The first “true Volkswagen” is here. Volkswagen revealed the all-new ID.3 Neo with extensive upgrades, including a refined interior and exterior design and a driving range of nearly 400 miles (630 km) on a single charge.
Meet the new and improved Volkswagen ID.3 Neo
“We have developed the new vehicle generation based on the motto ‘True Volkswagen’,” Martin Sanders, Volkswagen’s sales boss, said after the ID.3 Neo made its global debut on Wednesday.
The ID.3 Neo is the successor to the electric hatch that has been a core model in Volkswagen’s EV lineup since it first arrived in 2019.
While the ID.3 remains one of the brand’s top-selling electric vehicles, alongside the ID.4 and ID.5, CEO Thomas Schäfer admitted the company had lost that “special Volkswagen feel” during a media event in Hamburg earlier this week, promising to get things right with its next-generation EVs.
That starts with the refreshed ID.3 Neo. Volkswagen upgraded the electric hatch with a new name as it moves away from the numerical naming system, a refined design inside and out, and a new drive system that enables a longer driving range.
The “True Volkswagen” philosophy starts with an entirely new style, or, as chief designer Andreas Mindt calls it, the “secret sauce” that will be a signature on all upcoming vehicles.
The front end now features a full-length LED light bar and an illuminated VW logo. It also now has traditional exterior door handles, rather than the flush-type on the outgoing ID.3. The design is inspired by past compact VW models like the Golf, with the roof, rear spoiler, and boot lid, painted in the same vehicle color. Volkswagen said the new look makes it “appear longer, flatter, and more dynamic.”
Volkswagen’s new design theme is even more evident once you step inside. The interior is redesigned based on customer feedback, with added physical buttons for climate control and other functions.
The upgraded infotainment system now features a 10.25″ (26 cm) Digital Cockpit and 12.9″ central touchscreen display.
Although added physical buttons and door handles may seem like “small decisions,” Schäfer said, that’s what drivers are requesting. He added, “And that’s why we bring back real buttons, usability, and also real car names you can understand immediately.”
The new ID.3 Neo will be available in three trims: Trend, Life, and Style, with three electric drive configurations: 125 kW (167 hp), 140 kW (187 hp), and 170 kW (228 hp).
Three battery packs will be offered: 50 kWh, 58 kW, and 79 kW, providing WLTP driving ranges of up to 417 km (259 miles), 494 km (307 miles), and 630 km (391 miles).
The base ID.3 Neo Trend is equipped with a 125 kW electric motor and a 50 kWh battery, while the Life and Style trims will be offered with an optional 58 kWh battery and 140 kW, as well as a 79 kWh battery and 170 kW electric drive. Volkswagen said the new, highly efficient drive system enables a WLTP range of up to 630 km (391 miles) with the extended-range battery (79 kWh).
Volkswagen will open pre-sales tomorrow, Thursday, April 16, in Germany and other European markets with plans to launch the ID.3 Neo in July. We will learn prices tomorrow when pre-sales open. Check back for updates.
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