2023 Volkswagen ID.3

Electric Hatchback · Electric – 58 kWh · RWD

73/100

AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a electric hatchback is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.

Specifications

Engine	Electric – 58 kWh
Horsepower	170 hp
Torque	229 lb-ft
0–60 mph	7.3 sec
Top speed	112 mph
Drivetrain	RWD
Seats	5
Combined MPG	111 mpg (116 city / 107 hwy)
Range	240 miles
MSRP	$43,000
Body style	Electric Hatchback

The verdict

What's good

Compact exterior footprint makes parking in dense European cities genuinely effortless
Rear-wheel drive layout gives unexpectedly lively handling for an everyday hatchback
5-star Euro NCAP rating punches well above rivals in its price class
Flat battery floor frees up rear-seat headroom and legroom beyond what the exterior suggests

What's not

Interior plastics quality attracted criticism at launch and remains a sore point vs rivals
Real-world range in winter drops meaningfully below the WLTP headline figure
Maximum DC fast-charge speed is modest — slower than competitors in a 30-minute top-up
No AWD option limits winter traction and narrows the market in colder regions

The engine

MEB

Single-Motor Electric (RWD)

A rear-mounted permanent-magnet motor drives the rear wheels for crisp, immediate torque and a low center of gravity, giving the ID.3 a planted, agile feel from a standstill.

VW's first ground-up electric hatch built on the dedicated MEB platform in Germany, its rear-drive layout is a deliberate echo of the rear-engined Beetle and Golf-class everyman heritage.

The traction motor is mounted just ahead of the rear axle, reviving the rear-drive layout VW made famous with the Beetle.
MEB's skateboard architecture — short overhangs, long wheelbase — frees up cabin space rivaling a class above.
The 58 kWh usable pack supports up to 120 kW DC fast charging.

See the rest in AutoVault

The six sub-scores behind the 73 — performance, tech, comfort, reliability, safety and value
Market value today and year-by-year value history
Studio photography — exterior, rear and interior
Side-by-side comparison with up to four cars

Open in AutoVault