Volkswagen ID.7 review

Is the Volkswagen ID.7 a good car?

With the march towards electrification gathering pace and the arrival of ever more efficient EVs that can go further on a charge, the Volkswagen ID.7 needs to be good. And thankfully, the German brand has worked hard to learn from experience with its early EVs. 

In terms of its cabin, technology and general driving experience, the ID.7 easily justifies its price tag. The VW has every right to be considered in the same sentence as cars like the Tesla Model 3 – as well as bigger rivals costing considerably more.

How much does the Volkswagen ID.7 cost?

Given that the Volkswagen ID.7 is one of the brand’s biggest electric cars to date (it’s a full 249mm longer than the VW ID.Buzz, for example), it perhaps isn’t surprising to find it starts at nearly £51,500. Those looking to go further on a charge will need to stump up around £55,500 for the larger battery pack in the Pro S variant, while the four-wheel-drive GTX comes in at around £62,000.

As already mentioned, the ID.7 isn’t the only Volkswagen EV, and even if the reaction to the company’s early efforts was a little lukewarm, you could hardly accuse the brand of resting on its laurels. Following limp launches for the VW ID.3, VW ID.4 and VW ID.5, the bold-looking ID.Buzz won us over with its charming personality and practical interior.

But the ID.7, which acts as flagship for VW’s electric-car range, is its most impressive EV to date. It’s available as a saloon-cum-hatchback, or the more versatile Tourer estate. The hatchback is the one we’ll be focusing on in this review, and despite the circa-£50k price tag, it’s more closely aligned with the Tesla Model S in terms of size than a Tesla Model 3.

Whereas it merely matches the smaller Tesla from a handling perspective, it punts it into next week when it comes to practicality. However, while the Volkswagen will be better for a family vacation, it still sits behind the Model 3 when it comes to electric efficiency and charging speeds. That’s a shame, considering the ID.7 is more expensive. 

All rear-wheel-drive ID.7 models come with a single 282bhp electric motor, but there’s a choice of battery size. The entry-level Pro has a 77kWh battery pack, which is the same set-up you’ll find in the ID.4 and ID.5, but the slippery shape of the ID.7 means it offers better efficiency and range (up to 383 miles) than its bulkier SUV-style siblings. If that isn’t enough for you, there’s an even larger 86kWh battery pack in the Pro S model, offering up to 437 miles of range, plus a faster charging speed to keep the rapid-charge time below 30 minutes.

Finally, the high-performance GTX model offers swifter acceleration thanks to a twin-motor four-wheel drive system delivering 335bhp. It comes exclusively with the larger of the two battery sizes to give it a decent range despite the additional weight of its four-wheel drive system.

Every ID.7 comes in well equipped Match trim, featuring matrix-LED lights and 19-inch wheels, plus three-zone climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 15-inch Discover Pro infotainment system, and an augmented-reality head-up display. Frustratingly, a range-preserving heat pump is a £1,050 option, despite it being standard fit on both the cheaper BYD Seal and Model 3. 

Four-wheel drive GTX models feature unique 20-inch alloy wheels, an upgraded Harman Kardon sound system, ventilated front seats, adaptive suspension, and sportier exterior styling.

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Thrilling handling isn’t the forte of the Volkswagen ID.7, but comfort and refinement certainly are. Its 0-62mph acceleration time of 6.5 seconds in standard form is certainly fine when compared with a traditionally powered car, but is somewhat shy of the entry-level versions of Tesla Model 3 or Polestar 2. However, the ID.7 is a much better long-distance companion than either of these two rivals. Read more about the VW ID.7's electric motors, performance & drive…

The slippery shape of the Volkswagen ID.7 means that the larger 86kWh Pro S version has a range of up to 437 miles, which is the same as the Long Range, rear-wheel-drive Model 3 and further than the single-motor Long Range Polestar 2. The ID.7 should perform well for company car drivers paying Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax, and private buyers will like its residual values, which are better than for some of its main rivals. It’s a shame that the ID.7 doesn't provide a heat pump as standard to improve efficiency further. Read more about the VW ID.7's range, charging and running costs…

While the interior of the ID.7 lacks flair, it is a big step on from early Volkswagen ID cars in terms of material plushness and feels like the sort of cabin you’d expect to find in a premium-priced EV. There are still some quirks in the infotainment and ergonomics, but VW’s latest generation of infotainment has a larger screen with a greater scope for customisation thanks to the ability to save frequently used functions to the main screen. Read more about the VW ID.7's interior, design and technology…  

The hatchback version of VW ID.7 has an enormous 532-litre boot, plus its wider opening puts it ahead of its less versatile saloon rivals when it comes to loading taller items into the boot. The ID.7 also has a number of well-thought-out details, such as a place to store the luggage cover when it isn’t needed, a standard fit adjustable height boot floor, plus rear seats that almost lay down flat. There’s also much more space inside for taller adults than in many of its rivals, marking the ID.7 out as a true family-orientated EV. Read more about the VW ID.7's boot space, comfort and practicality…

The Volkswagen brand has been slipping further down in the Driver Power owner satisfaction survey due to numerous issues with its previous infotainment systems, but there are hopes that the latest software and larger screen set-up used on the ID.7 and others in the VW range should improve on this score. The ID.7 scores well in terms of safety and driver-assistance technology, while servicing should be more affordable than a petrol or diesel rival. Read more about the VW ID.7's reliability and safety…

Volkswagen ID.7 alternatives

As we already mentioned, people considering the Volkswagen ID.7 are likely to be comparing it with the Tesla Model 3, and if ease of charging away from home and overall efficiency are your major concerns, then the ID.7, unfortunately, comes up a little short. That’s not to say it can’t handle a long trip, because every ID.7 uses a sizeable battery pack (77kWh or 86kWh) that can be recharged at a relatively fast speed. But the Model 3 is just that little bit further ahead in terms of getting the most from your volts according to our real-world testing, and Telsa’s infrastructure is second to none.

However, the ID.7 is leagues ahead of the Model 3 (and many of its other rivals) when it comes to practicality. The VW is significantly bigger, meaning it can cope with family life much better, especially if you have older (and taller) children. Comfort is also a major plus point, particularly with the adaptive suspension. True, the ID.7 can’t out-handle a Model 3 or BMW i4, but to buyers who just want a car that's comfortable and refined, that won’t matter very much.