VOLKSWAGEN ID.7
£55,570
VW’s all-electric saloon has finally arrived. Certainly says something that the ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs were more of a priority after the ID.3 hatch, doesn’t it? Anyway, the ID.7 is still an important car, not least because it’ll go up against the likes of the BMW i4, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Tesla Model 3.
VW has focused on making it as aerodynamic as possible, so there’s a drag coefficient of 0.23. Unfortunately, that comes at the expense of any real styling. There’s a light bar across the front and some more LEDs at the rear, but the actual surfacing is pretty plain. Some might like that though, and if you don’t then you’re probably already leaning towards an Ioniq 6.
Built on VW group’s MEB platform, the headline figure is 435 miles of range on a single charge. Impressive, but that’s only in the Pro S trim with the larger 86kWh battery, and that won’t arrive until 2024.
At launch we get the ID.7 Pro, which still manages a very decent WLTP range of 386 miles thanks to a 77kWh battery and VW’s new electric motor. That single motor drives the rear wheels with 282bhp and 402lb ft of torque, and it’s refreshing that the ID.7 doesn’t chase bonkers power and acceleration figures.
First impressions are that this is a very relaxed, refined and quiet saloon. Road and wind noise are impressively absent in the cabin, and we’d advise keeping the optional active suspension firmly towards the comfy end of its sliding scale. You’ll have to
