UK: 2021 VW ID.3 1ST Edition Undercuts The Bigger Tesla Model 3 By £1,610

Early birds looking to get first access to the Volkswagen ID.3 1st Edition can complete their purchase in the United Kingdom, as the automaker has opened the order books for the electric compact hatchback.

Pricing starts at £38,880 ($49,399), excluding the Government grant, which places it between the £32,195 ($40,892) Tiguan Allspace and £46,505 ($59,087) Touareg in VW’s UK range, while being £1,610 ($2,045) cheaper than the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus.

“Here, an overwhelming number of customers signed up as pre-bookers last year and placed a £750 ($953) deposit, even before they saw the final ID.3 unveiled. In fact, during the first few hours of pre-booking demand was so unprecedented it momentarily crashed our website. It has created a huge stir”, said VW UK Managing Director, Andrew Savvas.

Video: Here’s a Close Look At The ID.3, Volkswagen’s Most Important New Car In Many Decades

Setting the 1st Edition of the ID.3 apart from the rest of the range are the exclusive badging, two-tone honeycomb decal and generous equipment list that includes the black-colored roof, boot, rear spoiler and side skirts, tinted rear windows and 19-inch alloy wheels. The LED headlamps, adaptive cruise control, front assist, lane assist, parking sensors and reversing camera are also standard, alongside the ambient lighting with 30 colors and 10-inch infotainment system.

The standard Moonstone Grey exterior paint finish is joined by the optional Manganese Gray, Makena Turquoise and Glacier White, each one priced at £620 (equal to $788). These can be combined with three interior color schemes: black, white and black, and white and orange.

The ID.3 1st Edition has 201 HP (204 PS / 150 kW) and 229 lb-ft (310 Nm) of torque available on tap, which enables a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) acceleration of 7.3 seconds and a 99 mph (159 km/h) top speed. The 58 kWh battery pack, which supports fast charging of up to 100 kW, adding around 180 miles (290 km) of range in 30 minutes, offers a 260-mile (418 km) range on full charge.