Volkswagen ID.3 Euro NCAP crash test

5 stars. Overall excellent performance in crash protection and well equipped with comprehensive and robust crash avoidance technology

The passenger compartment remained stable in the offset frontal test. For the passenger dummy, protection of all critical body areas was good. Protection of the driver's chest was rated as marginal, based on dummy measurements of compression. For both dummies, protection of the knees and femurs was good. VW demonstrated that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sitting in different positions. The ID.3's front-end structure did not cause excessive deformation in the test barrier, indicating a reasonably benign front structure. In the full-width, rigid wall test, protection was good or adequate for all critical body regions for both the driver and the rear seat passenger. In the side barrier test, representing a collision by another vehicle, protection of all critical body areas was good. In the more severe side pole impact, protection of all body regions was good apart from the chest, for which readings of rib compression indicated marginal protection. In an assessment of protection in far-side impact, dummy excursion (its movement towards the other side of the vehicle) was rated as poor although dummy measurements were good. The ID.3 is equipped with a centre airbag to protect against occupant-to-occupant interaction in side impacts. This system worked well in Euro NCAP's test, with good protection of the head for both front seat occupants. Tests on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injury in the event of a rear-end collision. A geometric assessment of the rear seats also indicated good whiplash protection. The ID.3 is equipped as standard with a multi-collision braking system, which applies the brakes immediately after an impact to prevent the vehicle from being involved in secondary impacts. The car also has an advanced e-Call system which, in the event of an accident, automatically sends a message to the emergency services, giving the car's location.

In both the frontal offset test and the side barrier impact, protection of all critical parts of the body was good for both child dummies, and the ID.3 scored maximum points in this part of the assessment. The front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward-facing child restraint to be used in that seating position. Clear information is provided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag and the system was rewarded. All of the restraints for which the ID.3 is designed could be properly installed and accommodated.

The bonnet provided predominantly adequate protection to the head of a struck pedestrian, with some poor results recorded on the stiff windscreen pillars. The bumper provided good protection to pedestrians' legs and protection of the pelvis was also good at all test positions, and the car scored maximum points for this part of the assessment. The ID.3's autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system can detect vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists, as well as other vehicles. In tests, the system's response to pedestrians was marginal and its response to cyclists was adequate, with collisions avoided or mitigated in most cases. The system does not detect pedestrians to the rear of the car, and reversing tests were not performed.

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is fitted as standard. The system performed well in tests of its detection and reaction to other vehicles, with impacts being avoided or mitigated in most cases. As well as a seatbelt reminder for front and rear seats, the ID.3 has a driver monitoring system which uses steering inputs to identify whether the driver is alert and focussed on the driving task or is impaired through fatigue or other factors. The system warns the driver if impaired driving is detected. The lane support system gently corrects the steering of the car if it is drifting out of lane and also intervenes more forcefully in some critical situations. A speed assistance system uses a camera and digital mapping to detect the local speed limit. This information is presented to the driver who can then confirm that the speed of the car is limited to the advised limit or can set the limiter manually.