Volkswagen's goal with the ID.3 was to make the switch to full-EV motoring more affordable for more people - which means making it cost the same (or less) than an equivalent combustion-engined model. They have quite managed that yet, but the range is still expanding, starting with a base 'Pure' model featuring the smallest 45kWh battery. Most ID.3 customers start their search with the 58kWh variants, which develop 145PS and kick off with the 'Life Pro' model which costs from around £29,000 (once the £3,000 government grant for Plug-in cars has been taken into account). That gets you the entry-level 'Life Pro' variant. Beyond 'Life' spec, there are 'Business', 'Family', 'Style', 'Tech' and 'Max' versions, all using the same 58kWh powertrain package. Prices for these variants range between about £30,000 and around £38,000, after deduction of the government grant. If you can stretch to around £39,500, there's also a 'Tour' variant with the larger capacity 77kWh battery (offering 204PS).
A 10-inch centre-dash infotainment screen is standard across the range and features a neat 'touch-sensitive bar', using which you can swipe across various screen zones to control both stereo volume and cabin temperature. Volkswagen's latest natural voice control system also features, enabling you to ask the car virtually anything as long as you preface it by "Hello Volkswagen". We'd want to specify the clever head-up display system, which projects augmented-reality navigation arrows, hazard alerts and pedestrian detection messages onto the inside of the windscreen in front of you as you drive.