Volkswagens initial ID car launches were met by lack lustre reviews, including from us. As a family we run a petrol Tiguan & an old petrol Polo, both of which had better interiors than the first ID.3, ID.4 & ID. 5. Last Autumn we drove the revised ID.3 & to VW’s credit, they’ve addressed one of the issues we had with the original, namely poor cabin quality. Can the latest ID the 7, improve upon that ? Let’s find out.
What is it ?
The ID.7 is a large five-door saloon base on Volkswagens MEB modular electric drive vehicle platform. In effect, it’s an electric Passat only larger. It features a new electric motor offering the most power (210 kW) & highest torque figure (545 Nm) yet seen in an ID. model.
Model choice
Surprisingly simple. After the launch edition finishes, there’s just one model the Pro Match which costs from £51,550.00.
Range & battery
Range is up to 383 miles with the 82kWh battery offering 77kWh capacity.
Performance
It’s good for a top speed of 112mph & a 0-62 mph time of just 6.5 seconds.
Charging time
Rapid charging is possible at up to 170kW so it will take just 28minutes to charge your ID.7 to 80% capacity. On an 11kWh 3-phase a 0-100% charge takes 8 hours. At home we plug in overnight for cheaper charging rates. We used our own Rolec throughout the week adding approximately 3okWh of range every night charging between 00.30 & o4.30 for just £2.50. http://www.rolecserv.com/home-charging
Anything special about it ?
At launch the ID.7 was the only vehicle in its class to feature an augmented-reality (AR) head-up display as standard. It’s also the first Volkswagen to be available with the new ‘Smart Glass’ panoramic roof. It can be switched to become either transparent or opaque almost instantly via an electronic layer in the glass. More new features in the ID.7 include automatically controlled air vents with electronic actuators & new ergoActive seats with a new pressure point massage function.
Exterior
Think of an electric Passat, not bad thing at all in our opinion. So unlike the other ID’s the 7 looks more like a normal car than a specifically designed electric one.
Interior
Much better than the other ID’s. ID.7 now competes with cars in it’s class on an even keel. You get a bright, airy, spacious cabin, helped by the large sunroof. Good quality finishes including soft-touch across the doors, dash & surfaces are also a highlight.The seats are large & comfortable with plenty of adjustment in the front. The gear selector is still via a stalk on the left of the steering wheel, with the wipers & lights on the right.
Specification
Pro Match comes with 19″ Hudson alloys, matrix-LED lights, keyless entry, remote tailgate unlocking, three-zone climate control, a digital cockpit, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 15″ Discover Pro infotainment system & the Augmented-reality head-up display. An ‘energy efficient’ heat pump is a £1,050 option.
Infotainment
Better so much better. The large 15″ touchscreen is clear with logical menus & some useful short cuts permanently displayed along the top. And the climate controls are backlit.
Practicality
In the cabin you get two USB C inputs, a wireless charging pad, glovebox, large door pockets front & rear, twin centre cup holders & a split opening armrest with storage underneath. In the back there’s two more USB C connections, separate climate & heated seat controls, a ski hatch & a fold down armrest with drinks holders inside. There’s acres of space all around, aided & abetted by the panoramic sunroof. And there’s room for 5 adults in the back as well.
Boot
The boot is a really useful 532 litres with a 60:40 seat split. And this increases to 1,586 litres if you fold them down. The flat boot floor lifts up to reveal space underneath to store two charging cables. A real highlight is that VW has fitted a roof-hinged hatch so accessibility is fantastic.
Start-up
First things first. As long as you have the key, the ID.7 will unlock itself & when you push the brake pedal the engine will start. Select Drive from the twisty gear lever & away you go. When you come to stop, you just press Park, get out & the car will switch itself off & lock behind you.
Driving
A 230 mile round trip to the Cotswolds saw us utilise the ID.7’s very comfortable cabin & ride, whilst driving along a mixture of motorway, A & B roads.
At a constant 70mph the 7 is one of the nicest electric cars we’ve been in. It’s quiet for a start thanks to the double-glazed side windows & refined too. If you need some extra power it’s there if you need it, but in cruise control it’s just an easy car to be in as Volkswagens adaptive system takes away the strain of the Smart Motorway.
Leaving the motorway 90 miles later, we had used 90 miles of range, a good start. On the winding roads around Pershore & Evesham, the ID.7’s wide track & body weight of 2,630kg’s, meant that it stuck to the road really well. With a low centre of gravity it’s a lot more fun to drive than many electric SUV’s, hiding it’s size really well.
Don’t let that that put you off though, as it still feels like a large, comfortable, executive cruiser inside, with way more room & practicality than a Model 3 & pretty much everything else out there. With 545Nm of torque on offer you can accelerate as required & although I was driving alone, I see no reason to see why it won’t perform just as well when fully loaded.
Real world range
We were able to charge to full at our destination & drove back in similar vein, 115 miles driven & 110 miles of range consumed. We’d estimate that the range would be a doable 280-300 miles in warmer weather, if you stick to the speed limit & utilise the B regen offered in the gear selector. Or around 250 miles if you’re not driving as carefully in colder months.
To enhance battery range, drive in Eco & you can select a regenerative brake mode. In Drive, you simply twist & push the gear lever to select the B function, which gives you access to this. The strength of the regeneration on ID.7 as with ID.3, 4 & 5, is not that high. This is a good thing & makes the ID.7 better to drive than some of it’s competitors. Although some may prefer the much heavier levels you can experience in Korean cars for example.
Pros
Spacious, practical, comfortable cabin. Good quality fixtures & fittings. An infotainment system that’s finally worth praising. And despite its size, the ID.7 feels like a drivers car.
Cons
Doesn’t have the largest range nor fastest battery charging.
Conclusion
As a Volkswagen family we’ve been waiting for an electric VW that feels like a VW. And we’re pleased to say that urge ID.7 does & is. Where many electric cars are SUV shaped the 7 is a saloon & all the better for it. It’s large wheelbase means it drives & handles better than most EV’s & it even gives the class conquering Tesla 3 & Y a run for their money as well. And if you don’t want your electric car to stand out then the ID.7’s conservative looks are also refreshing. It may not be the flashiest thing on the road, but it will definitely do a job for you.
The best VW electric car yet 4.25./5
