Overview
Following in the tire tracks of the electric ID.4 SUV and ID.Buzz minivan, Volkswagen will soon roll out the ID.7 sedan, a mid-size electric family four-door similar in size to the now-discontinued Passat. Based on the ID.Aero concept, the ID.7 is designed to be as aerodynamic as possible, but it’s also quite stylish. While it will be offered with a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, a rear-wheel drive variant will be the first to launch. The single motor makes 282 horsepower and motors the ID.7 along with gusto. With the second motor and all-wheel drive the ID.7 is expected to be as quick as dual motor versions the BMW i4 and the Hyundai Ioniq 6. Driving range should come in at around 300 miles per charge with the rear-wheel drive arrangement—not quite as good as the longest-range version of the Hyundai—and VW says a larger battery pack with more range will be available later on. All models will come with a large 15.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and a head-up display that’s capable of projecting navigation instructions as well as key info such as vehicle speed.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
At launch, the ID.7 will come with a single electric motor driving the rear wheels with 282 horsepower. A dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant with more power will join the lineup later on, but for now, this rear-wheel-drive setup provides fairly perky acceleration. We estimate it’ll be good enough to get the ID.7 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. We test-drove the ID.7 in France and were impressed by its taut suspension, well-controlled body motions, and playful handling. The European-spec car we sampled featured adaptive dampers that will be offered in the U.S. as an option. We did note, however, that the steering feel in some driving modes felt less natural than we would have liked, with some artificial weighting and little feedback from the road. When cruising, the ID.7 provides a quiet and refined experience that will satisfy casual drivers looking for a hushed cabin for relaxing commutes. Ride comfort is good, even over rougher stretches of road.
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Range, Charging, and Battery Life
A 77.0-kWh battery pack borrowed from the ID.4 will be standard and should be good for about 300 miles of driving per charge. That’s more than the ID.4 SUV, with the ID.7’s more aerodynamic shape helping to extend the range, but some rival EV sedans offer longer ranges. A larger 86.0-kWh battery will join the lineup later but may be exclusive to the more powerful dual-motor all-wheel drive model.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
The EPA hasn’t released fuel-economy estimates for the ID.7 yet and neither has Volkswagen, but we’re expecting to see higher numbers than the ID.4, which is rated for up to 107 MPGe city. For more information about the ID.7’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Because the ID.7 replaces the mid-size Passat family sedan in the lineup, Volkswagen has given it a spacious interior. Cargo space is generous, too, and rather than a traditional trunk, the ID.7 features a liftback design similar to that of the gasoline-powered Arteon sedan. The interior wears a smart design and the build quality seemed top-notch even in the prototype we drove. Volkswagen has engineered a complicated but novel air vent design that uses electric motors to adjust the airflow to better distribute warm or cool air throughout the cabin. A large glass roof is available and can switch from opaque to transparent depending on your preference. When we receive more information about the ID.7’s interior and features, we’ll update this story with those details.
