Volkswagen ID.3: The Future is… Actually Quite Nice
Now, you might think the Volkswagen ID.3 looks like something Q would give Bond if he was doing a bit of undercover work as a door-to-door laptop salesman, but don’t be fooled. This unassuming hatchback is VW’s riposte to the electric revolution, and it’s as significant as that moment when dear old Dad switches from Classic FM to Radio 1 to prove he’s still “with it.”
From the outside, the ID.3 might not set your trousers on fire, but then again, it’s not meant to. Its design is as clean as the green conscience of a wind turbine technician, with smooth lines and snazzy LED lights that squint at you as if they know just a little bit more about the future than you do.
Step inside, and you’ll find yourself in a cabin that’s more minimalist than a Swedish living room. There are screens and touch-sensitive buttons aplenty because apparently, knobs and switches went out of style at the same time as the dinosaurs. It’s all very intuitive, though, and you’ll soon be swiping and prodding like a teenager figuring out their first smartphone.
But what’s it like to drive? Well, twist the Start/Stop knob – one of the few relics of old here – and you’ll be greeted by… silence. It’s an electric car, so there’s no throaty roar to tickle your ear hairs. But give it a bit of welly, and the ID.3 zips away like a scalded cat. Thanks to the immediate torque on offer, it’s like piloting a silent rocket ship, but one that’s happy to nip to the shops as well.
The ID.3 handles like a dream; it might have the weight of an entire battery pack, but it dances through corners with all the gusto of a gazelle being chased by a particularly hungry lion. The steering is crisp, and the ride is comfortable enough to make you forget you’re in a machine powered by the same stuff that keeps your smartphone alive.
Range anxiety? Pah! With up to 336 miles on a charge, you can wave goodbye to petrol stations and embrace your inner eco-warrior. Charging is a doddle, too, making the ID.3 as convenient as it is clean.
In essence, the Volkswagen ID.3 is like finding out your reliable old college backpack is actually a fashionable accessory. It’s sensible, it’s practical, and it’s got all the bells and whistles of modern technology without being showy. The ID.3 isn’t just a good electric car; it’s a good car, full stop. And as electric cars go, it’s a bit like finding out your favorite cheese can also power your house – utterly delightful and a little bit mind-boggling.
