Volkswagen ID.3 Passes ADAC Endurance Test With Flying Colours

The largest automobile association in Europe, the German ADAC, has been testing Volkswagen's ID.3 electric vehicle. An extensive endurance test covering more than 100,000 km sheds light on the software, general performance, and battery life and degradation of the car.

Remarkably, the battery maintains a net capacity of 93% after travelling more than 100,000 km. Volkswagen promises to maintain at least 70% of the initial net capacity after eight years or 160,000 kilometres, to put this into perspective.

The ID.3 was updated with new software multiple times during the endurance test. These improved the maximum charging power to 170 kW in addition to fixing bugs. The vehicle's consumption and range were positively impacted by the updates, especially when travelling shorter distances and in colder climates.
The ADAC testers praised the intelligent Electric Vehicle Route Planner, a feature that was added via an update. It intelligently schedules charging stops according to the battery's level of charge, traffic patterns, and charging station performance.

Other positive aspects of the ID.3 include its small turning circle, matrix LED lighting, ample interior space, and adaptive cruise control, which make it a desirable city car. Its dynamic rear-wheel drive guarantees an exciting ride. The infotainment system could have been improved, though, because of its unlit temperature adjustment sliders, slow response time, and touch controls on the steering wheel.