Volkswagen ID.7 Review 2024

The new Volkswagen ID.7 is the latest and largest family car from VW’s ID-branded electric car line-up. It arrives just in time to take on its key EV saloon rival, the Tesla Model 3, along with cars such as the BYD Seal, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and BMW i4. You could call it the electric replacement for the Volkswagen Passat saloon. Has VW thrown a lucky seven? Read our full Volkswagen ID.7 review to find out.

The new Volkswagen ID.7 follows the Volkswagen ID.3, Volkswagen ID.4 and Volkswagen ID.5. Like all of those cars, it is a five-door hatchback, but is unquestionably the most upmarket iteration yet.

Instead of the SUV-like styling of the other three, the Volkswagen ID.7 takes on a sleeker, lower-slung appearance, which has the added benefit of boosting aerodynamic efficiency. It has a slippery drag coefficient Cd of just 0.23, which is great news for high-speed range.

Speaking of which, the Volkswagen ID.7 launches with a 77kWh battery, which in VW-speak is called ‘Pro’. A later ‘Pro S’ battery with an 86kWh capacity will follow later. Even with the ‘smaller’ battery, it has a 385-mile range, which will immediately earn it a place on the consideration list of many. The Volkswagen ID.7 Pro S will have a range easily north of 400 miles.

The 77kWh battery has a decent DC charging speed of up to 170kW. If owners use the sat nav, it preconditions ahead of a DC rapid charge, so it can take on maximum rate of charge – it will go from 10% to 80% in as little as 28 minutes. Volkswagen ID.7 Pro S will enjoy DC rapid charging at up to 200kW.

The first Volkswagen ID.7 models in the UK are lavishly-equipped Launch Edition cars. These have a premium price tag of over £55,000, which is more expensive than even the dearest Tesla Model 3. More affordable Volkswagen ID.7 versions will follow in due course, but the high-end price tag is, undeniably, initially challenging.

The Volkswagen ID.7 does look suitably upmarket though, with its smooth lines and lustrous paint finish. All colours have a contrast black roof, while standard 19-inch alloy wheels are joined by optional 20-inch rims – both having a sparkling diamond cut finish.

Inside, the Volkswagen ID.7 immediately feels a cut above something like a Tesla Model 3. All the rich, robust build quality VW is famous for is there and the special Alcantara upholstery of the Launch Edition cars is plush. It’s seriously spacious inside too, with acres of rear space and a vast boot. Clever details abound as well, from the electronic air vents, to the infotainment screen running VW’s latest software.

And on the road, it soon becomes clear the Volkswagen ID.7 is the most well-honed VW ID model yet launched. Refinement is exceptional, driving dynamics demonstrate plenty of depth and performance is swift yet reassuring. It’s a superb motorway car, with a stable, relaxing feel and ample range from the generous battery. Notably, it also has a broader range of dynamic prowess than the Tesla Model 3…

Sure, the Volkswagen ID.7 is initially expensive. But this Launch Edition version shows it has plenty of strength in depth – if you can’t stretch to this one, the more affordable versions that arrive later will certainly be worth a look. The Volkswagen ID.7 shows that VW is realty getting to grips with how to make electric cars desirable and we can’t wait to see it go head-to-head with the current market leader, the Telsa Model 3.

The Volkswagen ID.7 is available with optional adaptive suspension, called DCC, which was fitted to the test cars. This serves up excellent ride quality, with a feeling of suppleness and comfort which wouldn’t be out of place on a high-end luxury car. The ride is quiet and well-isolated, and doesn’t seem disturbed even when running on the optional 20-inch alloys.

Handling is impressive too. Despite being soft and supple, the ID.7 is controlled and adjustable through bends, with superb precision through the well-weighted steering. Drivers can steer it through twisting corners fluidly and accurately, without any hairy moments. It drives in a natural, confidence-inspiring way.

The DCC suspension allows the driver to tailor stiffness over a wide range of settings. It can be made very sporty, to capitalise on the tight and reassuring steering feel while the steering itself can be made weightier. We tended to leave it in regular mode – but it can quickly be switched to Sport model through a shortcut on the touchscreen.

We will report back on how standard models without the DCC suspension perform when we drive the new Volkswagen ID.7 in the UK.

The Volkswagen ID.7 is available with a single electric motor choice at launch, which drives the rear wheels. The compact new motor produces a healthy 286PS, and 545Nm of torque. This delivers 0-62mph performance in 6.5 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 111mph.

The Volkswagen ID.7 does feel a little heavy under initial acceleration – it weighs 2172kg – but you soon learn this character is partly intentional. It gives the car a refined feel while creating a feeling of control and precision – in contrast to the head-snapping electric response of a Tesla. Besides, performance figures show that it does still have plentiful power, with 0-62mph acceleration that’s a match for a Volkswagen Golf GTI.

There is a notable lack of electric motor whine, meaning it gathers pace with pleasing refinement. It is a car that uses its electric underpinnings to enhance the drive – and certainly delivers refinement that’s up there with the class best.

At speed, the Volkswagen ID.7 has plenty of power in reserve, while the aerodynamic bodywork means it cruises along with minimal effort. There’s a notable lack of wind and road noise too, which further enhances its effortlessness. High-mileage drivers will find it a pleasure to drive on the UK motorway network.

The Volkswagen ID.7 doesn’t have a conventional gear selector. Instead, it has a new type of steering wheel controller, which is more intuitive than the one on the Volkswagen ID.3. This cleans up the centre console and opens up even more space for stowage.

As for brake pedal feel, this was excellent. Electric cars can lack linearity here, as the brake pedal blends electric motor regeneration with the physical brakes – but the Volkswagen ID.7 felt really reassuring and confident, making it easy to slow down to a smooth stop. For the record, it has rear drum brakes - common to most electric cars - rather than discs, but you’ll not be aware of it on the move.

The Volkswagen ID.7 has excellent standards. In 2023’s Euro NCAP tests, it scored a full five star rating, with a superb 95% rating for adult occupant protection and 88% for child safety. Pedestrian protection and safety assist scores were also among the highest recorded by the independent safety organisation during the year.

A smart Travel Assist feature takes active cruise control to the next level. It is available at speeds over 50mph and helps take the strain off long journeys by offering support both front and rear, plus side-to-side. It doesn’t rely on painted white lines and can automatically factor in changing speed limits – detecting features such as roundabouts up ahead to begin slowing down in advance.

The combination of information from map data and the swarm data from other connected vehicles makes the Travel Assist feature much smoother in operation, meaning owners are likely to make better use of it. What’s more, the predictive features mean the Volkswagen ID.7 is able to use make greater use of energy recuperation, which can help improve driving range.

The Volkswagen ID.7 is approved to tow loads of up to 1200kg. It is optionally available with a swivelling tow bar, which pops in and out at the press of a button. It’s a neat feature, albeit expensive at £1050.

Practicality is a real standout area for the new Volkswagen ID.7. It is based on the same platform as other VW ID models and combines a considerable overall length of 4961mm with a wheelbase of almost three metres. This makes it extremely spacious inside, whether you're sat in the front or the back.

The front seats are easy to step into and the driver has a good view out. They are also firm, supportive and extremely comfortable. Launch Edition models are fitted with comfort seats, with electric adjustment, front seat heating and massage function. The ArtVelours microfleece upholstery is plush and rich, plus we like the Artex microfleece seat bolsters.

Between the front seats is an enormous centre console, with added stage space beneath. The sliding covers are smart and there are neat features to boost its practicality. The interior is also illuminated by 30-colour ambient lighting which extends to the door panels.

The steering wheel is nice to hold, but we wish Volkswagen would replace the touch-sensitive buttons with proper physical ones. The latest generation of indicator stalk also includes a rotary switch for the windscreen wipers, rather than a separate wiper stalk. It takes a bit of getting used to.

The electric window switches are odd, too – instead of separate buttons for the rear windows, there’s a toggle to switch the buttons between front and rear control. This is easy to knock, meaning you’ll often accidentally lower the rear window rather than the front...

A novel feature is the Volkswagen ID.7’s smart air vents. Instead of offering manual control, they automatically move horizontally and vertically, to dynamically distribute air around the interior. They also detect when the driver is approaching and start cooling or heating in advance. Given all this, it’s a pity an energy-saving heat pump isn’t standard, but a £1050 option instead.

Rear seat legroom is vast – it’s almost limo-like in the back of the Volkswagen ID.7. This really is where the space efficiency of EVs comes into its own. The seats are very comfortable too, proving supportive and comfortable even over long distances.

The outer two rear seats are heated. An optional interior pack brings ventilated front seats that have an ‘anti-sweat’ function – moisture sensors detect, um, damp shirts and automatically dry them out.

The Volkswagen ID.7 has an enormous 532-litre boot. The hatchback tailgate auto-lifts top reveal a huge opening, which makes loading and unloading much easier. The space is really well-designed, proving long and extra-wide, and a variable boot floor adds flexibility. There is, however, no front boot, or ‘frunk’.

Fold the rear seats in the Volkswagen ID.7 and the load space expands to 1586 litres. There will also be a Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer following later – a rare electric estate, that promises to have an even more voluminous load space.   

Finally, at times, it’s a pity the A-pillars get in the way, which can make it tricky to see out. This is because of the steeply-ranked windscreen, which delivers the slippery aerodynamic drag factor, but becomes less of an advantage when you’re trying to see if the road is clear at a junction…

The Volkswagen ID.7 displays excellent quality and finish. It has the VW integrity the brand is famous for, and the interior represents a notable lift over the Volkswagen ID.3 and Volkswagen ID.4. The materials are much richer, with greater use of soft-touch plastics and upholstered inserts, and details like the stitched dash top add a premium feel.

Engineering details stand out too. The doors close with a reassuring thud. The paint has a rich, even finish, while panel gaps are even and precise. The Volkswagen ID.7 has a strong and solid feel throughout that shows VW’s build quality is back up to the standards we expect – and is notably more upscale than a Tesla Model 3.

The Volkswagen ID.7 has the latest VW infotainment system that uses an all-new head unit with next-generation hardware and software. The freestanding 15.0-inch screen now uses a 16:9 format, which has enabled Volkswagen to fully overhaul the structure, layout and menu structure, making it notably easier to use than the rightly-criticised system in the Volkswagen ID.3 and current Volkswagen Golf.

The graphical interface is much cleaner and more logical, and the restructured menu layout is more intuitive. The home screen comprises differently-sized tiles, which can be configured by the user across several pages – swipe left and right to access them. The faster processor means the screen works far more intuitively, and its extra-large format means it’s far smarter and richer to use.

The Volkswagen ID.7 has two permanently-displayed bars at the top and bottom of the touchscreen. The bottom bar includes climate control and heated seat settings. There are other favourite buttons too, at the top of the screen, which are easily-configurable. Pressing the Car Control Centre brings up direct access to key vehicle functions, which replaces the physical buttons on other VWs.

Finally, the touch sliders at the bottom of the screen are finally now illuminated, although they remain very fiddly to use.

A voice assistant called ‘Ida’ is said to be more granular. You can ask ‘her’ to do various things including warming your feet and setting the sat nav to take you for coffee. She wasn’t flawless when we tested her, but over-the-air software updates mean she will improve.

Ahead of the driver is a simple colour display, which features all you need to know. The Volkswagen ID.7 Launch Edition also has a standard head-up display, with so-called augmented reality information. We struggled with it, as it seemed too easy to move out of the screen’s viewpoint. This made it difficult to assess how clever the augmented reality layer actually was. Maybe it will be better in right-hand drive guise.

An optional 700-watt Harman Kardon sound system has 14 premium speakers, including a centre speaker in the front and a subwoofer in the boot. It has several different settings including a vibrant dynamic live sound, and certainly makes the most of the super-quiet interior of the Volkswagen ID.7. It’s bundled into the £1400 Interior Pack that includes the anti-sweat ventilated front seats.

The Volkswagen ID.7 is currently only available in a single Launch Edition guise, with the standard Pro battery. It costs a hefty £55,570, which compares poorly with the £39,990 entry-level price of the Tesla Model 3. Even the Tesla Model 3 All-wheel Drive Long Range only costs £49,990.

If you want a Volkswagen ID.7 with the larger Pro S battery, it’s likely to cost even more – which makes it imperative that, once the Launch Edition models are sold, Volkswagen introduces more versions with lower prices. You can buy a BMW i4 for less than £50,000 and we should be able to do the same with the Volkswagen ID.7 – the gradual roll-out of more versions during 2024 should hopefully achieve this.

There are some expensive exterior option packs for the Volkswagen ID.7, which we would probably void. We really shouldn’t need to spend £1050 for a heat pump, either – it ought to be standard.

The Volkswagen ID.7 is available with a clever panoramic glass roof. It has smart glass which, via a switch in the roof console, instantly turns from transparent to opaque. It means a regular roof blind is not required, which saves weight and opens up more headroom. Pity it’s bundled into the Exterior Pack Plus and costs £4370…  

The Volkswagen ID.7 will hopefully be affordable to run, thanks to its efficient electric powertrain. It is an all-new design of motor that engineers say gives improved power density and will make better use of the electricity in the battery.

Begin a Volkswagen, depreciation should be kept in check, which will help keep monthly finance payments low. This Volkswagen ID.7 Launch Edition has a group 42 car insurance rating, which is notably lower than a Telsa Model 3. This should also help keep running costs manageable.

Owners also get access to Volkswagen’s preferential-rate charging deals with major providers. Standard Tesla-style Plug & Charge functionality will prove a boon when it rolls out across the UK, too.

The Volkswagen ID.7 Pro Launch Edition has a very high level of standard equipment, helping justify its high price. More models will follow during 2024, but at the moment, it is the only version available.

On the outside, 19-inch alloy wheels are standard, along with front and rear LED lights, including a white LED light bar at the front and a red one at the rear. The electronic door handles have illuminated recesses. There are only five paint options though – a rather monochrome range of black, grey, white and blue, with all offering two-tone paint with a contrast black roof.

The ArtVelours upholstery is welcoming, and heated seats both front and rear are augmented by the massage function in the front. Power front seats are standard, as are all-round carpet mats and the amusing VW ID ‘play’ and ‘pause’ brake and accelerator pedals.

The 15.0-inch infotainment display has Discover Pro navigation, and wireless app connect for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are dual USB-C ports both front and rear, charging at up to 45W. There’s a wireless smartphone charger in the front as well.

Three-zone climate control features, with a separate control panel for those in the rear. The driver’s life is made easier by a rear view camera that’s enhanced by area view, and passengers have a nine-speaker sound system to enjoy.