Volkswagen ID.7 Car Review

The face of the ID.7 is then very clean and simple because it doesn’t need a traditional grille for a big engine.

For instance, here you get some very slim LED headlights, which are joined by a thin light bar running across the bonnet - a signature look for VW's electric models, we must note.

The bumper is also sculpted with vents at the corners, which aren't just for show; as they cleverly channel air around the front wheels to make the car more aerodynamic as a result as well.

From the side, you can really see the effort VW has put into making the ID.7 cut through the air easily.

For instance, here it has a long, flowing body with a high shoulder line that runs from the headlights all the way to the back, and this is all while its door handles sit flush with the bodywork to keep things smooth as well.

There are also not many sharp creases, which in turn gives it a very fluid and stylish look, that just helps it stand out from more boxier saloons from some luxury car brands in our view.

The roofline is also probably one of its most distinctive features, as it sweeps back in a gentle curve - a bit like a coupe - which just helps it with its aerodynamics and gives the car a sportier, more dynamic stance than a traditional three-box saloon does at the same time as well.

All models in the UK also get a contrasting black roof as standard, which just makes the car look lower and sleeker as a result in our opinion.

At the back, the smooth design continues.

Here, for instance, you get a full-width LED light bar, similar to the one at the front, that just makes the car look wide and planted on the road.

The VW badge in the middle also lights up, adding a very neat, premium touch at night here.

Because it’s actually a hatchback (or fastback, to be precise), the whole rear window then lifts up with the boot lid, which makes it much more practical than it may first appear which we really liked.

The standard wheels are some good-looking 19-inch ‘Hudson’ alloys, which have a diamond-cut finish that looks quite posh.

They have also clearly been designed to be aerodynamic, too, which is good to know.

Then, if you fancy something a bit bigger and more striking, you can get optional 20-inch wheels, like the ‘Skagen’ design on the top-spec GTX model, for instance, here, which really fill the wheel arches and give the car more road presence as a result as well.

For your paint options, Volkswagen offers a nice, if not huge, range of colours.

For example, there are the usual shades like Moonstone Grey, Glacier White, and Grenadilla Black, and then for those wanting a splash more personality, there are also some lovely metallic blues like Aquamarine or Stonewashed Blue available as well.

All colours are also paired with the black roof, which gives every car in the range a smart two-tone finish straight from the factory, which is a nice touch.

 For your dashboard, this is very simple and dominated by a huge 15-inch touchscreen that sits proudly in the centre.

Below this, you’ll then find touch-sensitive sliders for the temperature and volume, which, thankfully, are now lit up so you can see them at night, which you will really appreciate in the dark.

Then, instead of a traditional instrument panel behind the steering wheel, there's just a small, neat screen that shows the bare essentials like your speed, range, and warning lights to you here.

This is because all the other key info is projected directly onto the windscreen by a clever Head-Up Display, which also comes as standard as well.

The front seats are then fantastic and a real highlight of the car in our view.

For instance, even the basic models come with what VW calls ‘ergoActive’ seats, which are heated, have electric adjustment, and even a massage function to help you stay relaxed on long journeys as well.

They are also comfortable and supportive, holding you in place without being too firm as they do so.

You can also get upgraded seats that add ventilation (cooling) for hot days and even more advanced massage programs, too, making them some of the best chairs in the business in our expert opinion.

For your passengers in the back, they are treated to a massive amount of space here, which is thanks to the car's long wheelbase and a completely flat floor - which is a key benefit of its electric design - as there is a huge amount of legroom available back here.

This then makes the rear centre seat genuinely usable for an adult on shorter trips, giving it some really good credentials as a truly family-friendly vehicle in our view, as even the middle passenger won't have to straddle a bulky tunnel.

Thanks to the car's long wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels), there is a huge amount of legroom for them – even tall adults can properly stretch out behind a tall driver, for example.

The headroom that is available is also very generous, despite the sloping roofline, and three adults can easily fit across the back for shorter trips - but it's most comfortable for two, who can make use of a wide, fold-down armrest with built-in cupholders as they relax in style on a long drive.

Overall comfort is excellent in our view.

For instance, the ID.7 is designed to be a relaxing long-distance cruiser, and that is obvious to see as it does that job brilliantly.

It’s also incredibly quiet inside, with very little wind or road noise as well, making motorway miles disappear with ease.

The suspension is set up to be soft, soaking up most bumps and potholes in the road effectively as well.

While this means it isn't the sportiest car to drive on a twisty B-road, for everyday driving and cruising, it is one of the most comfortable electric cars you can buy.

The ID.7 also comes packed with the latest technology as well.

Here, the main 15-inch infotainment screen is the star of the show by a mile, and its software is a big improvement on past VW systems as well.

For instance, it’s brighter, faster, and easier to use, with a customisable home screen and shortcut bar too.

As standard, you also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and another clever feature, the Augmented Reality Heads-Up Display, which projects navigation arrows onto the road ahead of you, making it seem like they are floating in the distance, so you never miss a turn as a result.

Practicality is also a strong point here as well.

Aside from the massive passenger space, for instance, there are plenty of useful storage spots dotted around the cabin.

The door bins are large and can hold a big water bottle, and the central console has a clever sliding cover revealing cupholders and a deep storage bin, for example.

There's also a wireless charging pad for your phone and several USB-C ports to keep everyone's devices topped up as well.

If you then need even more room, folding the back seats down expands this to a huge 1,586 litres as the rear bench has a flexible split 60:40 configuration, allowing you to carry a passenger in the back while extending the load space as you do so at the same time.

Then, for longer, narrow items like skis or flat-pack furniture, there's also a handy load-through provision as well, often called a ski hatch, accessible via the rear armrest too, which adds yet another layer of practicality here for you as well.

It’s a well-thought-out interior designed for real-world family life in our view.

For your boot space, the ID.7 may look like a saloon, but it actually has a hatchback-style boot lid that opens up the entire rear end, making it incredibly easy to load bulky items as a result.

The boot itself is a very generous 532 litres with the rear seats in place, then if you need even more room, folding the back seats down expands this to a huge 1,586 litres, which is more than enough for tip runs, flat-pack furniture, or packing for a big family holiday for example.

Another particularly clever feature is the adjustable boot floor. In its highest position, for instance, it creates a completely flat load area when the seats are folded down and eliminates any loading lip as a result, making it easy to slide heavy items in and out here.

For instance, in its highest position, it creates a completely flat load area when the seats are folded down, which in turn eliminates any loading lip, making it easy to slide heavy items in and out as a result.

In its lower position, this then maximises the available height for you as well.

Crucially, this then creates a significant underfloor storage compartment, which we found to be perfect for storing the car's charging cables neatly out of sight, so they don't clutter the main boot area when you do not need them.

An autonomous emergency braking system that watches for cars, cyclists, and pedestrians, as it will warn you and then brake automatically if a collision is likely.

This system helps keep you centered in your lane and maintains a safe distance from the car in front, taking the stress out of motorway driving, and it can even help with assisted lane changes as well.

This warns you if there’s a vehicle in your blind spot when you indicate to change lanes.

It also includes an 'Exit Warning System' that alerts you if you're about to open your door into the path of an approaching cyclist or car.

The car will also read the speed limit signs and display them on the dashboard, so you're always aware of the current limit when you need to check.

Then, not only do you get front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, but the car can also steer itself into parking spaces for you as well.

Here it even has a memory function too, allowing it to remember and repeat a specific parking manoeuvre, like reversing into your driveway.

Drivetrain: One-speed automatic, five-door

Price: From £51,550 RRP OTR (January 2024)

Alloy wheels and suspension

• 19-inch Hudson Black alloy wheels with gloss-turned surface
• Airstop® tyres 235/50 R19 (front), 255/45 R19 (rear)
• Anti-theft wheel bolts
• Tool kit and tyre mobility set: 12-volt compressor and tyre sealant

Exterior

• Metallic paint
• IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights with automatic headlight control
• Advanced dynamic light assist for LED matrix headlights
• Dynamic headlight range control with dynamic cornering light
• LED rear tail lights with dynamic turn signal
• Poor weather light with cornering light
• Privacy glass for rear side windows and rear window
• Heat insulating glass in side and rear windows
• Windscreen with laminated safety glass, wireless heating, infra-red reflection and noise insulation
• Easy open and close; sensor-controlled luggage compartment opening and closing with remote unlocking
• Black roof
• Exterior mirror housings in gloss black, with integrated indicators
• Heated windscreen washer jets
• Remote electrically folding heated door mirrors with puddle lights, and reverse activated tilting passenger door mirror
• Illuminated moulding between headlamps and illuminated door handle recesses
• Diversity antenna for FM reception
• Single-tone horn

Interior

• Interior ambient lighting with 30 colours
• Leatherette-wrapped, heated, multi-functional steering wheel with touch control
• ergoActive comfort heated massage seats in front
• Comfort seats with ‘Art Velours’ inserts
• Play and Pause brake and accelerator pedals
• Power-adjustable lumbar support in front seats
• Power seat adjustment for both front seats, with memory feature and seat depth adjustment
• Carpet mats, front and rear
• Centre console with illuminated storage compartment with sliding cover and two drinks holders
• Door and side trim panel in foam film, insert in leatherette
• Rear seat bench unsplit, backrest split folding with centre armrest, including two cup holders and load through provision
• Digital display including speed, odometer, trip, battery charge level and exterior temperature
• Sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors
• Luggage net

In-car entertainment and communications

• Discover Pro navigation system with media and internet package
• 15-inch infotainment display
• Digital radio reception (DAB)
• Wireless App-Connect
• Wireless smartphone charger
• Two USB-C ports in the front, two USB-C charging sockets on the centre console in the rear, charging capacity up to 45 W
• IDA voice assistant
• Eight + one speakers front/rear

Volkswagen Connect Services

• VW Connect – provides continuous interaction between driver, vehicle and Volkswagen via SIM-card connectivity
• Free VW Connect Plus for the first three years
• Mobility guarantee in case of car breakdown (3yrs inc)
• VW Connect ID. App

Electric vehicle specific

• AC charging socket (Type 2)
• Charging cable mode 3, Type 2: 7.2 kW single-phase/ 11 kW three-phase (32A)
• DC battery charging capability (Type 2: CCS)

Safety and security

• Anti-theft alarm with interior protection
• E-call emergency call service
• Car2X – intelligent vehicle networking
• Warning signal and warning light for front and rear seat belts not fastened
• Driver and front passenger airbag with front passenger airbag deactivation
• Curtain and side airbags in front with centre airbag
• ISOFIX child seat preparation easy-fit (for two outer rear seats, and front passenger seat), compatible with I-size
• Charging flap with weather protection
• Standard electronic engine sound (exterior sound actuator)
• Extended safety system (proactive passenger protection system)
• Safety-optimised front head restraints
• Tyre pressure loss indicator
• Three-point seat belts with seat belt pretensioners
• Exit warning system

Driver assistance

• Augmented-reality (AR) head-up display
• Area view 360-degree parking camera
• Rear-view camera
• Driving profile selection
• Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
• Dynamic road sign display
• Front Assist – autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring
• Lane Assist and Side Assist, Traffic Assist, Rear Traffic Alert
• Traffic Jam Assist and Emergency Assist
• Oncoming vehicle braking when turning, including swerve support
• Speed limiter
• Driver Attention Monitor and Driver Alert System
• Park Assist with Park Distance Control
• Memory feature for Park Assist Plus
• High Beam Assist, automatic sensing for switching between dipped and main beam
• Electromechanical power-assisted steering, speed sensitive

Comfort and convenience

• Climatronic smart air conditioning, three-zone with intelligent air vents and rear control panel
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Rain sensor
• Keyless entry and starting with SAFELOCK
• Remote unlocking for tailgate
• Variable boot floor, height adjustable and removable
• Surround lighting with logo projection

This is the well-equipped launch model, which now starts from around £52,000, and comes with almost everything you need as standard, including the large screen, massage seats, and the full suite of safety systems.

Then, for those prioritising maximum distance, this model features a larger battery for an official range knocking on the door of 400 miles, and typically starts from around £56,000.

Then, if you need even more boot space, the practical Tourer estate version is available for you here.

This then usually carries a premium of about £1,500 to £2,000 over the equivalent fastback model, meaning it starts from approximately £53,500.

This is then the high-performance, all-wheel-drive model, with more power and sportier styling. As a result, the top-of-the-range option comes with prices starting from just under £60,000 typically.