VW ID.3 Pro S Active: More interesting than the electric top model Mégane?

Life is tough for the Volkswagen ID.3. Plagued by the semiconductor shortage, the German manufacturer has decided to reduce the range of its zero-emission compact to the bare minimum. Objective: Limiting the number of configurations to facilitate production and ensure that the model is delivered within acceptable deadlines. In fact, since February it was only richly equipped with its 204 hp (150 kW) single engine, the 58 kWh intermediate battery and a unique finish called Active and was displayed at a correct price without a plus: 44,990 euros, without a bonus of 44,990 6,000 euros. War, let’s get along, because the range is expanding again. In fact, the Pro S Active model enriches the small ID.3 family. As a direct competitor to the top-of-the-line version of the new Renault Mégane E-Tech 100% Electric, on paper, does he have to worry about his Diamond rival?

Power or autonomy, the choice is yours

Despite its premium status, don’t expect any more performance from this ID.3 Pro S Active than the Pro Performance Active version. Power lovers will have to wait for the ID.3 GTX, which is said to have around 300 hp. Nevertheless, the electric motor placed in the rear delivers the quite decent performance of 204 hp. There’s something to see and it’s enough to complete the exercise from 0 to 100 km/h in just under 8 seconds. With its additional 16 hp, the most expensive Mégane performs slightly better in this exercise: 7.4 s. But that’s one of the French’s only arguments. There, not much cheaper (€750 less, neither of which can claim the €6,000 super bonus by the way and actually settle for €2,000), its small battery of only 60 kWh immediately makes it less attractive than the 77 kWh from the German. According to the manufacturer, the range in the combined cycle is an average of 100 km less, depending on the version and equipment selected, even slightly more. And since the DC fast charging power is about the same (5kW difference, in favor of the ID.3), we can’t decide on this point. Like what, Volkswagen doesn’t necessarily rhyme with high prices.

However, a quick look at the equipment shows that the lead is French, but only slightly: 20″ rims versus 19″ on the ID.3, leather upholstery versus a velvet-leatherette mix, massage function for the front seats. Not necessarily enough to tip the scales in his favor. After that, it’s a matter of taste: some will prefer the SUV aspect of the Mégane to the mono-volume aspect, which bucks the trend of the VW a bit but guarantees more space on board. I’m not sure if this new version will help the ID.3 to recover, whose sales since the beginning of the year have increased by 44% in Europe and even more than half in our territory (-59.8%, 1,007 copies) have declined . To give you an idea: a sedan like the Citroën C5 X or a large SUV like the Mercedes GLE sold more in the same period: 1,102 for the first, 1,098 for the second.