VW’s electric flagship ID.7: This is how the electric Passat drives

class=”sc-29f61514-0 dXbCZE”>

Long range and long distance comfort; these were the most important requirements for the developers of the new VW ID.7. After all, the flagship of the ID electric family is something like an electric counterpart to the VW Passat, a popular fleet car for salespeople and other frequent drivers.

The ID.7, which was initially offered for sale only as a 2.3-ton sedan, is visually very pleasing, but will also be available as a station wagon within a year. Compared to its smaller ID siblings, it doesn’t look that roomy, but rather looks like a completely normal car. However, during the design, emphasis was naturally placed on good aerodynamics. Because it is stated in the specifications: wide range. And last but not least, this can be achieved with very little air resistance from the body. The 0.23 drag coefficient of the 4.96 meter long ID.7 hull is also impressive. And it is only 0.2 higher than, for example, the particularly modernized Hyundai Ioniq 6 or Nio ET7.

To start with just a sedan and a battery

At the start of sales (it has just started, the first deliveries in Switzerland are expected before the end of the year) there is the ID.7 with a net 77 kWh battery and 286 hp (210 kW) of power and 545 Nm of torque. electric motor on the rear axle. Thanks to an average consumption of 14.1 to 16.3 kWh per 100 kilometers, the ID.7 in this configuration has a range of up to 621 WLTP kilometers on a single battery charge.

Next year the ID.7 Pro will also be available as the ID.7 Pro S with a larger 85 kWh battery. This means there should be a range of around 700 kilometers. What we also want to note on a positive note: VW has finally increased the charging speed. ID.7 charges with 170 kilowatts on the fast charger, and ID.7 Pro S charges with 200 kilowatts. Both batteries can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in much less than half an hour with a DC charger.

So how does the ID.7 flagship drive?

Surprisingly understated but extremely confident and comfortable. VW engineers put a lot of effort into improving the chassis with an adaptive damping system, but it was worth it. The ID.7 bounces extremely comfortably without being too soft.

Practical: There are fixed programs such as Comfort or Sport that can be individually adjusted manually to two levels softer or harder. However, we think that the relevant standard settings are already excellent. This also applies to the steering, which operates extremely precisely and always maintains good contact with the road. Even without four-wheel steering (not available on the ID.7), the turning circle is quite small at 10.9 meters for a sedan that is almost five meters long, making the flagship look handy when maneuvering.

Inside, there’s plenty of room for the legs of rear passengers, thanks to the extremely long wheelbase (almost three metres!). Despite the batteries located in the underbody between the axles and the resulting slightly higher seating position and slightly sloping roofline, there is still sufficient headroom for passengers. The luggage compartment is also quite large at 532 liters and can be easily loaded thanks to the large tailgate that opens upwards.

Customer review heard

VW has responded to customer criticism of its previous models, the ID.3 and ID.4, with the ID.7 cockpit. This means that the setting alone now looks more valuable thanks to the use of other materials. There is a 15-inch touch screen between the driver and front passenger as the command center. You can access important functions directly through the tiles. Practical: Important functions can be saved separately on a separate bar and reserved for direct access, similar to fixed control buttons.

The climate and temperature control buttons are now finally illuminated; Speaking of lighting: More than 30 different configuration options are available for ambient lighting in the interior. All relevant data, such as speed or navigation instructions, are projected onto the windshield via the head-up display; but these images are not always clear to us with progressive lenses. And so there is only a very small screen behind the steering wheel for the most essential displays.

Conclusion: The ID.7 is the best representative of the VW electric family so far. Priced from 66,500 francs, this vehicle offers a lot of comfort, plenty of space and a reasonable range with a range of more than 600 kilometers. And if the estate version, which is definitely more popular in our country, arrives next year (maybe even at the same price as the sedan?), nothing should stand in the way of the success of the ID.7.

Source: Blick