Based on the same platform as other VW electric cars (including the ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5), the Volkswagen ID.7 is longer than the Volkswagen ID.Buzz people carrier. That means there's a huge amount of interior space - you'll fit four adults in comfort, while there's even an ID.7 Shooting Brake on its way for those who need even more practicality.
Other highlights of the Volkswagen ID.7 include its new 15-inch infotainment system which has been developed following customer feedback on models such as the ID.3. As well as being more user-friendly (there are now fixed climate control 'buttons' at the bottom of the display), its large landscape screen looks suitably impressive for a flagship electric car.
The third big selling point of the new 2024 VW ID.7 is its efficiency. Its slippery shape will help it travel further between charges, while there's space to fit an enormous battery pack underneath the floor. As a result, Volkswagen is aiming for a range of up to 435 miles - making it one of the longest-range electric cars on the market.
New Volkswagen ID.7 prices start from £55,570 at launch, for the well-equipped new Volkswagen ID.7 Pro Launch Edition. This positions the new ID.7 above the existing Volkswagen ID.5, which costs from around £50,000.
This is a fair bit pricier than an entry-level new Tesla Model 3, which now starts from under £40,000 (following recent price cuts). Most buyers upgrade to the new Tesla Model 3 Long Range model, though, which starts from £49,990.
The entry-level version of the BMW i4 undercuts the Volkswagen ID.7, starting from around £50,000, while the new Hyundai Ioniq 6 start from £47,000.
It is likely more affordable new Volkswagen ID.7 versions will be released once the intial Launch Edition model hits the roads.
The new Volkswagen ID.7 will arrive in dealers by the end of 2023, with customer deliveries set to start from January 2024.
The new Volkswagen ID.7 is a large car, measuring 4,970mm long, 1859mm wide and 1,529mm tall. This makes it bigger than rivals such as the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6, underlining its position as the new Volkswagen range-topper – a car that will ultimately replace both the Passat and Arteon models.
The new Volkswagen ID.7 has a saloon-style profile, similar to the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6. Volkswagen refers to it as a saloon, although it's actually a more practical fastback - with a larger boot opening than a conventional saloon car. There will also be a Volkswagen ID.7 shooting brake estate derivative.
The new VW ID.7 will have a smooth, wind-cheating shape, with similar themes to other Volkswagen ID electric cars. The front end will be carefully profiled and include front air curtains that channel airflow along the sides. The curvaceous roofline also helps improve the drag coefficient, boosting the potential driving range of each charge.
Inside, the most surprising thing about the new Volkswagen ID.7 is how spacious it is. We've sat in the rear of the new ID.7 and there's a huge amount of legroom - six-footers won't have any complaints about being driven in the ID.7. It marks a significant step up in quality, too - the vegan-friendly interior feels much more upmarket than, say, the ID.3's cabin.
In response to customer feedback, there’s an all-new display that comprises a large 15-inch centre touchscreen and improved digital driver display. It also features an advanced, augmented reality head-up display, which is projected onto the windscreen.
The air conditioning controls in the new Volkswagen ID.7 are now integrated into a fixed strip at the bottom of the infotainment screen. They are visible at all times, and can be customised for each individual user. The car also features illuminated touch slider controls – these are coming to other models, such as the new Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4, during 2023.
The new Volkswagen ID.7 will have clever ‘smart air vents’ that can dynamically move airflow across a large area inside the cabin. This includes directing air directly onto passengers, so they heat up or cool down quickly. It even detects when the driver is approaching and starts heating or cooling the cabin before they climb in.
The new Volkswagen ID.7 still uses touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel. We wouldn't be surprised to see these replaced with conventional buttons in a future update.
The Volkswagen ID.7 will be available with a huge 86kWh battery, called ID.7 Pro S, which will provide a headline-grabbing range of 430 miles. This will become available following the new Volkswagen ID.7's early 2024 launch.
We suspect that most buyers will be happy with the regular 77kWh battery pack, called new Volkswagen ID.7 Pro, though - as even this has a range of around 384 miles.
All Volkswagen ID.7 models will initially be powered by a single electric motor powering the rear wheels. A sporty Volkswagen ID.7 GTX is set to follow, likely with an extra motor providing four-wheel drive.
The new Volkswagen ID.7 with the largest Pro S battery will be capable of 200kW rapid charging - which will make for speedy top-ups (provided you can find a powerful enough charger). Even the launch new Volkswagen ID.7 Pro can rapid-charge at speeds of up to 175kW.
Further technical details on the new Volkswagen ID.7 will follow closer to the car's UK release date.
Used Volkswagen electric cars are plentiful on the second-hand car market, thanks to the popularity of models such as the Volkswagen e-Up and e-Golf. A 2021 e-Up, with the useful 32kWh battery, can be bought for just £17,000, while older Volkswagen e-Golf prices start from around £12,000.
The modern Volkswagen ID electric cars are also available on the used car market. Volkswagen ID.3 prices now start from less than £25,000 – we spotted a 2021 ID.3 City Pure Performance 48kWh, with 35,000 miles on the clock, for £23,090.
The Volkswagen ID.4 SUV is now available for less than £30,000 on the used market. We found a 2021 ID.4 Life Pure 52kWh, with less than 10,000 miles on the clock, for £29,199.
The new car news never stops at heycar. The new Volkswagen ID.2all previews an affordable small electric VW, while the Kia EV9 is a flagship electric SUV. There's also a handful of new electric Fords, including the new Ford E-Transit Courier and the Ford Explorer SUV. Also, if you’re interested in the Volkswagen ID.7, check out our preview of the new Hyundai Ioniq 6.
The new Volkswagen ID.7 is a global car. It will be built in Germany for the European market, but also produced in high numbers in China.
The new Volkswagen ID.7 was previewed by the Volkswagen ID.Aero concept, which was originally revealed in China.
VW chief Thomas Schafer has revealed the new Volkswagen ID.7 is one of 10 new EVs the firm plans to launch by 2026.
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