Facelifted VW ID.3 electric hatch here in 2024

VOLKSWAGEN Australia anticipates that production of Australian-spec versions of the just-facelifted ID.3 electric hatchback will commence in 2024, when it will join the ID.4 medium SUV and its coupe-crossover ID.5 derivative that are slated to arrive toward the end of this year.

Also on the cards for 2024 are the ID.Buzz people mover and ID. Buzz Cargo delivery van as Volkswagen picks up the battery electric vehicle (BEV) pace with the intention to sell more electric vehicles than combustion powered models by or before 2028 – including in Australia.

The BEV onslaught will include models in most segments, among which is a possible selection of sports, passenger, SUV and light commercial vehicles.

Volkswagen’s ID.3 rear-wheel drive hatchback could become the brand’s most affordable BEV in Australia when it launches here around the middle of 2024, with a possible sub-$50,000 price point given the keen positioning of the sporty and upmarket Cupra Born that opens at $59,990 before on-road costs and options.

A Volkswagen Australia spokesperson told GoAuto that production of ID.3 in Australian specification is “anticipated in 2024”, which guarantees we get the facelifted version of the model that has been a strong seller in Europe for a couple of years, and not a repurposed current model.

The comprehensively refreshed electric hatch will likely be unveiled here in the first quarter of 2024 and enter the market soon after.

It has a fresh design and uses higher-quality materials than the current ID.3 as well as utilising the latest-generation assist systems.

The time from launch to substantial facelift for the ID.3 is a mere two and a half years, an extremely short lead time for such a comprehensive upgrade but one that was perhaps inevitable given the amount of criticism levelled at what was intended to be a landmark car for the German giant.

Along with sharper exterior looks and interior refinements, the updated ID.3 scores the latest software and a broader colour palette with some funky new colours like the ‘hero’ hue called Dark Olivine Green. 

Furthering the model's green credentials are the high-quality, animal-free and sustainable materials used where possible through the vehicle – a philosophy VW says it applies throughout the entire ID range of electric vehicles.

Delving a little deeper into the revised ID.3, the sharpened exterior look brings improved aerodynamics with optimised air-cooling openings and large painted surfaces to make the front appear “confident and friendly” from every angle.

The car has a new bumper that appears to elongate the bonnet, while blacked-out panels accentuate the effect.

Aerodynamic optimisation flows through to wheel design and airflow around the front wheels that forms an air curtain. Changes have been made to the taillights, which are now a two-part design.

Inside, the updated ID.3 features a microfiber material called Artvelours Eco for the door trims and seat covers, a fabric made from 71 per cent recycled plastic that has previously been disposed of as waste at least once, says Volkswagen.

Customer input from ID.3 owners encouraged Volkswagen to implement product improvements and to enhance the standard equipment package.

These included soft, foam-backed surfaces in the cockpit and remodelled interior door trims with softer and larger surfaces.

Vollkswagen has developed an improved charging system for the new ID.3 that it says is “easier and even more convenient”.

Attempting to replicate the seamless Tesla Supercharger user experience, the ID.3 update features Plug & Charge, which enables the vehicle to ‘authenticate’ itself and automatically start the charging process when the cable is plugged in at a charging station, as well as intelligent electric vehicle route planner software that calculates charging stops and detects charging stations that are occupied.

The new ID.3 features Volkswagen’s latest software generation to improve system performance and receive over-the-air updates.

VW member of the board of management for sales, marketing and aftersales, Imelda Labbé, said: “With the second-generation ID.3, we are continuing the success story of our ID. family.

“The design has matured and the materials in the interior have been significantly upgraded.

“The new ID.3 demonstrates our clear commitment to quality, design and operability, and we have systematically taken on board the wishes of our customers.”

VW member of the board of management for development, Kai Grünitz, said: “With the new ID.3 we are bringing premium technologies into the compact class – in line with our Volkswagen goal of successively offering innovations in the whole model range.

“This is also reflected in the latest-generation convenience and assist systems in the ID.3. By using swarm data in the Travel Assist system, we are taking the next step on the path to highly automated driving.”