its warranty mileage, though is proving reliable. But the car itself has suffered a few hiccups over the last 48 months... Not all plain sailing... While the battery performance of the electric Volkswagen impressed, ADAC said the four-year spell with the car hasn't been entirely faultless. It reported an issue with the GPS antenna, which also rendered the eCall system [which automatically calls VW's emergency line if the car is involved in a crash] unavailable. The cost to put this right was €525 (£455). And at 98,000 miles the ID.3 'briefly broke down' due to a fault with the automatic door opening system prevented it from starting. 'This problem could only be resolved with a software update,' the German testers said. A defect in the charging flap also had to be repaired at the workshop for €227 (£197). That said, ADAC claims the running costs for the Golf-sized electric VW have been 'pleasingly' low. Despite covering more than 100,000 miles, it has undergone just two scheduled services costing a total of €427 (£370), of which almost half was to re-gas the air conditioning system. All Volkswagen electric ID models have two-year service intervals, irrespective of the mileage. This is due to the fewer moving mechanical parts. ADAC will continue to measure the performance of the electric hatchback. It said it will be testing the battery health and measuring the maximum available range again at 250,000km (155k miles). 'The endurance test is far from over and will continue to monitor the battery after the warranty expires and to document any unforeseen repairs,' it said in an official statement.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Major car brand to overhaul popular SUV into ‘completely different car' in bid to keep up with rivals
A MAJOR car brand is giving a huge makeover to one of its most popular cars and it's going to look 'completely different'. The iconic SUV is getting an overhaul as part of the beloved brand's bid to keep up with its rivals. Advertisement 3 Volkswagen are overhauling the design of one of its most iconic vehicles Credit: Alamy 3 The ID 4 will be getting a brand new look Credit: Getty Volkswagen is the manufacturer of some of the UK's favourite cars, including the ID 4 SUV. The ID 4 is the company's second electric car, after the ID 3. Now, as the model approaches its fifth anniversary, Volkswagen has decided to give the car a modern makeover. Thomas Schäfer, Volkswagen's CEO, has said that the new version of the car is 'really beautiful'. Advertisement He added: "We'll re-do the ID 4 completely inside and out. It will be a completely different car - a huge step up." The car manufacturer is hoping to make the ID 4 closely resemble the upcoming ID 1 city cars and ID 2 superminis, which have a futuristic and sleek design. Thomas said that the change is part of a bid for the brand to 'stay competitive' and for the car - which is its 'most important electric vehicle in numbers' - to look like Volkswagen's other designs. According to Autocar, the new version of the vehicle is known as the 'electric Tiguan' in Volkswagen's HQ, though it is unknown if the ID 4 will keep its name. Advertisement However, Thomas has confirmed that several major cars produced by Volkswagen will keep their names, He said: 'We've decided we're not going to throw away the traditional, successful names that have carried us for so long, that we've invested in for so long, like Golf and Tiguan. The Volkswagen ID3 GTX Performance 'Why would you let them go?' First launched in 2020, the ID 4 is the fourth best-selling electric car in Europe behind the ID 7 and ID 4. Advertisement German-owned Volkswagen is keen to become a global leader in EVs and an electric Tiguan is believed to be part of the brand's plan to remain a major player in the market. The electric Tiguan would launch in 2025 or 2026, coinciding with the release of the redesigned ID 4. However, the car manufacturer has not confirmed which aspects of the car will be changed. The American and European variants will share similar designs, while the Chinese equivalents will reflect design trends in China. Advertisement
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Major car brand to overhaul popular SUV into ‘completely different car' in bid to keep up with rivals
A MAJOR car brand is giving a huge makeover to one of its most popular cars and it's going to look 'completely different'. The iconic SUV is getting an overhaul as part of the 3 Volkswagen are overhauling the design of one of its most iconic vehicles Credit: Alamy 3 The ID 4 will be getting a brand new look Credit: Getty The ID 4 is the company's second electric car, after the ID 3. Now, as the model approaches its fifth anniversary, Thomas Schäfer, Volkswagen's CEO, has said that the new version of the car is 'really beautiful'. Read More on Car News He added: "We'll re-do the ID 4 completely inside and out. It will be a completely different car - a huge step up." The Thomas said that the change is part of a bid for the brand to 'stay competitive' and for the car - which is its 'most important electric vehicle in numbers' - to look like Volkswagen's other designs. According to Autocar, the new version of the vehicle is known as the 'electric Tiguan' in Volkswagen's HQ, though it is unknown if the ID 4 will keep its name. Most read in Motors However, Thomas has confirmed that several major cars produced by Volkswagen will He said: 'We've decided we're not going to throw away the traditional, successful names that have carried us for so long, that we've invested in for so long, like Golf and Tiguan. The Volkswagen ID3 GTX Performance 'Why would you let them go?' First launched in 2020, the ID 4 is the fourth best-selling electric car in Europe behind the ID 7 and ID 4. The electric Tiguan would launch in 2025 or 2026, coinciding with the release of the redesigned ID 4. However, the The American and European variants will share similar designs, while the Chinese equivalents will reflect design trends in 3 The car's design will greatly differ in China compared to Europe Credit: Getty
Auto Express
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: this Volkswagen ID.3 lease is the cheapest we've seen for ages
Easy and comfortable to drive 241-mile range Just £218.84 a month It's by no means perfect, but time has done wonders to the ID.3. Volkswagen has been making gradual improvements to the electric hatchback since it arrived in 2020, and the car you can own today is worthy of that fabled badge on the nose. Despite its size, VW's current smallest EV has been rather expensive on lease since the start of 2025. But, for the first time in months, you can get an ID.3 for less than £219 a month. Advertisement - Article continues below Scouring the Auto Express Find a Car service, we found UK Carline is offering the ID.3 for just £218.84 a month right now. A £2,896.12 initial payment is all that's needed to kickstart the 24-month deal, while mileage is limited to 5,000 a year. If you need more flexibility, 8,000 miles a year will only cost you an extra £14.39 a month. Naturally, at this price, this deal is for the entry-level ID.3 with the smallest battery pack. But the Essential Pure model offered here has all the, err, essentials covered. As standard, it comes with LED headlights, a 12.9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus 10-colour ambient lighting. The ID.3 comes in three battery sizes, and here it's the smallest. Still, at 52kWh, Volkswagen reckons you'll be getting 241 miles, which isn't bad. Better still, based on our testing we think 220 miles is easily achievable, especially if most of your journeys are urban. An impressive 145kW DC maximum charging speed means roadside top-ups are complete within around 25 minutes, too. The ID.3 is a very pleasant car to drive. Its light and accurate steering gives confidence, and the ride, although on the firm side, remains supple and refined. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Volkswagen ID.3 leasing offers from leading providers on our Volkswagen ID.3 page. Check out the Volkswagen ID.3 deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here… Find a car with the experts Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal Car Deal of the Day: 717bhp BMW M5 Touring super-estate on a tasty lease deal The BMW M5 Touring is M car royalty, with a thoroughly impressive PHEV powertrain. It's our Deal of the Day for 29 June Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 Electric car appeal is at its lowest since 2019 From poor electric car sales to crashes in F1, Mike Rutherford thinks its been a crazy few weeks in the automotive world New 2026 Honda 0 SUV: Japanese brand to finally have an EV to rival Tesla and BYD New 2026 Honda 0 SUV: Japanese brand to finally have an EV to rival Tesla and BYD Honda EV plans are gathering momentum, and they'll be realised in the groundbreaking 0 SUV next year
Auto Express
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Citroen e-C4 vs Volkswagen ID.3: which affordable EV is best for the family?
There's a new buzzword in the world of electric vehicles – affordability. It seems that with each new model that's launched, prices become cheaper, while those EVs that have been around for a bit longer have seen a steady fall in their prices over time. Take the Citroen e-C4 as an example. This electric crossover hatchback has been on the market since 2020, and during its time on sale it has gone through a number of revisions to keep it competitive. Most recently, the e-C4 benefited from a facelift to incorporate Citroen's latest family look, but the French firm also took the opportunity to knock around £4,000 off its list price, too. Advertisement - Article continues below Volkswagen is another company that has constantly tinkered with its model line-up, and the ID.3 hatchback has been updated with the arrival of a new entry-level variant. Called Essential, it does exactly what it says by offering the smallest battery and lowest power output in the range, but still has enough kit to make it an attractive option. So which model makes the best case for itself? Does the e-C4 offer great value? Or does the ID.3 deliver enough to justify its price tag? Model: Citroen e-C4 50kWh Plus Price: £27,650 Powertrain: 50kWh battery (50kWh usable), 1x e-motor, 134bhp 0-62mph: 10.0 seconds Test efficiency: 3.6 miles/kWh Official range: 219 miles Annual VED: £195 The Citroen e-C4 uses the same platform as cars such as the Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa superminis, but its dimensions are more like a compact hatchback's. As with those models, it also comes with petrol and hybrid powertrains, but here we're concentrating on the all-electric version. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View 3 Series View Grandland X View Q4 e-tron Prices start at £27,650, which is around £4,000 less than the pre-facelift model. This gets you a car with a 50kWh battery, while the top-spec Max model is the only one with the larger 54kWh pack. Tester's notes The e-C4's three drive modes are selected via a rocker switch next to the drive selector on the centre console, but as with other Stellantis models with this set-up, they seem a bit superfluous to me. The system defaults to Normal when you start the car, so you stick with that most of the time. Advertisement - Article continues below Eco mode cuts the power, so it feels as if you need to work harder to maintain the same speed. Power adds a snappy throttle response that requires you to adjust your driving style to compensate. It feels at odds with the car's character. One place where the e-C4's roots as a combustion-engined vehicle are most obvious is beneath the boot carpet. Lift it up and you'll find a circular recess for a spare wheel, but while the petrol C4 has a completely round indentation, the e-C4's is squared off to make space for the battery. Ironically, not even the petrol version of the C4 has the option of a spare wheel – you'll just have to rely on the tyre pressure warning system and standard repair kit to keep you going if you suffer any damage. Model: Volkswagen ID.3 Essential Price: £30,860 Powertrain: 55kWh battery (52kWh usable), 1x e-motor, 168bhp 0-62mph: 8.2 seconds Test efficiency: 4.1 miles/kWh Official range: 241 miles Annual VED: £195 It's been five years since the Volkswagen ID.3 kicked off the electrification of VW's line-up, and since then it has been joined by a range of models that use largely the same running gear. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The ID.3 itself was given a facelift in 2023, while the Essential model tested here has helped lower the overall starting price of the line-up. At £30,860, it falls between the 50kWh and 54kWh versions of the e-C4 on price, while the battery is rated with a usable capacity of 52kWh, which VW says is enough for a range of 241 miles. Advertisement - Article continues below Tester's notes I think Match trim adds enough extra to the ID.3 to justify its mark-up over the Essential version. Alloy wheels look smarter than the plastic trims on the base spec, while the reversing camera, navigation and main beam assist are all useful features to have. Another handy addition is the two-zone climate control. All ID.3s have two bars beneath the main display that you slide your finger across to adjust the temperature. On Essential cars they keep the dash symmetry intact, because they have the same function. Adding options involves paying for some pricey packs instead of individual items. VW's smart-looking head-up display comes with either the £1,175 Driver Assistance Pack or the Assistance Package Plus (£2,240), which also adds semi-autonomous driving tech that can change lanes. It also includes a memory function and a remote parking operation. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below If you want improved driving dynamics, the £955 Sports package adds Volkswagen's DCC Dynamic Chassis Control and progressive steering for sharper responses. On the road As with other Citroens, the e-C4 is geared towards comfort over sporty handling. Grip is good and the electric powertrain is responsive to a point, but the soft ride encourages you to take things easy and revel in the cosseting feel. The ID.3's rear-wheel-drive set-up and responsive electric motor sound like a recipe for fun, and it's certainly more engaging than the Citroen, but the ride is fidgety at lower speeds. Advertisement - Article continues below Tech highlights All versions of the e-C4 come with a 10-inch touchscreen. Plus and Max trims feature navigation and voice control, but all variants include wireless smartphone connectivity. The ID.3 also features this tech, while adaptive cruise control is included as standard too. Neither car comes with a heat pump as standard, but it's a more affordable extra on the Citroen at £450; it costs £1,150 to add to the VW. Price and running There's an overlap in prices between the highest-spec versions of the e-C4 and the entry point to the ID.3 line-up, but both models feature a similar amount of kit. The VW proved to be more efficient on test, with a return of 4.1 miles per kWh compared with 3.6mi/kWh for the Citroen. Combine this with the bigger battery, and the ID.3 can travel more than 210 miles between charges. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Practicality The Citroen looks rakish next to the upright VW, but these two cars offer a similar amount of space inside. The ID.3 has more headroom and legroom, but both cars are equally wide, and boot space is pretty much comparable between them, too. The VW's bay is longer and wider, but there's a high load floor because of the rear-mounted electric motor that takes up space beneath the boot. Advertisement - Article continues below Charging Volkswagen offers a faster DC charging rate than Citroen. A 10-80 per cent top-up can take as little as 25 minutes from a 145kW source, but the e-C4 maxes out at 100kW, and Citroen quotes a 20-80 per cent charge time of half an hour. If you can take advantage of 11kW three-phase charging, you'll need to pay £300 to upgrade the e-C4 to use it – it's a standard feature on the ID.3. Ownership Both models come with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, while VW includes three years of roadside assistance to Citroen's one. Servicing costs are very similar between these two models, with the annual price of Citroen's £508 four-year package working out nearly the same as VW's £384 three-year deal. Citroen was fifth out of 32 in the last Driver Power brands' survey, well ahead of VW in 29th. While the Volkswagen Golf set a benchmark in the compact hatch class, the Volkswagen ID.3 hasn't quite had the same impact in the EV sector. Updates have improved the car, though, while the latest Pure-battery variant delivers good value for money while still offering a decent range. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below We'd go as far to say that this model in Match trim is the sweet spot in the range. It offers all the kit you could possibly want at a price that makes higher-spec variants look expensive. The roomy cabin and decent driving manners help it to slot easily into family life. Advertisement - Article continues below Latest Volkswagen ID.3 deals Picking between these two cars is difficult because they both have key strengths. There's lots to like about the Citroen e-C4, especially its comfortable ride and plush seats, while the reduced list prices make it even more tempting. As a family car, the C4 ticks the right boxes for space and practicality, while the choice of petrol, hybrid or EV powertrains means there should be a model for most buyers. As an EV, it's a refined machine, but the range and slow charging capability mean it's a little behind the curve when compared with the ID.3. Latest Citroen e-C4 deals Citroen e-C4 Volkswagen ID.3 Our choice e-C4 50kWh Plus ID.3 Pure Essential Price from/price of our choice £27,650/£29,310 £30,860/£33,135 Powertrain and performance Powertrain 1x electric motor 1x electric motor Power 134bhp 168bhp Torque 260Nm 310Nm Transmission Single-speed auto/FWD Single-speed auto/RWD 0-62mph/top speed 10.0 seconds/93mph 8.2 seconds/99mph Battery capacity/usable 50/50kWh 55/52kWh Official range 219 miles 241 miles Test efficiency/range 3.6mi/kWh/180 miles 4.1mi/kWh/213 miles Charging 100kW (20-80% in 30 mins) 145kW (10-80% in 25 mins) Dimensions Length/wheelbase 4,355/2,670mm 4,264/2,770mm Width/height 1,800/1,520mm 1,809/1,564mm Rear kneeroom 585-830mm 637-869mm Rear headroom/elbow room 910/1,445mm 956/1,444mm Boot space (front/seats up/down) 380/1,250 litres 385/1,267 litres Boot length/width 800/1,005mm 852/1,013mm Boot lip height 725mm 774mm Kerbweight/towing weight 1,571/454kg 1,712/548kg Turning circle 10.9 metres 11.5 metres Costs/ownership Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000 miles) £9,899/35.8% £15,708/50.9% Depreciation £17,751 £15,152 Insurance group/quote/VED 22/£757/£195 20/£601/£195 Three-year service cost £508 (4yrs) £384 Annual tax liability std/higher rate £166/£331 £185/£370 Annual fuel cost (12,000 miles) £832 £732 Basic warranty (miles)/recovery 3yrs (60,000)/1yr 3yrs (60,000)/3yrs Driver Power manufacturer position 5th 29th NCAP Adult/child/ped./assist/stars 80/83/57/63/4(2021) 87/89/71/88/5(2020) Equipment Metallic paint/wheel size £595-£720/18 inches £810-£965/18 inches Parking sensors/camera Rear/yes Front & rear/no Spare wheel/Isofix points Repair kit/two Repair kit/three Keyless entry & go/powered tailgate No/no Yes/no Leather/heated seats No/no/£450 No/no/£1,150 Screen size/digital dashboard 10.0 inches/yes 12.9 inches/yes Climate control/panoramic sunroof Two-zone/no Two-zone/£795 USBs/wireless charging Three/no/£400 Four/no/yes Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto Yes/yes Yes/yes Blind-spot warning/head-up display No/yes No/no Adaptive cruise/steering assist No/yes Yes/yes Citroen Most extras are reserved for the top-spec Max model. This includes the Techno Pack, which adds 360-degree cameras, adaptive cruise control and a wireless phone charger for £500. A sunroof costs £790 on Max trim. Volkswagen As well as having more kit, the ID.3 has more options, too. Alloys (£1,310) can replace the standard wheel trims, there are trick LED lights (£1,725) and a tow hitch (£1,105), but this is just for mounting a cycle carrier. Looking for your next car? You can now search our nationwide dealer network for a choice of great cars on offer right now with new, used and leasing deals to choose from... New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet The new BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort is arguably the Chinese brand's most convincing model in its range Best cars to own: Driver Power 2025 results Best cars to own: Driver Power 2025 results The best new cars to own in the UK right now according to the people who already do. It's the 2025 Driver Power results! New entry-level Renault Symbioz is £3k cheaper than a Nissan Qashqai New entry-level Renault Symbioz is £3k cheaper than a Nissan Qashqai The Renault Captur has also been fitted the new full-hybrid powertrain, which gets a bigger battery for more pure-electric driving
