A road test covering 1,500 kilometers in the Volkswagen ID.3 Neo with a 58 kWh battery suggests that the smaller pack can handle long journeys without requiring frequent charging stops. The test included a roughly 480-kilometer route between the Paris region and Mulhouse, combining hilly highways with national and departmental roads.
On the outbound journey, the driver made two charging stops, spending 30 minutes charging in total. For the return, under mild conditions with temperatures between 15 and 20°C and little wind, the car covered 300 kilometers before its only charging stop. Average consumption for the full return journey was 17.8 kWh per 100 kilometers. The first 300-kilometer section averaged 17.0 kWh per 100 kilometers, while faster driving at 130 km/h pushed consumption above 19 kWh per 100 kilometers toward the end.
The test also found the car’s DC fast charging performance stronger than its published specification might suggest. Volkswagen lists a maximum charging rate of 105 kW for the 58 kWh pack, but the driver recorded several sessions above 120 kW, with a peak of 126 kW. With battery preconditioning enabled, charging power stayed high until close to 60% before tapering gradually.
Driving through the Vosges mountains, the ID.3 Neo was described as composed, with firm but well-balanced suspension, precise steering and strong traction. Consumption briefly exceeded 33 kWh per 100 kilometers during spirited driving uphill, then fell to a trip average of 14.8 kWh per 100 kilometers by the time the car returned home, aided by regenerative braking.
During the 10-day test, the car’s software showed no noticeable lag or display bugs. The reviewer also praised Travel Assist 3.0 for its lane-centering and adaptive speed control, and said the driver-assistance alerts were relatively unobtrusive.
The review concludes that the ID.3 Neo’s moderate consumption and sustained charging performance make its 58 kWh battery sufficient for journeys such as Paris to Mulhouse. The test was conducted in mild weather; the article notes that the car’s thermal management still needs to be assessed in winter conditions.
Sources: Numerama.