Volkswagen ID.3 Pro

Overview

The 2020-2023 Volkswagen ID.3 Pro was VW’s dedicated electric hatch, a proper Golf successor for the EV age! This Pro trim, with its balanced 58 kWh battery, aimed to be the sensible sweet spot in the early ID.3 line-up. As a now-discontinued model, it’s making waves on the used market, with examples like this 2023 Pro available for around €17,390 in the EU. It offered a solid electric experience, pioneering VW's MEB platform and bringing EV tech to the masses with a familiar hatchback practicality, assembled in Germany and China.

What's New for 2023?

For its final model year before a major facelift, the 2023 ID.3 Pro (this specific 2020-2023 generation) received subtle but welcome refinements. The big news was mainly under the digital skin, with software updates often rolled out to improve the sometimes-laggy infotainment system and potentially tweak charging performance. Volkswagen also continued to listen to feedback, making minor improvements to interior material quality and fit-and-finish in certain areas, polishing the Pro trim’s appeal before its successor arrived later in 2023 with more substantial changes.

Design & Exterior

The ID.3 Pro rocks that distinctive, slightly futuristic friendly-face design that launched VW’s electric ID family. Its smooth, aero-efficient hatchback shape (Length: 4261 mm, Width: 1809 mm, Height: 1552 mm) still looks fresh on the road. The Pro trim typically featured neat alloy wheels and modern LED lighting, giving it a smart, contemporary vibe without shouting too loudly about its electric heart. It’s a design that’s more about clever packaging and efficiency than aggressive posturing, making it an approachable and stylish everyday EV.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Slip inside the ID.3 Pro and you’re greeted by a minimalist, airy cabin with a digital-first approach. It comfortably seats five. While early models faced some flak for plastics, VW did make running improvements. Tech-wise, you get a compact digital driver’s display and a central touchscreen (typically 10-inch) handling infotainment, usually with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For your stuff, there’s a decent 385-litre boot, expanding to a useful 1267 litres with the seats down. No frunk here, though – the electric gubbins take up that space.

Performance & Driving Experience

The ID.3 Pro, with its 107 kW Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor, zips from 0-100 km/h in a respectable 9.6 seconds, perfect for city squirts and motorway cruising up to its 160 km/h top speed. Power goes to the rear wheels, giving it that classic fun-to-drive RWD balance, and 275 Nm of instant torque makes it feel nippy off the line. The ride is generally composed and comfortable, soaking up bumps well, while the single-motor setup keeps things smooth. Regenerative braking helps recoup energy, with a 'B' mode for stronger recuperation.

Range, Battery & Charging

This ID.3 Pro packs a 58 kWh usable battery, delivering a Green Cars Compare calculated real-world range of around 367 km – plenty for daily duties and decent road trips. Efficiency is a solid 6.33 km/kWh. Charging up at home via its standard 11 kW AC onboard charger will take roughly 5.5-6 hours from empty to full. Out and about, it can guzzle electrons at up to 100 kW from a DC fast charger via its CCS Type 2 port, juicing up from 10-80% in about 30-35 minutes on its 400V system.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

Safety is a strong suit for the ID.3, bagging a top five-star rating from Euro NCAP. The Pro trim usually came equipped with essential kit like Front Assist (emergency braking) and Lane Assist (lane keeping) as standard. Niceties like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Travel Assist for semi-autonomous driving, and blind-spot monitoring were often part of optional packages or higher trims. So, while the basics are covered, you’d need to check the spec sheet of a used model for the full suite of advanced helpers.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

In Europe, a new Volkswagen ID.3 Pro typically came with a 2-year/unlimited kilometre vehicle warranty, though some markets offered 3 years or more. Crucially, the high-voltage battery was covered for 8 years or 160,000 kilometres, guaranteeing at least 70% of its usable capacity. Powertrain components usually fell under the main vehicle warranty. Scheduled maintenance is minimal for EVs, mainly focusing on brakes, tyres, and cabin filters. Volkswagen often offers service plans, but complimentary maintenance beyond initial checks isn't standard in most EU countries.