Let's cover what you need to know here: ultimately, there will be three choices of powertrain for the ID.3, with battery packs rated at 45, 58 and 77kWh, allowing for respective WLTP-rated driving range figures of 205, 260 and 342 miles. Plus there are two electric motor options, rated at 148bhp and 201bhp, both of which drive the rear wheels through a single-speed auto gearbox. It's the mid-level 58kWh battery package with the 201bhp electric motor that the UK will get first. In the future, there will be more powerful variants (using an extra electric motor on the front axle) and the option of all-wheel drive.
To fire everything up, you hit the starter button, then activate the gear selector, a rocker switch mounted on the steering column that twists in two directions: it's forward for 'drive' and the braking regeneration modes, And you twist back for neutral and reverse. Acceleration has been programmed to be linear and consistent rather than arriving all-in-a-rush, though the top 77kWh version can get to 62mph in 7.5s. Top speed across the range is limited to around 100mph. And weight has been kept to reasonable levels (1,670kgs is relatively light for an EV) which should help handling. As is now compulsory for Evs, there's a pedestrian warning buzzer which works at under 12mph to warn pavement folk of your approach. The super-tight 10.2-metre turning circle is closer to that of an up! city car than a Golf.