My Volkswagen ID.3 Neo Review: Real Journeys, Charging Costs and First Impressions
By Simon Venus - National Vehicle Solutions
I’ve been spending some time with the Volkswagen ID.3 Neo 140kW Style Launch Edition 58kWh Auto, and I wanted to share my personal thoughts after using it for some proper journeys.
First came Durham to Milton Keynes, which I completed on one charge before plugging in while I was there. The following day, I drove from Durham to Leeds and back, again on one charge, with some charge still left when I returned.
Those journeys have given me a useful opportunity to judge its comfort, efficiency and everyday usability. They’ve also highlighted something anyone considering an electric car should understand: where you charge makes a substantial difference to your running costs.
Real journeys and around 4 miles per kWh
Across my driving, I was seeing approximately 4 miles per kWh, which I thought was great.
If you’re unfamiliar with that figure, it means the car travels around four miles for every unit of electricity used. At that efficiency, driving 100 miles uses approximately 25kWh.
The Durham-to-Leeds return trip was particularly encouraging. Completing it on one charge and still having some left gave me a useful feel for how the car fits into my normal routine.
These are my personal impressions rather than a controlled range test. Weather, speed, heating and your starting battery level all affect how far you can travel.
Home charging at 7p per kWh
At home, I charge at 7p per kWh.
Based on my approximate efficiency of 4 miles per kWh, that works out at just 1.75p per mile, or £1.75 for 100 miles.
That’s a very appealing figure, particularly if you cover regular commuting or business miles.
For drivers who can charge at home on a suitable low-cost tariff, an electric car can substantially reduce everyday fuel costs. There’s also the convenience of plugging in at home and having the charge ready for your next journey.
Public charging at 59p per kWh
While I was in Milton Keynes, I used a public charger costing 59p per kWh.
At the same efficiency, that works out at 14.75p per mile, or £14.75 for 100 miles.
That is considerably more expensive than charging at home. However, using the petrol price below, it still comes out cheaper than our example petrol car.
It shows why it’s worth checking public charging tariffs. The price you pay for electricity can make a noticeable difference to the cost of a longer journey.
How does that compare with petrol?
For this comparison, I’ve used a petrol price of 174.8p per litre (£1.78) and an illustrative petrol car returning 45 mpg.
| Driving option | Basis of calculation | Cost per mile | Cost per 100 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| ID.3 Neo charged at home | 7p/kWh at 4 miles/kWh | 1.75p | £1.75 |
| ID.3 Neo charged publicly | 59p/kWh at 4 miles/kWh | 14.75p | £14.75 |
| Petrol car | 45 UK mpg at 174.8p/litre | 17.66p | £17.66 |
Figures compare electricity and petrol costs only. EV calculations exclude charging losses and any additional charging fees. The petrol comparison uses the price quoted for this review and an assumed 45 UK mpg; actual consumption and prices will vary.
On those figures, charging at home saves approximately £15.91 per 100 miles compared with the petrol example. That’s around a 90% reduction in energy costs.
Even at the public charging rate of 59p per kWh, the ID.3 Neo works out approximately £2.91 cheaper per 100 miles, before allowing for charging losses or additional fees.
To put the home charging saving into perspective, over 10,000 miles, the calculated energy costs would be approximately:
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£175 for the ID.3 Neo charged entirely at my home rate.
-
£1,766 for the petrol car in this example.
That’s a difference of approximately £1,591, assuming the same efficiency and prices throughout.
In practice, my driving involves a mixture of home and public charging. My Milton Keynes journey therefore needs to be costed using the electricity bought at each rate. The public charging figure above isn’t the cost of the whole trip.
For me, the biggest financial benefit comes from doing most of my charging at home and using public chargers when a longer journey requires it.
Smooth and easy to drive
Away from the calculations, the ID.3 Neo has been a very pleasant car to spend time in.
The smoothness is one of the first things you notice. It makes everyday driving feel easy, and that’s something I particularly appreciate on longer journeys.
The adaptive cruise control helped make motorway driving more relaxed by managing speed and the gap to traffic ahead, while I remained responsible for driving.
After covering the miles to Milton Keynes and Leeds, it’s a feature I was pleased to have.
A clear screen and useful head-up display
I liked the clear screen and the head-up display in the car I drove.
The information is easy to read, and having useful driving details in your line of sight is something you quickly appreciate.
The glass roof adds to the appeal of the cabin too. Together with the smooth drive and useful technology, it makes this particular specification a nice place to spend time.
Buttons are back - a welcome improvement
One noticeable difference compared with my experience of the earlier ID.3 is the return of physical buttons.
Previously, I found myself working through the screen to change things. Having buttons available again makes those everyday adjustments feel more straightforward.
It might sound like a small detail, but it matters when you’re using a car regularly. Controls should be easy to find and operate.
For me, this is a welcome change.
Metallic Dark Olivine Green: worth seeing in person
My car is finished in Metallic Dark Olivine Green.
Despite the name, I wouldn’t personally describe it as particularly dark. I would, however, describe it as a really nice colour.
It suits the car well and is worth seeing in person if you’re considering your options.
The wheels are another detail I like. They fill the arches nicely and give the car a strong stance. Combined with the green paint, they make this a very attractive-looking car.
Government grant support and strong lease offers
Qualifying Volkswagen ID.3 Neo models currently benefit from £1,500 of support through the Government’s Electric Car Grant.
That support can help strengthen lease pricing where it is reflected in the funder’s offer, making the current ID.3 Neo deals well worth considering.
The grant supports the eligible vehicle’s purchase price; it isn’t a separate cash payment to you as a leasing customer. Eligibility and the way support is reflected in a quotation depend on the particular vehicle and offer.
At National Vehicle Solutions, we can confirm the applicable support and help you compare personal and business lease options based on your annual mileage, initial rental and preferred contract length.
View our latest Volkswagen ID.3 Neo lease offers.
My thoughts so far
I still have the car, so these are my impressions while living with it rather than a final verdict.
So far, I’ve been impressed by the smooth drive, the approximate 4 miles per kWh, the useful technology and the return of physical buttons. The colour, glass roof and wheels have added to the appeal.
The journey from Durham to Milton Keynes and the Durham-to-Leeds return trip have given me a useful insight into how it handles the driving I actually do.
At my home charging rate, the electricity costs are exceptionally low. Public charging at 59p per kWh is considerably more expensive, but still compares favourably with the petrol example used here, before charging losses and any additional fees.
If you’re considering an electric car, look at your charging arrangements alongside the monthly lease payment. Knowing where you’ll charge most often will help you understand the real cost of living with it.
Interested in the Volkswagen ID.3 Neo? Browse our current offers or call National Vehicle Solutions on 0191 250 4265. We’ll help you find the right model and lease for your driving needs.
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