When Volkswagen builds a small car, the whole world takes notice. Consider the Golf, the Polo and the Up! as some of the prime examples. But now, the German automaker has officially entered into uncharted territory. It has entered the EV (Electric Vehicle) era with this – the Volkswagen ID.3. Let’s not argue, the ID.3 looks fantastic. It has all the futuristic design cues which have become the norm for EVs, and yet it looks like a normal, sort of tweaked Golf.

Over to the important stuff. The ID.3 has a single electric motor which produces 201hp/310Nm and drives the rear wheels. At the time of launch, the EV will be available with three different battery sizes. The entry-level will have a 45 kWh bank which is good enough for up to 330km of range. The middle version will have a 58 kWh pack and that, Volkswagen claims, can run the ID.3 for up to 420km. Finally, the range-topping variant will boast a 77 kWh battery, which will have enough juices for a maximum range of up to 550km. All those range figures are as per WLTP regime.

Obviously, the ID.3 is capable of charging at rapid rates. With a 100 kW charger plugged in and if the conditions are just right, VW’s first EV can gain nearly 290km of range within 30 minutes. Needless to say, the ID.3 will also support slow AC feeds but information about those is currently under wraps. Expect that to surface close to the market launch.

Bookings for the ID.3 commenced in May this year. Volkswagen says that it has received 30,000 reservations for ID.3 1^st – the limited launch edition. Those who decide to advance their orders will get the option of three ID.3 1^st derivatives – standard, Plus and Max. The standard one will come with DAB+ digital radio, heated seats and steering, armrests in the front and 18-inch light-alloy wheels. The Plus trim expands with the list with features such as adaptive cruise control, two USB-C ports on the centre console, ambient lighting, matrix LED headlights and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Finally, the range-topper. It brings augmented reality head-up display, Beats sound system, a panoramic sliding/tilting glass roof and 20-inch alloy wheels. Here, the list of safety gizmos also takes a bump with a lane-keeping system with Emergency Assist and a lane change system. The high-voltage battery charging support and comfort seats are reserved for the Max trim.

The ID.3’s pre-orders were open to 29 European markets. After the ID.3 goes on sale, Volkswagen will expand its EV line-up with the production versions of the ID. Crozz, ID.Vizzion and ID.Roomzz. With prices of the ID.3 starting under 30,000 euros, do you think it will be able to disrupt the mass-market EV space?