Why D Mode is so much better in the VW ID.3 than any other EV!

[@jeales895]

I totally agree. Some reviewers say things like the “regen is quite weak” without realising that you need to press the brake to get full regen.

[@Flyingramses]

Super useful video for potential purchaser of ID3, thanks very much 👍🏼😁

[@CarlosColaco]

Actually this type of behavior from ID.3 makes more sense than the automatic regeneration of the other EVs. I agree with you. Very nice feature. It was interesting to see the difference in autonomy using one mode and another.

[@marcusevjourney566]

It is fabulous and it is not obvious until you have been driving the car for a little while. A lot of people put the car straight into B mode thinking the behaviour is like other EVs without even realising how smart D mode is.

[@edstratton]

@@marcusevjourney566 VW should release a tutorial explaining how to get the best out of D mode, so more people will discover its magic!

[@marcusevjourney566]

@@edstratton I agree :-)

[@R500OLE]

I test drove the ID3 on Saturday.... was very impressed with both D and B modes. In my opinion B mode is for town driving and D for open roads. I drove with ACC on in D and was very impressed at how it read the road/ traffic.... automatically reduced to negotiate roundabout so all I did was press resume to accelerate back to speed

[@marcusevjourney566]

Yes, ACC in the ID.3 is very impressive. I love it!

[@davidpearn5925]

I’m trying to work out why I shouldn’t use TACC on my Tesla, country based, retired, prefer 80 kph predominately on quite county roads and after 19,000 kms averaging 123wh/km and never use brakes. If you want to faff around coasting then fine, but I don’t understand why coasting matters that much. Downhill speed buildup above a set speed results in increased aero drag and you have to keep your foot hovering over the accelerator all the time when acc deals will all the hassle for you. Coasting was one of the things I appreciated in my old ICE cars but for me, not now. (Today our return trip of 200 kms used 115 wh/km using acc (TACC) at 80 - 22*c minimal traffic, light consistent wind, zero drafting and second rate road surface .)

[@marcusevjourney566]

I was just explaining how D mode works on the ID.3 without ACC activated. Most of the time I drive with ACC turned on and in my experience on the ID.3 ACC works better than on the Tesla Model 3. VW recommends that you put the car in B mode while going downhill.

[@davidpearn5925]

@@marcusevjourney566 IF the efficiency of the ID.3 works out better than 123/km over 19k.

[@gregfitzgerald6436]

Thanks. I never hear of this anywhere else and just about to buy an ID3. Great demo!

[@rocket3man]

Hi Marcus, I have an ID.3 and I 100% agree with your comments on the D/B modes. It is a good system and when you are on adaptive cruise it will automatically adjust the vehicles speed to the posted variable speed limits on motorways.

[@helena9]

Thanks Marcus. Nervous new ID3 user here (just got it yesterday) - so grateful for your easy explanation of B and D modes.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Thanks Helena, enjoy your ID.3 it is fantastic.

[@helena9]

@@marcusevjourney566 Thanks again! I will eventually get used to it fingers crossed!

[@marcusevjourney566]

@@helena9 It is a very easy car to drive once you get used to it. 🤞

[@RJPick1]

The e-Golf does this to a certain extent in D mode but on a recent test drive of the ID.3 I immediately noticed it takes this to a whole new level using the radar to 'see' cars ahead and road speed and obstructions to intelligently slow you down. The big point you make is that coasting, where you are able to, must be the most efficient mode and only using regeneration when you have to slow down to recapture some of the kinetic energy from the car's motion. In the e-Golf, B mode was about the same level of braking as level 3 regeneration but it always puts the brake lights on. I would be interested to know if this is the case with the ID.3. This is the main reason I use B mode as little as possible in the e-Golf. Good explanation Marcus and as you say nobody else seems to be mentioning this.

[@marcusevjourney566]

That is very interesting that the e-Golf did this even if it was less advanced.

[@RJPick1]

@@marcusevjourney566 Well it is far less advanced than my brief experience in the ID.3 would suggest. The e-Golf will automatically regen when approaching some roundabouts and some speed restrictions but it definitely doesn't use the radar when not in adaptive cruise control. The ID.3 is definitely a big advance on the e-Golf.

[@atleyri]

@@marcusevjourney566 My 2015 E-Golf didnt't.

[@edstratton]

@@Otte74 The VW XL1 does the same thing, and also takes coasting to a whole new level.

[@borama7845]

Very useful video Marcus. Would be great to do a side by side consumption comparison of an ID.3 in D and an ID.3 in B mode on a road like you‘ve been driving on.

[@FinchBug]

Thanks for this! Tried it immediately and won’t go back to B-mode. Much more comfortable, much nicer cruising than in B. Even in the city. Available on the Life version of the ID3. VW should really advertise this.

[@marcusevjourney566]

D-mode is fantastic 👍

[@timcockell2378]

I am so glad I found this review. I have watched so many reviews of the ID3 on KZbin and none of them has sufficiently explained the difference between D and B mode. Most reviews just seem to say that there is little or no Regen in D. Other in their reviews drive around all the time in B. Having seen your video and understanding the difference more has helped me in making my decision to buy and ID.3. One thing I would like to know is what your consumption is like. Thanks again - I will check out some more of your videos.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Thank you Tim. In the worst winter conditions in Portugal with rain at 120 km/h it will do 250 km and at 90 km/h it will do 350 km. In the Spring/Summer it will get better efficiency. In Portugal in the winter the temperature is usually between above 10 Celsius. I do not know for colder climates. I plan to do more videos when lock down is over, currently I am only doing short trips to the shop where I get around 11kwh/100kms. I have heard in colder climates that on short trips the consumption can be higher when the batteries are below 13 C as the car heats up the batteries to 13 C to help protect them. I guess my batteries are almost never below 13 C, so I do not get this issue. However range is not an issue on short trips :-) I think the efficiency of the car is great overall.

[@rahko_i]

The B mode's one pedal driving doesn't come to its full potential, because it's not strong enough and it doesn't stop the car all the way and in the end you have to use the break pedal to actually stop the vehicle. Have you ever driven a Tesla? There you would see what is the point of one pedal driving. I mean literally one pedal driving, you don't ever need to touch the breaks, even when coming to a full stop. And on the highway you can just use CC, so you can lift your foot off the pedal altogether. I like the Tesla's approach (or ID.3's B mode) because I have the control over how much the car is slowing down. I can hold the pedal in one place to coast, or if it is a really long stretch to coast, you can always put on neutral.

[@marcusevjourney566]

I have driven a Tesla Model 3, I have a video about it that you can watch. I understand what you say, but personally I prefer D mode. One pedal driving is better in heavy traffic, but for me most of the time it does not make sense. VW says that you should never coast with the car in neutral.

[@davidpearn5925]

I don’t commute anymore being retired and therefore I don’t look for a specific stretch of road that meets the exact conditions where , in theory it’s a benefit - not too steep, straight enough not any ‘threatening’ side entry locations smooth unobstructing traffic conditions . One quick need to brake and a weeks theoretical advantage is lost . It’s remains a theory IMO after 60 active years of driving and flying.

[@wayfarer_basta3690]

I personally do not see any advantage in keeping the foot always on the pedal. For me the one pedal driving is only a compromise that Tesla uses to control the regen. As distinct from a Tesla the ID.3 can control the regen by the break pedal. That means for a Tesla it is essential to have OPD due to a lack of break padal controlled regen. A perfect marketing makes a feature out of an inability.

[@davidpearn5925]

@@wayfarer_basta3690 I just use TACC and relax without monitoring anything but tracking (steering). I can’t exceed the speed limit and induce aero drag and I can’t slow inconveniently. I can select N if I really want to but I don’t know of a location to use it.

[@wayfarer_basta3690]

@@davidpearn5925 My ID.3 MAX is equiped with travel assist that will do steering and control the speed according to the limits. This works great but if I wanna drive my car myself I prefer accelerating, coasting and efficient regen breaking controled by a break pedal.

[@irishjg1]

Well done Marcus. That was a great video you posted. I’m glad you are enjoying the ID3 and sharing with us your knowledge and experience. You deserve many more subscribers. Great content and no gimmicks or click bait.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Thank you for your support.

[@adamelliott3012]

I read about this somewhere but nobody is making a big deal about it. Brilliantly explained thank you.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Thank you Adam, D mode is great.

[@robberesford4741]

Only recently discovered 'D' mode benefits after wondering why I seem to be getting so much better efficiency. Another owner has shared your video which confirms and explains what I'm newy discovering after nearly two years. Dealers really need to understand and explain this as it it massively seems to improve range. Yes, I'm going to subscribe. Thankyou

[@marcusevjourney566]

@@robberesford4741 Thank you, D Mode is very good. 👍

[@edstratton]

I always use D mode as you say, except when going down a long hill that would require me to brake a lot, in which case I'll put B mode on temporarily so it can do all that braking for me and recuperate energy instead of wasting energy as heat on the brakes; then I switch back to D mode once I get to the bottom of the hill.

[@jeffb7241]

It doesn't matter whether you're in b mode slowing down or d more with your foot on the brake, the car will still be regenerating power. The physical friction brakes are only used for the last but of braking or in an emergency.

[@edstratton]

@@jeffb7241 Aah I see. I know that is true in my XL1 but hadn't yet noticed that it was the same in my ID.3. Actually, having driven the ID.3 a bit more I now, I find I'm now preferring to stay in B mode all the time. I also find that I can stay in B mode even when my wife is in the car who is very prone to travel sickness, which I definitely couldn't do when I had a BMW i3, no matter how smoothly I tried to drive. With ID.3's less aggressive type of regenerative braking it makes it a lot easier than in the i3 to drive smoothly with minimum changes in inertia.

[@TheilDK]

I just saw this video and I must say that it is still very useful and informative. I have seen quite a lot of videos of the ID.3 and this is the first time that I see and hear about the intelligent driving modes. Thank you Marcus for this super video. It's very helpful.

[@Alan_UK]

Thank you for this. I drove an ID.3 for 1 hour this week and liked it very much. I tried D and B modes but I was unaware of how much "intelligence" there was in the ID.3. It does require that the maps are up-to-date with the latest speed limits.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Yes, it does not always work 100% due to map limitations. It will not regen if the car's battery is 100% full and if the road conditions are not ideal such as if the road is slippery. However generally it is excellent, but the driver always must be alert and in control.

[@Scrap-press]

@@marcusevjourney566 my dealer told me id3 has a camera to read traffic signs and speed limits.

[@torstenmehlan6926]

When the Audi e-tron was new on the market I remember reviews that mentioned this adaptive recuperation but apparently VW decided to also ship it with the ID.3. I think this was a great idea. I agree with you that it supports smooth and efficient driving style more than a one pedal characteristic.

[@flookiebailey931]

I had the same experience. i use the D mode mostly now because its so comfortable and i save more energy. i mostly drive in Eco but i also don't see a big difference to the comfort mode.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Eco mode seems to limit the speed on the motorway to 130 kph, not that I would know by personal experience 🤣

[@petervandersteegen9855]

Agreed, also a big fan of this mode

[@gavinrussell5170]

Very informative video Marcus. I have test driven the ID3 and 4 but nobody has properly explained the difference between D and B modes plus use of ACC. I've watched a number of ID3 videos and this is the first one I've come across that is really useful on this subject. Thanks, keep it up. I look forward to further comparisons with the Tesla system as suggested.

[@starsundsternchen802]

You are absolutely right. The D mode ist very clever!

[@marcusevjourney566]

It is fabulous.

[@starsundsternchen802]

@@marcusevjourney566 Most reviewers do not explain the difference between the D und B mode properly. The almost compare it with Tesla and argue that the D mode is not efficient.

[@kristopherharvey3499]

As a driver of the BMW i3 where there is only true one pedal driving with strong regen (no option to turn it off) , i am curious about the D mode in the id. 3 In the bmw i3 you learn how to control the acceleration, deceleration and coasting with your right foot. It works well (once you get used to it) as it is true one pedal driving, with the driver controlling the car - yes you can coast. In the id.3 B mode appears to give the driver control (although not true one pedal driving), whereas in D mode it appears you are relying on the software to control the speed of the car. Some people will like B mode, others will like D mode. This is rhe first video to explain D mode on the id.3, so thank you.

[@edstratton]

I had an i3 for over a year. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't drive it smoothly enough to totally prevent my wife from getting a bit travel sick on every journey, so in the end it had to go. Now I have an ID.3 and whether in D or B mode I find that driving smoothly enough (so she doesn't get sick) is easy. In the i3, all it would take is a small bird to fly out of the hedge in front of the car and I would unconsciously and almost imperceptibly lift off the throttle pedal - and that was enough to create an unexpected change in inertia large enough to raise her queasy level!

[@pedromelosantos]

Thank you for the tip. Quite well explained. Can't wait to get my id3 and try it 1st hand. Be well and healthy!

[@atleyri]

Newer understood the obsession for regen. (EV owner since 2014) Coasting is king!

[@ricco123tube]

I believe the Kia e-niro has this feature as well. If you hold the regenerative paddle it goes into automatic mode. I'm considering the id 3 life pro performance. I'm getting close to making my up.

[@nathanboal]

Great video, I would have used B mode all the time until I saw your video - I think the intelligent behaviour of D mode needs to be better publicised by VW, it makes complete sense to use this mode!

[@marcusevjourney566]

D mode is fantastic.

[@vinceasmith]

Good explanation. I would recommend that a chest harness for the GoPro might be a better option to seeing the driver's display. On the B mode question, then the only thing I would say in defence of B mode is it is all about the types of roads. I live in a rural area of NW England. Many roads I drive on are either single or just about two vehicle width, and are rarely any where near straight. There are a lot of bends, and up and down sections so my driving speed, despite the indicated speed limit, would be mostly less than 50kph. These roads are usually surrounded by tall hedges or stone walls, or twisted so visibility is restricted. There are no opportunities for cruising, and on these roads B mode is appropriate. The great thing is that it is so easy to switch from D to B and back again.

[@marcusevjourney566]

I did the same video with a chest harness; you could see the display but not the road. I need to find a better position for the Go Pro. The best time I ever had in a car was driving around the country lanes of Oxfordshire in an old Mini many moons ago, so I know exactly what you mean and B mode would be better there for sure.

[@JamesMcSweeneyFr]

It's the very same in West Cork Ireland Lots of small narrow roads with plenty of bends Even though I don't have an electric car yet I reckon if I had an id3 mine would be on B mode lots of the time

[@DriesVanHoutte26]

Thanks for the insight, I will definitely try this out in my ID.4! One reason of why I like to drive in B-mode, is that the ID.4 is a really heavy car and you can really feel this when making a full stop from high speed. I don’t know how the weight of the ID.4 compares to that of the ID.3 but I feel like I have to press the brake pedal quite hard in those situations and the weight pushes the car forward. When in B-mode, I don’t need to brake so hard and I feel like it buys me some reaction time in case of an emergency stop. This makes me wonder if there is a difference in brake distance between the 2 driving modes? Anyway I will try out if driving in D-mode works for me, because it’s true that B-mode can be a bit jerky because you can’t coast with it.

[@nlzaaf]

I noticed this during my test drive. In my ICE I always use the engine to brake for roundabouts and such. The ID.3 in D drove just the same even though I normally would have shifted down. Loved the intelligence. In fact, I loved it so much, I ordered an ID.3 1st. 😀

[@marcusevjourney566]

Excellent, I hope your ID.3 arrives soon. You will love it. 👍

[@michaelholt1]

What a fantastic video explaining D and B mode driving. Really helpful. Like you mentioned yourself, nobody else (as far as I'm aware) has ever explained it in such depth before 👍😀.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Thank you Michael, I am glad you found it useful.

[@randallgray8492]

I get much better efficiency in D mode also. Great video thanks!

[@marcusevjourney566]

D Mode is the best.

[@jasonchester4168]

Good video!! Is the feature in all models?.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Yes, I think so.

[@silentjohn80]

I prefer B mode for active driving (roads with lot of curves) - it's more fun than D mode. For motor way driving I tend to use cruise control, so then D or B mode does not matter that much.

[@marcusevjourney566]

SilentJohn I use ACC a lot, it works very well. I guess that is why sports mode has regen for bendy roads. I have not driven my car that much yet, so I still have lots to experiment with it.

[@MrJCoppes]

Great in depth review of this feature! Looking forward to more content!

[@marcusevjourney566]

Thank you, I will talk about ACC next.

[@stablegenius8336]

Hey Marcus, thank you a lot for your unique insights! My family and I are also first movers and share your enthusiasm for the vehicle. :) New to EVs, I have been experimenting with both drive modes and agree with your conclusion on the D mode. Nevertheless while being a bit less efficient, in some situations I do prefer the B mode, for example if you need to lose some speed in sharp bends, when turning or in city traffic, as you mentioned as well.. Soo I‘m still testing :) Greetings from Hannover, Germany, Björn

[@marcusevjourney566]

Glückspirat To be honest I have not tried B mode much, so it may have some nice surprises for me. I plan to use B mode more just to try it. Best wishes to you and your family, and I wish you many happy memories to come in your ID.3 1st.

[@PoolmakerI]

geht mir genauso! ich fühle mich im b-mode viel wohler und liebe die "Bremsunterstützung"...

[@gangsterkami1]

You're genius, I've subbed

[@marcusevjourney566]

Thank you 👍🤣⚡️

[@vickgrant8783]

Now that IS a first Marcus. Not sure if I would hate it or love it, it must extend the range in some cases. In my circumstances I am beginning to think this would be terrific.

[@marcusevjourney566]

I absolutely love it; it is a fantastic feature. It makes so much more sense for the car to decide when you need to coast or regen :-)

[@vickgrant8783]

I take it you can override if you didn’t like what it was doing (unlikely).

[@marcusevjourney566]

@@vickgrant8783 Yes just put your foot on the accelerator or break. It only does this when you lift your foot off the accelerator completely.

[@starquakey1]

Vick Grant the e Niro has same it’s called auto regen and just needs switching on by holding right paddle. No idea why it’s not in by default

[@vickgrant8783]

starquakey1 I have strongly considered the e-Niro. Test drove and enjoyed, I may well end up with the e-Niro however have waited to listen to owners like Marcus so I can gain a fuller appreciation of the ID.3. Can the Niro read the road like the ID.3 ie slowing at roundabouts, speed signs etc.

[@brucekennedy5274]

Yep, I learned that in my leaf and from other EV youtubers - Regen around town, “roll” on the open road.

[@torstend5494]

very nice explain thanks again not many understand this. Do you need the ID Navigation System for this ?

[@marcusevjourney566]

Theo D Thank you. This is a nice unexplained feature of the ID.3.

[@artem10789]

Yes you need navigation for this.

[@Iamstuartwilliamson]

What an excellent demonstration. I am changing from a Nissan Leaf which has e-pedal (one pedal driving) and thought I would need to use B mode for the ID.3. I WAS WRONG. Thanks.

[@davidmotorsport1454]

Hello Marcus, nice video and good explanation! How is your opinion about this topic now after driving the Model 3 a while? I guess you can't coast with that, right? I like the B mode in ID.3 and find it comfortable to use the brake pedal a lot less! I don't get why it should be less efficient. Because with B mode I always adjust the speed or accel/deccel as I whish with the accel pedal. I lift it only gently in case I want no or slight decel. And on straight line I can also adjust for constant speed. In Model 3 you do it the same, or? Greetings from Germany!

[@edgy21]

Wow! I didn't know this! I wish VW should patent it! Very useful feature that has never been mentioned anywhere. I wonder if it has been mentioned in the manual. I think I saw it on Chris' video last several months? I am not sure about this. Marcus, maybe you can look up if your manual mentions this? Your channel should deserve more subscribers!

[@marcusevjourney566]

Thank you, in the manual it just states that this works in Eco mode. It states that recuperation is in function of the navigation system and traffic. It states it can be deactivated in infotainment system. The manual is from March 2020 and I think it is not up to date with the software. I hope they keep this in Eco and Comfort mode in the new software release.

[@GHOOGLEMALE]

Excellent run through on regen - I'm looking around for ideas as I've just got my id3 and was wondering about this. A few questions if you still picking up on this. I've turned off the facility where the car adjusts its speed based on road signs in cruise - I dont like the sudden speeding up when it sees a faster speed - Is yours on? Second, I've noticed when I brake with the foot pedal, the regen meter goes much further up - I'd assumed using the foot brake was all mechanical - No? Maybe it turns up the regen to a higher level than B? I'm going to try your tips here, I like ACC but not so sure on B mode. Finally, have you any figures to demonstrate the difference thats made using the coasting method ie miles per kwh over same journeys? Cheers for a great vid, Subscribed..

[@marcusevjourney566]

"I've turned off the facility where the car adjusts its speed based on road signs in cruise - I dont like the sudden speeding up when it sees a faster speed - Is yours on" Yes, I like it. Mine is always on. "I've noticed when I brake with the foot pedal, the regen meter goes much further up - I'd assumed using the foot brake was all mechanical - No?" If you break moderately, it will use regen and not the mechanical breaks. This will increase range and put less wear on the break pads. If you break hard, the mechanical breaks kick in. You can feel it :-)

[@michaelgoode9555]

We only ever use D with comfort mode. Just does everything that we need. We don't need to think about anything but just driving the car which is exactly where a driver's attention should be.

[@Riitmi]

Just got myself an ID3 last week and noticed the car is still recuperating in D-mode even on an empty straight road (as indicated by roughly a -0.5 to -4kW power output). This has led me to switch to true coasting in neutral mode to conserve the maximum amount of kinetic energy.

[@StarLuna973]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, this has been very enlightening and helpful. Greatly appreciate it.

[@jasonlowes223]

This is the best, very informative. This is the info I was looking for. I use my adaptive cruise control a lot. My weekly drive is 150 city miles so will give the b mode a try at first. I actually think the d mode will suit my style of driving better. I can't wait.

[@jimsmith4171]

Thanks a lot Marcus - I've only had my ID3 for a few days but I'd started to realise that D mode had something extra about it as it seemed to slow down in particular instances, but you explained it very nicely. I love the car, but VW aren't great on explanations, I'm afraid - very little information came with the car, and I couldn't download the manual until the VIN had been recognised a few days after I picked it up as it's brand new, and even then I can find nothing about charging in it at all, which is very much at odds with the image as an EV for people new to EVs - without videos like yours, and online forums I think a lot of people will be lost. Cheers, Jim

[@marcusevjourney566]

Thank you, as far as charging goes never charge more than 80% unless you have to. If you do charge above 80% make sure you get in the car and drive it straight away. In the summer never let the battery go below 20% and in the winter never let it go below 40%. Choose AC charging over DC charging where possible.

[@gayleroberts9765]

I’ve been driving a VW e-Golf for over four years with B & D (plus D1, D2, & D3) modes. My absolutely favorite feature. I have no idea why all EVs don’t have similar option.

[@uwemuller2944]

Thanks for this nice explanation, Marcus. I absolutely agree with you, B mode only makes sense in cities or perhaps on a crowded road when you're not using ACC.

[@VTOLfreak]

Most of these reviewers are like car salesmen, they just need to be good at presenting the car. Every time I went out looking for a new car, I showed up knowing more about the technical details than they guy trying to sell me the car. To be fair, I know I'm the exception and as cars get more complex over time, I don't expect the sales guy to know every little detail.

[@CSHarvey]

Behaves similarly to the D and L modes in the Chevy Bolt. L/B is 'One Pedal Driving' and is best used for stop and go traffic, not while cruising at speed.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Does D mode in the Chevy Bolt use regen smartly like in the ID.3?

[@CSHarvey]

@@marcusevjourney566 D mode in the Bolt is for highway driving and coasting, same as in the ID.4. It will ramp up when going downhill to avoid increasing speed.

[@e-redj]

My main problem with B mode on my e-Golf are the break lights. When I forget that I’m in B mode and I lift my foot, the break lights light up, which is not great for the one behind me as I’m not trying to decelerate my car. So if you constantly try to modulate the speed with the right pedal you should be awareness that the brake lights might go on and off the whole time, but you only notice it when you drive in the dark.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Yes that is true about the brake lights but is the law. When you deaccelerate by a certain amount the brake lights must come on.

[@lixx9277]

This is great. I started with B mode because it felt more like engine braking on ICE, then I discovered D mode and how intelligent it is as explained in your video. Now, might be a bit controversial, I have switched back to mainly driving with B mode. Not because I started hating D but instead I’m using ACC with lane assist pretty much everywhere. Speeding up and down is already taken care of and as some mentioned speed limit signs reading issues, I drive the same route daily I already know where it fails. So the only time I actually do any driving is when the car is going slow in city traffic and B works just fine as you have also suggested, stop start city traffic. Other than that, I agree fully with your video. VW did an awful job telling the world how good their D mode is and the system as a whole work so effortlessly, it’s actually more work driving in B mode and less comfortable.

[@eagerv]

Great video as usual Marcus, I have been enjoying using this on my ID.3 for the last 3 weeks. So much so that I rarely use ACC because its inclined to pick up speed signs on slip roads as most do. Anyway I prefer to drive the car! IMO any ACC uses more energy, much better to anticipate the road ahead. The great thing with the smart regen (When not using ACC) is that it is gentle and not intrusive. Not jerky like some other regen systems. If you wish to drive faster or brake hard then the system is disabled. As you say, VW should have been advertising this system, I knew there was something on the Max but didn't expect it on my base 1st. Looking forward to more vids Marcus, enjoy your great car, as I am!

[@marcusevjourney566]

eagerv I am worried that the 1st has some software that it should not have, and when I get the first update it will be removed. Hopefully that will not happen.

[@eagerv]

@@marcusevjourney566 I doubt it Marcus and I certainly hope not. A few surprises on my car so far, we got passenger seat height adjustment that apparently isn't even on the Plus in some countries. Hope I get more surprises.....

[@jesserichard3347]

Great info...thank you so much for exploring this topic. My wife and I reserved an ID4. We have a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and I love using the paddle shifters to control regen. I get excellent efficiency by coasting quite a bit when driving. I assume the ID4 will have the same technology and it would essentially make driving so much easier, especially for my wife. Thank you so much for sharing this great information.

[@onlineo2263]

Most EVs have 1 pedal driving. B mode is suppose to be 1 pedal driving but the regen isn't quite strong enough to make 1 pedal driving work in the id3. I also like to coast but I would hate to get all those extra bits that you show where the car is nannying you.

[@marcusevjourney566]

You can turn off the nannying parts in the infotainment system.

[@onlineo2263]

@@marcusevjourney566 brilliant

[@erik5989]

Great video. As you mentioned, no other review has said anything about this. Do you have to have the route and speed assistant activated in ACC menu for this to work on D mode driving? I have turned this off in my Passat, because I have had a couple of incidents using it with ACC. Anyway, great tip for when I get my ID.3, just got an e-mail the car has been built and on the way to Sweden:-)

[@iHugoF]

Isn't B mode for 1 pedal driving? If so, makes sense that it brakes when you lift foot. In D mode does it speed up on a downhill?

[@marcusevjourney566]

It seems to just coast on downhill, so I guess it will speed up if the hill is steep but I have not tested it.

[@brucekennedy5274]

Can’t speak for id3, but in most EVs, (certainly mine anyway) even in D you get some regen on a downhill.

[@iHugoF]

Marcus EV Journey Can you please try it when you can? :) Thx!

[@marcusevjourney566]

@@iHugoF I will do and I will put it at the end of my next video about ACC.

[@iHugoF]

@@marcusevjourney566 Thx! :)

[@ricardoaguiar8841]

Hi Marcus. Another place where I think B mode might make sense is mountain roads and even perhaps fast, sporty driving. But yeah, I agree with you, the system looks sweet. Maybe have another, B1??, mode with even stronger regen? I don't know, It's just software right? VW could offer it for those who like one pedal driving

[@marcusevjourney566]

Yes, I think it would have been better if there was one pedal driving on the ID.3 like the Leaf a B+ mode. VW recommends that when you go down a hill you should use B mode.

[@pauladams5673]

Do you use the Speed limiter Mode? I use it on all but heavy traffic or motorway cruising, for which I use A.C.C.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Yes, it automatically lowers the speed in ACC 🖕

[@muhammadirfanataulawal7630]

VAG definitely choose different approach to regen strategy. They choose to make their EV feels natural just like other car, you release the throttle pedal you coasting, but you want to regen just pull the regen. You want city driving you can use B mode, but if you are used to ICE cars then use D mode. This way VAG gives you more option and preference

[@marcusevjourney566]

Yes, I like the VW approach. It would be nice if there was a one pedal option also for people who wanted it.

[@muhammadirfanataulawal7630]

@@marcusevjourney566 I agree. Maybe next update should include full regen option

[@CsabaSoos]

Interesting. Since we bought the car about a month ago I always used B mode. Haven’t even tried D mode. I’ll definitely try that next time.

[@sKullkidi]

Damn. Why is nobody else talking about this? I haven't driven an EV yet but this seems pretty awesome.

[@darrendavies1208]

Very informative. Thanks 🙏

[@marcusevjourney566]

I hope it helps 👍

[@100tinsoldiers]

great video, didn't know about this at all.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Nigel C It seems that VW are hiding it from us, it is almost an easter egg in the software.

[@100tinsoldiers]

@@marcusevjourney566 What a great Easter Egg feature, I've not heard about this and I've been following the ID.3 since before the unveiling. I get to drive one Saturday so I'll definitely be trying this out.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Nigel C Excellent, enjoy Saturday.

[@100tinsoldiers]

@@marcusevjourney566 Thanks, hopefully be able to order a series car soon.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Nigel C Yes, I hope you do not have to wait too long.

[@oykkh29]

I like the D mode best

[@marcusevjourney566]

You can now join the D mode gang :-)

[@oykkh29]

Hi Marcus. Nice video. Do you prefer the Tesla AP or the VW ID.3 system better?. But you dont have the travel assist? Right?

[@marcusevjourney566]

I do not have travel assist, but what I do have is more advanced than I thought it would be. My next video will be Tesla AP vs VW ID.3 ACC, thank you for the idea. I owe you a beer :-)

[@oykkh29]

@@marcusevjourney566 great i posted your video in The swedish ID. Group

[@marcusevjourney566]

@@oykkh29 Thank you, I once worked in Stockholm for 6 months. Unfortunately, it was from September to March 🤣March to September would have been so much brighter!

[@oykkh29]

Marcus EV Journey hes true 😂😂👍🏻

[@jotidusa]

This was already there in e-golf 2017.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Shows how advanced VW are :-)

[@MrMagnus]

Just put the autopilot in and you dont need to keep your foot on any pedal nor to worry about D or B modes :)

[@marcusevjourney566]

Yes it is called Travel Assist in the ID.3.

[@MyID3byFrode]

Very valuable information for us ID.3 noobs too, not only fossil car owners. Thanks!

[@marcusevjourney566]

I am also still an ID.3 noob, I have lots to discover.

[@radiobits3007]

If ACC is off what system is doing the slowing down for you behind cars or at roundabouts ?..and is that the default ?

[@nickthorley1]

I believe marcus mentions "plus" - can anyone confirm if all of this is standard on all models or only the plus model. I am thinking more of the 1st edition?

[@marcusevjourney566]

In the video I am driving the base 1st edition, not the plus.

[@nunolp9067]

Great news! You have found the Regen on D mode and, by the way, for the last 10 days of having the ID3, i have never heard or felt it.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Give it a go and tell us what you think of it.

[@movax20h]

It takes to learn any given mode, and might be tricky to be fluent in using both. Optimally D mode on smooth traffic on highway drives with good spacing between vehicles, and B mode in jammed cities and constant changes of speed.

[@MyDubsteb]

Why it the energy from driving not won back, why only from bracking?

[@David-bl1bt]

Well done for discovering this unannounced feature on the id3. It makes perfect sense to me and must certainly aid efficiency. I actually went through exactly this conversation today with my partner whilst she was driving on the motorway. She kept lifting off the accelerator to deliberately invoke the regen. Apart from it not being particularly comfortable for me as a passenger it does nothing to increase efficiency. As you mentioned, it is actually detrimental to efficiency as the kinetic energy is transferred into regen, obviously with a nett efficiency loss as momentum is also lost in the process. Perhaps intelligence could be added-in (software update) that would automatically engage regen dependent upon how you are driving, eg it recognises when you are in start-stop traffic. This is definitely a smart and useful feature in the id3. Thanks for your time undertaking this testing and sharing your results with us. Just a point. It would be better if your camera was placed such that the display could be seen showing the regen etc. to relate to your narration. A great video thought

[@robertlimburn469]

What about a steep hill say 15% like in an auto you switch to manual mode to stop your brakes getting really hot

[@marcusevjourney566]

In a steep hill you can use b mode or apply the brakes. In the ID.3 when you apply the brakes it uses regen unless you press them very hard.

[@POTThaesslich]

Never understood the hype for 1-pedal driving. Imho a great Marketing Coup for Tesla, but really not good for long distance driving

[@ronb4633]

Marcus, I know a slightly different price point, but the Taycan also has this feature, it's called Auto mode for regeneration. Thanks for the demonstration.

[@marcusevjourney566]

I would love to try that in the Taycan, just to compare 🤣

[@marcusbiller867]

Has nothing to do with price points. The Kias and Hyundais have it too for cheap and that since 2016 or so. Nothing new. They also have 3 level control on the steering wheel. If anything, the Koreans do regen best.

[@marcusevjourney566]

@@marcusbiller867 It is good to know that Kias and Hyundais also have this feature. Thank you.

[@marcusbiller867]

@@marcusevjourney566 They don't have "this feature". They have a far better feature that works both manually and automatically far better than VW. You make the worst thing about VW, the regen setup (both D and B are the worst in the EV market, confirmed multiple times by many EV drivers) sound like it is the best thing in the EV market. Then you complain about people being fanboys. Typical fanboy talk. If you work for VW you should at least make a disclaimer...

[@marcusevjourney566]

@@marcusbiller867 I do not work for VW but I do own Tesla shares :-). I think the way that "D" mode works in the ID.3 is amazing.

[@AC_Milan1899]

Remember in B mode you will be confusing the heck out of the driver behind when he keeps seeing the brake light coming on.

[@iain8837]

They don't come on until you are very near or at full regen when off the pedal, so it's the opposite, they are confused that you slow down without brake lights.

[@fredderf6491]

Very informative. Thanks so much for that detailed insight.

[@artem10789]

Also consumtionwise d mode is better than b mode. For me It was a pleasure to ride in d mode and acc during my test drive. B mode was nothing for me and my family also in the evening traffic in Berlin with stop and go.

[@marcusevjourney566]

ACC is very good.

[@rogerthompson2062]

Thanks for the video, but what do you set the speed to on the pinnacle before you set off and does it need to be adjusted depending on different roads.

[@Fye...]

Brilliant way to demonstrate this feature, thanks for making this video - definitely something to factor in when I buy my next car next year 👍

[@vitaljina]

B mode is very handy when driving in a city with lots of stop and go. VW blew it by not making B mode as strong as it is in a BMW i3.

[@marcusevjourney566]

I disagree, in the city with lots of stop and go I just use ACC so it does not matter if I am in D or B mode. I find the B mode too strong in the ID.3 and I do not like it, so in the i3 I would like it less. However I understand lots of people like 1 pedal driving, I do not. Plus the fact D mode is intelligent is a great plus. 👍

[@Lewis_Standing]

Do you prefer the Teslas regen now?

[@vhog666]

Awesome video and explanation! 👏👏👏

[@jh5kl]

mas que estrada tão bonita, ou melhor dizendo, os sitios por onde essa estrada passa

[@Sahkoautoseparempiauto]

Really good and clear video! Thanks!

[@marcusevjourney566]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dercapndirk]

Thank you for this interesting video! Can‘t wait for mine!

[@dandoney7062]

Coasting is not safe though. Power must be constantly applied for maximum control.

[@iain8837]

The problem with D mode and ACC is the horrible ACC buttons on the wheel, the feel and delay with the click. I use ACC in the motorway but then there are no roundabouts. If our on main roads with some roundabouts, I use D and flick to B when approaching a roundabout then flick back. I prefer this to ACC when not on a motorway. Otherwise B mode for town and city.

[@gustavopedrosa81]

I love One Pedal Driving for city... B Mode for the win in city

[@marcusevjourney566]

Last time I was in a city was in February. I only live 30kms from Lisbon.

[@Elunam88]

I also love the D mode so much in my ID.3

[@BB-el5ny]

This is a great review Marcus! As someone who intends to switch from an ICE vehicle to an EV some time in the future i don’t think I’d like one pedal driving very much. I think VW have considered this and it’s great that the car will use regenerative braking when necessary but coast when my foot is off the accelerator. It’s quite strange that they’re not marketing this feature. It would be great if you could do a comparison of consumption between driving in D and B at some point.

[@robotec0007]

lol, just use cruise control if youre going to drive on such roads, or just dobt lift the foot completely of the gas pedal. B makes so much more sense.

[@movax20h]

Wow. The automatic slowing down in the D mode works so well and smooth. It optimize a lot of energy use too. You are the first to point out how it works.

[@RMC2627]

I agree, the D-mode is outstanding, but B-mode I don't like. In B-mode you can not "one pedal drive" like in "Model 3" or "BMW i3", the car comes not to a complet stop.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Yes, I think there should be a one pedal driving mode.

[@muhammadirfanataulawal7630]

VW basically put different strategy here. B mode has stronger regen, but you need to push brake pedal to actually gets full regen. So there is full regen, but only when you hit the brake. This is like how Taycan regen works. I just thought B mode is more suitable for bendy mountain roads, where you wants to slow down on corners but not very slow like in city

[@GabrielAlejandroZorrilla]

Would be nice to have some hard data when it comes to energy consumption/saving of D vs B mode. BTW, love the black interior so much than the white I've seen in many other videos.

[@marcusevjourney566]

Energy consumption is so dependent on road conditions, weather etc that it will be difficult to do without a scientific setting. When you slow down and put power into the battery and use that power again to accelerate you will always lose energy to heat loss etc, coasting should not lose as much.