Volkswagen’s ID 7 could be a genuine rival for the Tesla Model 3
What we don’t
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Question marks over range persist. Is it 254? 300? Or 383?
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Heavy car means brakes aren’t as responsive as you’d like
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Hard to see out of tinted rear view window
The ID 7 is Volkswagen’s newest electric car but perhaps the best model the iconic marque has produced in years.
A company renowned for building family hatchbacks like the Golf and Beetle are now challenging the EV big boys and Tesla will certainly be looking over their shoulder.
Competitive performance will leave owners more than satisfied, reaching motorway speeds with a slight flick of the right foot.
Inside, comfy seats with massage technology and bucketloads of tech complement the ID 7 with safety features such as the lane warning system and aerial parking sensors included.
There is also enough room for families with generous passenger space and extensive boot capacity.
Finance agreements make the ID 7 more than affordable for most despite the initial upfront price tag of over £50,000.
For a brand best known for producing hot hatches and family cars, the Volkswagen ID 7 certainly feels like a new direction for the popular German automaker.
It was back in 2019 when Volkswagen announced the brand would be pivoting towards electric car production with the manufacturer quickly getting to work on the ID range.
However, VW has since been met with mixed reviews with a stuttering success of previous models including their smaller ID 3.
But that’s all in the past with the ID 7 bouncing back to make VW a threat to manufacturers and even the new EV players hoping to stamp their mark on the UK industry.
A bold exterior and luxury interior are combined with bucket loads of technology and enough performance to make this a genuine challenger to Tesla’s popular Model 3.
The 15-inch touchscreen is easy to use nicely located
Performance
The Volkswagen ID 7 certainly packs a punch and is the closest the brand has got to replicating the performance saloon style Tesla has become famed for.
Acceleration off a standstill is one of the biggest positives about electric cars with the battery torque surpassing many combustion models. It means the ID 7 effortlessly cruises up to motorway speeds with a little more than a squeeze of the right foot in Comfort mode.
Turning it into Sport certainly gives the ID 7 a little extra oomph with the model capable of 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 112mph. This is ever so slightly down on the Tesla Model 3’s 4.4 seconds but on par with the Mercedes Benz EQE and the BMW i5.
The heavy chassis has a slight impact on the braking which feels a tad less responsive than you’d like, forcing motorists to really push down on the pedal to get the car to stop.
The ID 7 is a heavy chassis and this appears to affect braking response
However, those cruising around urban areas can benefit from the adaptive regenerative braking mode which slows down the car when stepping off the throttle pedal. This mode will also harvest electricity back into the battery Formula One style which can help save on range.
Volkswagen claims the ID 7 can reach a staggering 383 miles on a single charge which would be the highest of any VW EV ever-produced by the German marque.
But, we found the model’s real-world range to be slightly lower on our test run which has also been noticed by others in the industry.
We noticed the car charged to 240 miles when topped up to the recommended 80 percent which would put the actual range at around 300 miles. It comes after WhatCar? claimed the EV could only really manage 254 miles, almost 130 down on its advertised range.
The ID 7 has a stylish and comfy interior
Interior
The ID 7’s interior continues its more upmarket trend with hard plastics synonymous with VW out for a softer almost carpet-like material.
The model’s egoPremium seats are one of the stand-out features offering climate controls and even a massage feature that can rub your back and shoulders while driving. The centre console is completed with a stunning 15-inch full HD touchscreen with full Apple and Google CarPlay functionality.
I found the infotainment system to be easier to use than others with commonly used functions such as the radio volume and heating controlled using a touchscreen dial just below. Mirrors are still adjusted through physical buttons located on the door handles but these can be fiddly and will take some getting used to.
Although this method is still easier than in the Tesla Model 3 which requires road users to fiddle around with the touchscreen to make amendments. Those transitioning to EVs for the first time will find a list of all available charging stations in the area and how many plugs are available through the built-in map.
One of the more intriguing elements is the inclusion of a holographic HUD projected onto the windscreen just below the driver’s line of sight. This is a massive safety incentive and means motorists don’t have to take their eyes off the road for a second to see how quickly they are travelling or for navigation instructions.
There is plenty of space for passengers in the rear
Like a video game, prompts will flash up if motorists are veering outside of their lane while helpful arrows which appear to carefully direct motorists to their destination. Although a great safety feature, I can see how the idea of flashing signs in your periphery could be off-putting for those unfamiliar with the technology.
In another safety boost, your seatbelt will automatically tighten when motorists pull away from a standstill but this can also also be uncomfortable unless you’re prepared for it. I also found the slightly tinted rear window to be a slight concern which made it difficult to see behind in gloomy or overcast conditions.
The model is also fitted with full 360-degree aerial parking sensors, reverse cameras and heated steering wheel technology. The large chassis has its advantages with generous amounts of rear passenger space making the ID 7 ideal for long road trips. It also comes with a whopping 532 litres of boot space but has no extra storage frunk at the front of the model.
There is enough boot space for the whole family
Cost
The ID.7 Pro Match we tested comes in at £52,600, still down on the Tesla Model 3. Purchasing the model in its entirety may be out of the price range of many but attractive finance offers could be the way many look to secure one.
Securing the model on a PCP finance deal with Volkswagen’s 3.9 percent APR deal would work out at just under £600.
Meanwhile, those securing the model as a company car through a salary sacrifice scheme will still only pay two percent in benefit-in-kind rates.
Conclusion
The ID 7 has elevated Volkswagen to the top table of EV manufacturers after a few failed attempts to hit the mark. Families are well catered for with enough passenger room and boot space for even the most adventurous.
Competitive finance deals also make this a potentially affordable model for many workers and the smooth ride and extensive mileage could make this a good daily commuter,
There are some question marks over how far the ID 7 will actually go in real-world conditions and the braking isn’t the most responsive.
A few bugbears in the interior are also not enough to detract from the ID 7’s vast qualities which makes this one to watch in 2024. Could Volkswagen have Tesla in its sights?