We’ve now driven a prototype Volkswagen ID.7, the brand’s rival the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6
- Maximum range of 435 miles
- All-new 15-inch infotainment
- Full reveal due later in 2023
The Volkswagen ID.7 is an upcoming saloon to rival the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6, and we’ve already been given a chance to drive a prototype. This new model will sit alongside the petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid Arteon in the brand’s range and is set to be fully unveiled later this year.
Volkswagen says the prototype ID.7 is between 90% and 95% finished, so our impressions should be quite indicative of the electric fastback saloon in its final form. Just from this short go, VW’s interior design appears been much improved over the brand’s previous ID.3 and ID.4 models.
While Volkswagen is yet to show the ID.7 without heavy camouflage, we know its design will be very close to the ID. Aero concept car that made its debut in 2022. Just like that car, it has an aerodynamic teardrop shape to maximise efficiency. However, to tie it in with the rest of the ID. lineup, the ID.7 gets the sub-brand’s characteristic front-end design. First seen on the Volkswagen ID.3 hatchback, this consists of a pinhole grille at the bottom of the bumper and a set of slim LED headlights that stretch towards the brand’s central logo.
Although the colourful wrap covers this up, we expect the ID.7 to wear an intricate full-width light bar at the rear, similar to that on Audi’s latest A6 e-tron concept. However, at this stage it is unclear whether the new car will have a separate boot compartment like a traditional saloon, or a hatchback tailgate, similar to that seen on the Polestar 2.
What has gone unhidden, however, is a set of flush door handles which are designed to make the ID.7 as slippery as possible. Like all ID models, the ID.7 will also sit on a set of aerodynamic alloy wheels, potentially ranging in size up to 22 inches in diameter.
Volkswagen has confirmed the ID.7 will debut its next generation of interior design for all-electric models. This will incorporate a larger 15-inch screen (current ID-badged models make do with a 12-inch display) while the controversial touch-sensitive climate controls will be backlit to aid operation in the dark – something that is also said to be coming to the Volkswagen ID.3 when it is facelifted in 2023.
Measuring 4.94 metres long, the ID.7 is significantly longer than its main rival, the Tesla Model 3; it is, in fact, closer in size to the larger Tesla Model S. This added length shall come as a benefit, however, as it will allow Volkswagen to fit a larger battery. The German brand has stated that the ID.7 has a 434-mile electric range – something that would put it way ahead of rivals in this class.
Fast charging is likely to be a standard feature, too. Thanks in part to VW’s new MEB underpinnings, the ID.7 could be capable of charging speeds of up to 200kW; this would allow for a 10-80% top up in just half an hour when connected to a compatible public charger.
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We predict the ID.7 will share the majority of its powertrain lineup with the ID.4 and ID.5. Entry-level cars could use a single, rear-mounted electric motor setup that produces 172bhp, while the prototype we’ve driven had a power figure of 277bhp, that’s likely to be offered on the mid- and top-of-the-range models.
In late 2019, Volkswagen unveiled the ID. Space Vizzion concept, which gives us an idea of what an estate version of the ID.7 could look like, although it’s unclear whether this will become a reality. It also reveals what we can expect from a high-performance GTX model; the concept uses a dual-motor electric powertrain producing 335bhp. This should allow for a 0-62mph time of around five seconds, thanks to all-wheel-drive grip.
Volkswagen remains tight-lipped about when we can expect a full reveal of the ID.7, although the brand has previously stated that it will go on sale in China in the latter half of 2023, before it arrives in the European market. Although there has been very little information surrounding pricing, we expect the ID.7 to start from around £50,000 – making it slightly more affordable than the equivalent BMW i4.
2023 Volkswagen ID.7 prototype review – Matt Robinson
Stepping into the ID.7 prototype is a pleasant surprise as it seems the German brand is working to improve its interior design compared with its most recent ID models. The dashboard is fairly minimalistic, giving it a clean look thanks partly to a lack of physical vent direction controls, which have been replaced with an electronically controlled system.
It makes use of many more soft-touch materials, and the large 15-inch infotainment screen now gets backlit buttons for the temperature shortcut keys below it – a major oversight in previous ID cars where it was impossible to see the keys in the dark. Frustratingly, though, Volkswagen hasn’t switched the climate controls for physical buttons, as seen in the ID.2All concept, and buttons for the driving assistance systems and driving mode have been switched for icons on the screen, too, making them harder to use on the move.
There’s plenty of storage in the cabin, thanks to a large area under the dashboard with two sliding lid compartments, and an additional storage cubby further back which is impressively large. Although there’s no official capacity figure, the boot appears big enough and includes space for storing the charging cables under the floor, although there’s no ‘frunk’ for storage up front. The interior is very spacious, with plenty of legroom and headroom in the rear, despite the tapering roofline.
The ID.7 prototype has clearly been designed for comfort – the ride is fairly soft and yet reasonably controlled, although sharp manoeuvres over potholes will make it flounder slightly. Switching the adaptive dampers into their firmest setting helps the ID.7 gain some composure, though, without being uncomfortably stiff. Body roll is well controlled, too, and the ID.7 changes direction more enthusiastically than you might expect, although there’s not much feedback through the steering.
We tested a version of the ID.7 with the single, rear-mounted 277bhp, 545Nm motor – while this may have sounded like an impressive figure before, in a heavy EV this is a fairly modest amount, and the electric saloon doesn’t feel all that fast. However, it will offer enough performance for most. What will impress buyers is the car’s quoted official range of up to 434 miles on a charge, but we’ll have to spend more time with a production model to test how realistic that is.
All in all, the Volkswagen ID.7 is shaping up to be a much more promising model than the first few models from the brand’s electric ID range of cars, and we look forward to getting our hands on the final production model.
Keyword: Volkswagen ID.7 range, specs and prototype review