It’s great to see another true all-electric sedan coming out, ready to compete with the likes of the Tesla Model 3, BMW i5, and Mercedes-Benz EQE. Even better, the Volkswagen ID.7 is of reassuring quality and has enough high-end style to tempt executives away from the latter two brands.
The Volkswagen ID.7 certainly feels better than any Tesla, too, and its interior is an improvement over past ID cars and their annoying infotainment systems.
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I’ve been driving the ID.7 Pro Match model for a week. It has a 77kWh battery pack that produces 286PS and is powered through an automatic transmission, providing a range of up to 383 miles. The Volkswagen ID.7 certainly feels better than any Tesla, too, and its interior is an improvement over past ID cars and their annoying infotainment systems.
It costs quite a bit, with this example costing around $72,000 (£56,130). Still, if you’re looking for a classy but slightly inoffensive couple-style sedan, the Volkswagen ID.7 is an interesting choice.
Volkswagen ID.7
respected
The Volkswagen ID.7 is an improvement over other models in Volkswagen’s all-electric range. It’s a large sedan with a high-end feel, from its relatively plain exterior design lines to its vastly improved and spacious interior. The best part comes from the infotainment aspect of the cockpit, which is better than the previous ID. An impressive range of up to 383 miles makes it a viable sedan for daily driving and long-distance driving, which only adds to the appeal.
- Improved infotainment system
- Impressive real-world scope
- Spacious
- Expensive relative to Tesla
- It feels heavy when thrown around
- Lack of dazzling appearance
Prices, specifications and availability
The Volkswagen ID.7 is already available in Europe, but is expected to go on sale in the United States later this summer, where initial pricing should be around $50,000. However, opt for a fully loaded model, like the one reviewed here, and the price can top $72,000.
Volkswagen ID.7
- engine
- Electric motor powered by lithium-ion battery
- drive layout
- Rear wheel drive
- horsepower
- 210 kW/286 HP
- 0-60 mph
- 6.5 seconds
- Torque
- 545Nm
- top speed
- 112 mph
design
Styles and sizes
The Volkswagen ID.7 is a pretty big thing, measuring 16.27 feet or 4.96 meters in length. So while the styling is coupe-like, you’re immediately aware of its bulk. In comparison, the lower-priced Volkswagen ID.5 appears very compact. You’ll be enchanted by the spacious interior, but a visit to the exterior won’t reveal anything particularly noteworthy in terms of design.
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The sleek design is perfect for flying through the air, with a drag coefficient of 0.23, which means efficiency and a maximum range of up to 383 miles. That’s not bad for a car with a 77kWh battery, which can be charged using commercial chargers up to 175kW. VW claims it can boost the charge from 5% to 80% in an impressive 28 minutes.
The sleek design is perfect for flying through the air, with a drag coefficient of 0.23, which means efficiency and a maximum range of up to 383 miles.
There are a few bells and whistles that help elevate the ID.7. 20-inch ‘Montreal’ diamond-cut alloy wheels elevate the car from the standard 19-inch ‘Hudson’ alloy wheels, and they certainly look good. The front end is particularly eye-catching thanks to LED matrix headlights. There are LED taillight clusters between the body shapes, which flow well and look even smoother thanks to the color-coded door handles.
Great attention to detail is given to the contrasting silver roof molding, topped with the added benefit of a panoramic glass roof. I think my example looks understated in Aquamarine Blue Metallic complemented by a black roof and Soul Black interior.
Internal
Premium interior
The Volkswagen ID.7 can easily carry up to five people, and it seems unlikely that anyone will be competing for elbow room. The cabin is a great place to be, too, with lots of streamlined styling and plush suede-like trim seat inserts. Front-seat passengers can choose a massage function.
The trunk is also spacious. It can hold up to 18.8 cubic feet or 532 liters of space before folding down the rear seats. Drop it down and storage space increases to 56 cubic feet or 1,586 liters. That should be more than most people will need, and even in standard settings, this EV’s carrying capacity makes it perfect for families or pets.
Technical breakdown
Improved infotainment system
Volkswagen has improved upon the main attraction, the 15-inch touchscreen. It’s located in the center of the dashboard and provides most of the car’s controls. While this is fine for the most part, it does mean you have to do almost everything by tapping the screen. I even had to adjust the vents through the screen, rather than using traditional knobs or dials on the vents themselves. Alternatively, it can be done with some success with the help of voice control.
Compared to earlier ID cars, Volkswagen has improved upon the main attraction, the 15-inch touchscreen.
There’s some cool ambient lighting inside that can be adjusted with 30 different color combinations. As you’d expect, there’s support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a handful of USB-C ports (two on the front, two on the back), and wireless smartphone charging. My test car also had an augmented reality head-up display, which works great if you have sat-nav guidance.
Driving assistance systems include park assist, adaptive cruise control, lane assist and a range of other alerts to keep you driving straight and narrow. I find the advanced dynamic light assist feature of the LED Matrix headlights very handy, especially when dealing with unpredictable weather conditions.
Battery, range and performance
Wide range and very efficient
Considering its size and bulk (it weighs 2630kg), the ID.7 drives impressively and looks quite efficient too. Even on long highway drives where EV battery degradation is most severe, my test car averaged 3.6 miles per kilowatt-hour. Volkswagen provides a WLTP combined consumption figure of 4.7 miles per kWh, which seems a bit optimistic. The ID.7 excels at low speeds, with its 210kW motor and 545Nm of torque making it feel effortless in a way that might bog you down in slower maneuvers.
Even on long highway drives where EV battery degradation is most severe, my test car averaged 3.6 miles per kilowatt-hour.
Take it out on the open road, though, and you’re rewarded with a satisfying driving experience, with teachable handling and plenty of power, delivering a 0 to 62 mph time of 6.5 seconds on the way to 112 mph. ‘s top speed.
If you can find a powerful charger, the Volkswagen ID.7 can charge up to 175kW, potentially bringing the battery back from 5% to 80% in just 28 minutes. The charging cover opens upward rather than from the side, which means it covers the connector if you’re charging in heavy rain.
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judgment
The Volkswagen ID.7 has a lot going for it, and if you’re looking for an all-electric executive sedan, it definitely has a leg up on the competition. When it comes to alternatives, there are also many options, with the Tesla Model 3, BMW i5, Polestar 2 or Mercedes-Benz EQE being obvious examples. However, models such as the Hyundai Ioniq 6 or BYD Seal are more interesting in terms of appearance.
If you need a spacious and practical family sedan, it ticks a lot of boxes. The range is probably the most attractive aspect of this car, as it’s ideal for long journeys. If you do this regularly, then this is a big pull factor. Almost as impressive is the fact that Volkswagen listened to the critics of early versions of its infotainment system and addressed those issues with a vastly improved cabin setup.