Conceptualized as the successor to the Golf, albeit in EV format, the ID.3 launched the hope of Volkswagen to produce another practical, affordable car for the masses. The first wave was what became the archetypal Beetle, then came the more successful and equally revered Golf.
After the ID.3’s software glitch-filled debut, the facelifted model sorted out most of the problems and still sits on the widely used and by now well-established MEB platform. This grey-market demo unit from Silverstern Motors is made in China with the standard APP310 motor slightly detuned for better range out of the 52.8kwh battery.
ALSO READ:
Review: 2025 GWM Ora 03 500
Review: 2025 JAC Ytterby Pro 505
Styling
Its silhouette is an evolution of the Golf’s. A futuristic hatch shape and shorter hood with a slightly higher stance give it that Golf-turned-EV vibe. There are minor exterior changes from the launch model. The tinted panoramic moonroof blends in with the black roof. With the powered shade closed, it visually disappears. With the shade withdrawn, the cabin is bright but not warm even under midday sunshine.
The functional front bumper cutouts draw cool air to the front brakes together with the aerodynamic fin-shaped spokes of the 20-inch wheels. Machine-cut with rose gold accents, they’re flush with the tires, so be careful driving next to curbs. The roof-line trim was wrapped with matching rose gold vinyl—a tasteful dealer option.
Interior
Inside the cabin, the floating dashboard is a welcoming style cue. A modest 10-inch infotainment and touch control panel has an intuitive layout. It lacks haptic feedback so you’ll still miss having physical buttons and dials. Those huge screens are a love-it-or-hate-it affair. The capacitive steering wheel controls do have haptic and audible feedback but I’m guessing VW will bring back actual steering wheel buttons on future iterations as they did with later models in their lineup.
Typical EV interior, lots of functional space filled with piano black trim pieces and trendy ambient lighting. Notable is the premium vegan upholstery with no scratchy plastic everywhere. Ventilated and heated front seats are comfortable especially with the lumbar support, and convenient because of the electrically adjusted positioning.
Motor
Though lower in horsepower, the motor retains its 310Nm of torque. It briskly accelerates the almost 1,800kg mass to 100kph in a little over 7sec. On fast sharp turns, with the transmission in B mode plus the drivetrain in sport, the rear driven tires can decelerate rapidly to induce a slight oversteer. With milder speed and gentler inputs, there’s barely any understeer. Nostalgic drivers will be reminded of the Beetle’s handling characteristics.
Personally, I think one-pedal driving is the only way to drive an EV. It’s economical and fun at the same time. A full charge has a real-world range of over 330km. Typically, that should last a whole week of driving in city traffic. Maybe it’ll last a five-day workweek during summer when the air-conditioning will have to work harder, and the driver and front passenger may fully blast the 3-speed fans on the seats’ ventilation.
To charge the battery there’s GB/T ports for AC and DC charging, which are adequate if you’re plugging in mostly in your garage, or away from home with a portable AC charger. Silverstern Motors can install an included wall charger or convert one to a CCS 2.0 port which is what Shell and Ayala Mall charging stations use.
Ride and handling
The short sloped hood, expansive windshield, and low window line, all contribute to a pleasant unobstructed driving view. The drive selector toggle and park button are located on the right steering column stalk which take some getting used to. Wiper controls are on the left stalk, with peculiar toggles for rain sensing sensitivity and speed. Instead of a separate rotary dial on the lower dash panel for the light module, you get flat buttons on top of the dash.
Handling is graceful and agile, it does get firm towards the end of the long suspension travel. The ride is quiet, very quiet with the electric vehicle specific Ventus S1 Evo tires. The 360 degree cameras and sensors are essential for automated parking and helpful with monitoring traffic around. Lane-keeping assist can be a little intrusive especially with the chaotic lane markers we have on our roads. It’s not so irritating that I left it on regardless.
Extra features
Steering wheel capacitive touch buttons include adaptive cruise control, telephone control, and voice command. The speaker volume controls are on the “wrong” side which may confuse someone who expects it on the usual “right” side. The button to turn on steering wheel heating is at the end of the spoke and just on the edge of the wheel rim. Accidentally hitting it and heating my hands is an easy mistake I made a few times.
iPhone integration is quick and easy, but you’ll need a USB C dongle to connect Android devices. That should be an easy sofware fix with the next OTA update. There’s a USB-C port for all passengers and a wireless charger dock for the driver’s phone. The interface for the touchscreen is without lag and the menus simple to follow. The thin slider controls underneath the lower frame however are almost useless. Upgrading it to gesture sensors would be a pleasant upgrade.
Approaching the car, it turns on the puddle lights only on the side where it detects a person close enough with the transponder key. You can configure an array of such convenience and security features that take advantage of the exterior sensors. I also appreciate the high efficiency particulate filter in the cabin that eliminates airborne dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and viruses. With the deteriorating air quality in the metropolis, air conditioning with a regular cabin filter is not enough.
Verdict
An EV is not for everyone, not just yet. But if you’re looking at the current EV market, you’ve got a wide variety to choose from. All of them will be adequate for everyday driving without worrying about range. The low running costs, the ease of maintenance and charging, and even the unique driving characteristics may convince you it’s worth switching to an EV as a city car. The Volkswagen ID.3 is an option that checks all those and offers more value per feature. Also, it’s got a historic pedigree—iconic even.
SPECS: Volkswagen ID.3 2025
Price: P1,990,000 (includes wall charger + installation and a portable AC charger)
Motor: Permanent-magnet synchronous motor
Transmission: Single-speed gearbox
Layout: Rear-wheel-drive
Battery: 52.8kwh
Horsepower: 170hp
Torque: 310 Nm
Seating: 5
Score: 9/10
More photos of the Volkswagen ID.3 2025:
