Volkswagen ID.7 evaluation: a awesome EV that occurs to be a sedan

SUVs dominate the American panorama. They make up kind of part of all automobiles offered. So, when Volkswagen sought after to start out their post-Dieselgate EV attack on the United States, it is smart that they began with the ID.4. As SUVs move, it’s at the small aspect, however an SUV it’s nonetheless.

And then… not anything. For years. While European patrons even have the collection of the ID.3 hatchback (which we’ll reputedly by no means get) and the brand new ID Buzz van, we had been caught ready. Now, now not best is Volkswagen in spite of everything bringing us it’s reto-minded EV van, its long-awaited ID.7 sedan could also be hitting US sellers in 2024.

Volkswagen has been quietly planting the seeds of anticipation round this lengthy and sumptuous trip. Though the automobile gained’t arrive at sellers till later this yr, I’ve been fortunate to spend a couple of days wheeling round the town in a pre-production, German-spec ID.7. After some frigid, winter-weather trying out, I’m in truth inspired with what Volkswagen appears to be like set to ship, although this sedan doesn’t be offering probably the most memorable of using studies.

The 2024 ID.7 is a sedan of a kind this is more and more unusual within the United States. Its wheelbase is 5 inches longer than the generously proportioned Arteon sedan, which is leaving the United States marketplace amid an industry-wide sedan decline. 

As sedans move, whilst the ID.7 isn’t probably the most exciting-looking vehicle of the instant, it has a blank, refined glance that provides it extra presence than the common-or-garden ID.4. But there are indisputably some stylistic parts borrowed from the 4, maximum notable being the only sweeping line that paperwork the form of the roof, working from the foundation of the windshield, up the main A-pillar, above the doorways, and go into reverse to the trunk.

The general profile is way the similar because the Arteon, however there’s considerably much less chrome and less main points at the ID.7. The greatest exchange is at the nostril. Where the Arteon has a pronounced grille, the electrical ID.7, with its diminished cooling wishes, simply has a small air inlet down low on a in large part featureless nostril.

The general impact is of a complicated, stately vehicle, particularly within the delicate moonstone grey colour you notice right here. However, I’m instructed the nostril a minimum of will glance rather extra competitive at the eventual US sedan.

Now, earlier than we get too some distance into this, I need to say that I’m calling this a sedan despite the fact that it doesn’t have a right kind trunk. The ID.7 has a liftback hatch, just like the Arteon, and it opens to show a wholesome 18.7 cubic ft of shipment capability. That’s about 25 % greater than a Camry, for reference.

The rear seats fold down on the tug of a bit of lever on all sides of the shipment compartment, greater than doubling the shipment area to 56 cubic ft.

Those are forged numbers, however I’ve dangerous information for frunk fanatics: there’s no space for storing up there. You can open the hood and gaze upon all of the high-voltage apparatus, however there isn’t even a token cubby for charging cables. 

I do know that may disenchanted a few of you, however I’m ok with it. Though EVs don’t have engines, their inverters, chillers, warmth pumps, and different elements have to move someplace. Stuffing them below the hood opens up the structure of the remainder of the automobile.

And that structure is spacious. The rear seats be offering sufficient legroom for an influence ahead. Even the tallest of people can stretch out, gaze up in the course of the panoramic sunroof, and luxuriate with the seat warmers pumping. Those rear seats are masses comfy, even providing a modicum of lateral strengthen. 

But, past that, rear seat appointments are few: simply a few USB-C ports to stay gadgets juiced and a few deep door wallet for water bottles or Steam Decks.

There’s a large number of garage up entrance, too, together with a floating middle console with room under for moderate-sized handbags or pups. The ahead phase of the armrest has a sliding quilt that exposes cupholders, a wi-fi charger, and some other pair of USB-C ports. The aft portion has a deep, huge hollow space, easiest for putting no matter you wish to have to disregard about. 

Front seats are much more inviting than the rears. Deep, plush, and sueded with “Art Velours” and Artex microfibers, they don’t seem to be best glorious to occupy however, with the perforations and blue piping, reasonably gratifying to have a look at. Front seats are heated and cooled, and there’s even a therapeutic massage serve as. 

Though excellent, there’s not anything specifically novel concerning the ID.7’s seats. However, Volkswagen has paired them with some good judgment to create an in-car enjoy that’s remarkably delicate for your wishes. 

Like such a lot of automobiles as of late, the ID.7 has a pseudo-intelligent voice assistant that you’ll be able to summon through identify. VW calls this one Ida, however you’ll be able to rename it to no matter you favor. The voice assistant handles the whole lot from navigation tasks, like coming into addresses or discovering your closest Starbucks, to editing in-car settings.

The thrilling stuff is what the voice assistant and the ID.7 ‘s HVAC gadget can do. You can say, “Hello, Ida, my ft are chilly,” and it’ll direct heat air to waft down low within the cabin. 

We noticed this primary within the ID.4, however within the ID.7, Volkswagen takes it to some other stage due to the automobile’s virtual vents. Say, “I’m chilly,” and in case you’re the one one within the vehicle, the HVAC gadget will mechanically middle all of the vents on you for max tootsie toasting.

There are another neat tips, like a seat mode known as “Dry Boost” that mixes warmth and air flow. It’s supposed to be a handy guide a rough repair for when issues are getting a little bit swampy — you understand, down there. 

What you’ll be able to’t keep an eye on by the use of voice is treated through the 15-inch touchscreen that sits proud within the middle of the dashboard. The ID.7 items a brilliant, blank, customizable interface that you just’ll almost certainly simply exchange with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay anyway (each wi-fi). But in the case of the fundamentals of briefly gaining access to heating controls or converting vehicle settings, it’s all fast and simple.

Volkswagen’s instrument interface has come a ways because the laggy mess that introduced within the ID.4 years in the past. 

More controls are discovered at the steerage wheel, and sadly, they’re of the capacitive contact sort. Volkswagen deployed those at the ID.4 to most often destructive critiques, and I used to be satisfied to peer that the impending Golf has returned to precise buttons. Not so right here.

I additionally lament the loss of a bodily quantity knob, however I worry I’m more and more within the minority with that grievance.

Despite its proportions, the ID.7 has a diminutive little gauge cluster in the back of the steerage wheel, very similar to the ID.4 or the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Still, it conveys the whole lot you wish to have about pace and automobile standing. 

But there’s want after which there’s need, and also you’ll need to take a look at the generously sized, augmented fact heads-up show. Projected onto the windscreen is some other narrow gauge cluster, which presentations extra details about lively protection methods and state of fee. It’s a little bit duplicative of the gauge cluster, making me wonder if the latter is essential, however the larger tips occur upper at the glass.

Wander too some distance out of the lane, and the HUD paints a flashing orange line at the highway as a type of visible cue to prevent meandering and get your ass again in line. It’ll additionally lend a hand with navigation cues and different lively protection warnings.

It’s now not reasonably as complex because the HUD discovered within the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan, however that factor prices about two times up to this almost certainly will, so I’ll reduce it some slack. I do love seeing complex tech coming all the way down to extra possible automobiles like this. 

Sadly, I may just now not pattern the navigation capability. This German vehicle got here to me with out native map information, which supposed the automobile’s navigation display screen used to be not anything greater than a large, white field. It had no roads, no sights, now not even Starbucks. So, I used to be not able to check out the augmented fact nav within the ID.7. But, having used those methods on different automobiles prior to now, I will inform you that having an enormous arrow floating in area, actually pointing the way in which house, makes it so much tougher to omit your flip. 

And, if that’s now not sufficient, the ID.7 continues the row of LEDs alongside the windshield which might be additionally featured at the ID.4. They’ll flash and blink to will let you know of upcoming turns and wayward pedestrians. 

The Volkswagen ID.7 is a sumptuous vehicle in some ways, and that’s additionally how I’d classify the using dynamic. Or, I will have to say, the loss of dynamic. The fashion I drove used to be the rear-wheel power trim that may fit the primary automobiles coming to the United States later this yr, with 282 horsepower and 402 pound-feet of torque. 

Those can be appropriate numbers in maximum sedans, however take into accout, it is a lengthy EV with a large battery pack. It is a heavy system, and that aggregate leads to forged however infrequently neck-snapping acceleration. 

If you’re the type who wishes extra energy, a dual-motor all-wheel power taste is alleged to be coming in time. But, in truth, I didn’t want or need the ID.7 to be a rocket send. 

Plenty of alternative EVs are preventing for kidney-bursting acceleration honors. I’d somewhat see extra producers focal point on trip high quality and luxury. The ID.7 excels in that division. It is floaty over bumps, taking a couple of moments to settle after cruising over railroad tracks, nevertheless it nonchalantly absorbs the incessant frost heaves and asphalt cracks that criss-cross upstate NY roads this time of yr. 

Sure, the steerage is slow, the brake pedal lengthy and comfortable, and the throttle at ease even in game mode, however none of that troubled me. I used to be too busy taking part in the trip — and the superb Harman Kardon sound gadget. 

I do know, you’re all questioning concerning the vary. I will inform you that I averaged 2.8 miles in keeping with kilowatt-hour, which equates to a theoretical 230 miles from the 82kWh battery pack we’ll get within the U.S. However, I did maximum of my trying out throughout a iciness typhoon, with temperatures under freezing. There had been additionally reasonably a couple of acceleration exams alongside the way in which.

In different phrases, the worst-case situation. Volkswagen says to be expecting 386 miles at the European WLTP check. We can’t say needless to say and not using a finished EPA check, however 320 miles will have to be a cheap estimate for the United States fashion.

We may also’t say pricing needless to say but, and that’s a disgrace as it’s onerous to counsel a product in case you don’t know the way a lot it’ll price. Looking on the ID.4 and the place the European ID.7 falls, I’d bet at a low-to-mid $50,000 worth. For a protracted, comfy sedan with luxurious aspirations plus the practicality of a hatchback, that will make the ID.7 a right kind worth.

In phrases of the preferred EVs at the highway, that will worth the ID.7 nearer to the Tesla Model 3 than the Model S, regardless of it providing practicality and luxury in way over the latter. It gained’t be offering the rate, in fact, and can indubitably arise quick on vary, however in my eye, if you’re over 300 miles on a fee, the variation is in large part educational.

The query, despite the fact that, is whether or not there’s actually a marketplace for this factor right here. While the ID.4 hasn’t precisely taken the sector through typhoon, it’s been gaining momentum for Volkswagen in the United States marketplace. Sales of the EV had been up more than 80 percent last year, making up greater than 10 % of VW’s general gross sales right here. VW had a robust yr normally, with gross sales up 40 % closing quarter and 10 % for the total yr.

So there’s expanding pastime in VW’s EVs, however sedans aren’t precisely in sizzling call for at the moment. The Arteon used to be by no means a robust dealer, and it’s onerous to consider the ID.7 discovering blow-out good fortune following so carefully in its footsteps. 

The ID.7 is rattling excellent, and it makes for an excessively compelling selection to the Hyundai Ioniq 6 at the low finish or a Tesla Model S at the upper finish. If the cost is correct, I’ll take such a over both. But I’ve a sinking feeling that after the ID.Buzz in spite of everything drops, that’s the one VW any individual’s going to be speaking about.

Photography through Tim Stevens / The Verge