It’s scarcely believable, but the Volkswagen ID.3 is now almost three years old, making it an almost mid-lifecycle car. As such, the German brand has given its popular hatch a makeover, bringing with it a softer design, new tech and equipment.

The new exterior design is the most obvious change to the ID.3. Whilst we’d hardly say it was ageing badly, VW’s wider range of ICE and electric-powered vehicles have adopted a less angular, far softer design language and as such, this has been applied to the ID.3.

At the front, the bonnet has the illusion of being longer thanks to the fact that VW has done away with the black strip below the windscreen. Vertical air ducts on the lower front end help with cooling and aerodynamics, whilst at the rear the tail lamps have also been revamped. Scrolling indicators and updated daytime running lights complete the changes to lighting.

These design changes are more than just visual; the updates to the front of the car have improved aerodynamics and cooling efficiency, though VW doesn’t say by how much.

It’s inside where most of the changes have been made. The interior is now made from materials which include door trims and seat cover fabrics which contain 71 per cent recyclate – a secondary raw material made of plastics already recycled at least once. In addition, the interior is also completely animal-free and throughout, soft surfaces have been created using foam-backed materials.

Software is the latest generation, meaning better performance and regular over-the-air updates. Whilst the driver display remains 5.3 inches and controlled via the multifunction steering wheel, the central infotainment touchscreen is now 12 inches as standard. One of the major customer complaints that have been addressed is a better menu structure and clearer layout which has pushed the charging menu to the first level of the display.

Speaking of charging, the Electric Vehicle Route planner helps make longer journeys easier by intelligently calculating a route based on the current state of charge, traffic and available charging infrastructure along the route. Plug & Charge also enables the car to automatically authenticate itself and start charging when plugged in.

Finally, the latest-generation assist systems are available on the ID.3, including the optional Travel Assist with swarm data system. This uses adaptive cruise control and lane assist to control the car from standstill to its top speed. Where swarm data is available, Travel Assist needs just one identifiable road lane marking to keep the car centred when driving on country roads – something it could previously only do on larger roads and highways.

Imelda Labbé, Member of the Board of Management for Sales, Marketing and After Sales at Volkswagen, said: “With the second-generation of the ID.3, we are continuing the success story of our ID. family. The design has matured and the materials in the interior have been significantly upgraded. The new ID.3 demonstrates our clear commitment to quality, design and operability, and we have systematically taken on board the wishes of our customers.”