The redesigned Volkswagen ID.3, which has been given the name Neo, brings extensive technological improvements, brings back classic buttons and updates the engine range with three battery sizes.
Volkswagen has officially revealed a major redesign of its electric model for the 2026 model year, now called the ID.3 Neo. Although the car will not yet take on the legendary ID.Golf name, as this will not be in use until the end of the decade, the new Neo represents a greatly upgraded intermediate stage of the Golf's predecessor on the MEB+ platform. The biggest and most welcome change is in the cabin, where Volkswagen has listened to long-standing customer criticism and replaced the annoying sliders on the steering wheel and center console with tactile, classic physical buttons. An even better user experience is provided by the new Innovision infotainment system with a 12,9-inch screen and the upgraded Travel Assist system, which now offers improved traffic light recognition and full One-Pedal Driving functionality up to a complete stop of the car.
The vehicle remains faithful to the rear-wheel drive in the updated version, but promises optimized energy consumption, which in calm driving is around 15,0 kWh/100 km. Customers will be able to choose between three different battery pack capacities: the basic one with 50 kWh, the new LFP battery with 58 kWh and the largest with 79 kWh net capacity. The capacities are directly linked to the choice of battery, so the new electric motors offer power of 125 kW (170 hp), 140 kW (190 hp) or 170 kW (231 hp). In the most powerful versions, drivers will have an enviable 545 Nm of torque available, and the top speed will be electronically limited to 160 km/h in most versions, which is ultimately quite sufficient for the needs of modern traffic.
The entry-level version with a 50-kilowatt-hour battery and a 125 kW (170 hp) electric motor will offer up to 417 kilometers of range on a single charge. The mid-range option, which combines a 58 kWh battery and a more powerful 140 kW (190 hp) drive, will allow users to travel up to 494 kilometers. For those with the greatest mobility needs, the largest battery with 79 kWh will be available, providing a maximum range of up to 630 kilometers.
The smaller batteries in the updated model will be charged at a maximum power of 105 kW at direct current (DC) fast chargers. Although this peak value is slightly lower than the previous APP310 versions, which reached up to 120 kW, Volkswagen engineers promise a significantly more even and optimized charging curve that will remain at a high level for a longer time. Much more convincing at charging stations will be the most powerful version with a 79 kWh battery capacity, with a charging power of up to 183 kW. Regardless of the selected battery size, the manufacturer states that the charging time from 10 to 80 percent will range between 26 and 29 minutes.
The technological update does not end there, as the ID.3 Neo now also allows unlocking and starting via a smartphone with a digital key and a useful bidirectional charging function (V2L), through which the car's battery can power external electrical devices. Orders and first deliveries of the refreshed model are expected this summer. Although official price lists have not yet been fully confirmed, it is expected that the price for the entry-level model will start at around 36 thousand euros, while the best-equipped versions with the longest range will have to pay amounts of over 45 thousand euros.
