Volkswagen ID.3 in Malaysia walk-around – 425km vary with 58 kWh battery, RM260k from Weststar

Right here at paultan.org, we usually cowl automobiles that are formally distributed by their model custodians within the nation, although within the case of electrical automobiles, the choice of fashions offered by way of their official distributors in Malaysia stays restricted in the meanwhile. Open up your decisions to incorporate gray market imports, and the choice expands.

One such automobile is the Volkswagen ID.3. This specific unit is introduced in by Weststar Motors, because the absolutely electrical hatchback shouldn’t be a part of Volkswagen Malaysia’s product line-up. Slotting neatly into the C-segment hatchback class, the ID.3 is a Golf-sized pure EV mannequin, and actually replaces the zero-emissions variant of the perennial best-selling nameplate, the e-Golf.

The ID.3 does nonetheless depart considerably from the Golf when it comes to design, carrying a silhouette that’s notably extra MPV than typical hatchback, with a bonnet that slopes significantly down from the bottom of its A-pillars.

Sitting on the producer’s EV-specific MEB structure, the ID.3 is roughly the scale of the Golf, albeit with a lot shorter overhangs to maximise cabin lodging. Wheelbase advantages considerably because of this, the place the ID.3 spans practically 2.8 m between its axles, practically 125 mm longer than the two,636 mm wheelbase of the Golf.

In fact, the important thing differentiator for the ID.3 relative to the Golf is its powertrain, which is a single electrical motor driving the rear wheels with 204 PS and 310 Nm of torque. Thus outfitted, the 0-100 km/h run is elapsed in 7.2 seconds and high velocity is 160 km/h. Of the three battery pack sizes out there globally for the ID.3, it’s the mid-range 58 kWh battery pack specified for the automobile we see right here, yielding a spread of 425 km on the WLTP take a look at protocol.

For charging, the ID.3 packs an 11 kW onboard AC charger, which implies that a wallbox outlet will carry a 10-80% cost in round 4 hours through as Kind 2 plug. Discover a DC charging outlet, and the ID.2 can take quick charging at as much as 120 kW, which will get the ID.3 throughout the identical 10-80% state of cost in half-hour by way of a CCS charging plug.

If you’re contemplating an EV for its uniqueness in comparison with conventional ICE-powered choices available on the market, the ID.3 delivers with its cabin, the place it’s a important departure from the Golf save for the same steering wheel, whereas the big windscreen provides that expansive view forwards. Sitting atop the dashboard is a floating contact management infotainment unit, joined by a smaller instrumentation show for the driving force.

The value? Weststar Motors has listed this unit at RM260,000, which is a good chunk greater than Volkswagen Malaysia’s circa-200 PS hatchback providing, the domestically assembled Golf GTI at RM227k. To be precise, this makes 245 PS and 370 Nm from its EA888 2.0 litre turbocharged inline-four turbo petrol, driving the entrance wheels by way of a seven-speed wet-clutch DSG transmission.

Would you spring for this, or wait just a little longer for Volkswagen Malaysia to formally launch the bigger ID.4?

GALLERY: Volkswagen ID.3 1st Version Professional Efficiency