See all New Car Reviews
Pros: Plush, spacious, efficient.
Cons: Uninspiring design, cabin a few buttons short of brilliant.
Volkswagen ID.7 Design
Based on the firm’s ID. Aero concept car, the new ID.7 is Volkswagen’s first all-electric saloon car that aims to take a swipe at the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6, as well as premium offerings like the BMW i4 and the Mercedes-Benz EQE.
Measuring almost five metres in length, this is a rather big car. You might be surprised to know it's even longer than a Volkswagen Arteon. Every inch has been styled to make it as efficient as possible. The smooth aerodynamic look is certainly futuristic though it’s unlikely to go down in the history books as a Volkswagen design classic – it’s a bit too bulky for that. But considering the excellent efficiency this car can reach on a motorway for instance, there’s certainly purpose and power to this design.
At launch the ID.7 is available in just one well-equipped ‘Pro Plus’ trim level with matrix LED headlights and 19-inch alloy wheels as standard (optional 20-inch). There are six paint colours available.
Volkswagen ID.7 Interior
The cabin immediately impresses. It feels like a return to form for Volkswagen compared to early versions of the ID.3 and ID.4 that frankly failed to live up to the plush, high-quality interiors that made the brand a step above everyone else in the 2000s and 2010s. The ID.7 is beautifully finished with high quality materials in the dashboard and doors, plush seats and gorgeous 30-colour ambient lighting. It gets lots of luxury features as standard including heated steering wheel and heated front seats with memory function, power adjustment, massage settings as well as extendable thigh support. There’s also a pronounced centre console between the driver and passenger with loads of storage and cupholders.
It's still quite a minimalist cabin with few physical buttons and much of the car’s functionality like media, navigation and climate control is housed in a 15-inch touchscreen. Volkswagen has updated the software following customer feedback from previous ID models and improved the menu structure. The new customisable shortcuts at the top of the screen are a welcome addition but some of the menus are still quite busy. An augmented reality head-up display comes as standard and there’s a slim new digital driver display integrated into the dash perfectly.
Volkswagen has stuck with some frustrating features like the two window control buttons and a third button marked rear that toggles between opening the front and rear windows - just give us four buttons!
The ID.7 is huge inside with limousine-style accommodation and comfort for rear seat passengers. There’s also a generous 532 litre boot, which beats rivals with its practical hatchback opening. An optional panoramic sunroof with “smart glass” adds to the spacious feel and can be switched between opaque and transparent at the swipe of a button.
Volkswagen ID.7 Performance & Drive
The ID.7 is built on Volkswagen’s modular electric drive (MEB) platform just like the ID.3 and the ID.4 and it also shares the same 77kWh battery. The lithium ion battery with get you the farthest in the ID.7 – up to 615 kilometres (WLTP). In real world driving, consumption was seen as low as 15 kWh per 100 kilometres to a ‘high’ of 19 kWh per 100 kilometres, which translates to a range between 405 and 513 kilometres. The ID.7 is particularly efficient as it settles down to a motorway cruise. Our car was also fitted with the optional heat pump. Combined with the ID.7’s fast charging capabilities up to 175kW, and this car is ideal for tackling long motorway runs.
Our test car was fitted with Dynamic Chassis Control, which gives the ID.7 truly executive levels of comfort. Insulated glass ensures a high level of refinement to match that. When the roads get a bit twisty, the ID.7 can more than keep up, with a secure planted feel and natural progressive steering.
The single motor, rear wheel drive variant has an ample 286hp and 545Nm of torque and it’s delivered in smooth style too (0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds). A more powerful dual motor version is likely to join later, as is a larger battery with a range in the region of 700 kilometres.
Volkswagen ID.7 Pricing
The Volkswagen ID.7 77kWh Pro Plus retails from €56,490.
Carzone Verdict
The Volkswagen ID.7 is one of the most spacious and comfortable electric cars on sale today. It’s a brilliant alternative to its rivals, particularly for those looking for a good motorway companion. Commendably, it also has a plush cabin worthy of an executive car.