First test VW ID.7 Pro: A game changer for Volkswagen

The new VW ID.7 Pro 77 kWh at a glance

• New flagship of the electrical ID family
• WLTP range up to 621 km, 175 kW charging power
• Very comfortable, good handling
• High quality interior
• Competition for Mercedes EQE and BMW i5
• Starting price from 57,800 euros

The low drag coefficient (Cd value) of 0.23 is not a world record, but it still contributes to the efficiency of the new VW ID.7.

The quality offensive at Volkswagen continues

The pressure at Volkswagen must have been enormous in the last few months. After the Diess era ended, supply bottlenecks had to be dealt with, quality problems had to be eliminated and future models had to be corrected. But it seems as if Wolfsburg have just turned the corner again. How do we determine this? Among other things, the first series test drive in the 210 kW/286 hp ID.7 Pro – Volkswagen’s new flagship (combined power consumption: 16.3–14.1 kWh/100 kmh; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km ; Electric range: up to 621 km)².

The new operating concept in the ID.7 is a quantum leap for Volkswagen. This is how it works and no other way. Fast, clear, almost no questions asked.

Large inside and well made

From the first glance in and around the 4.96 meter long electric sedan it is clear that the company is currently undergoing a positive change. The red pencil has obviously been put aside, but customers are once again being provided with solid VW quality. You won’t find any coarse hard plastic in the everyday view and reach area of ​​the first or second row of seats. There is more than enough space at the front and back; only tall people over 1.90 meters quickly hit the roof lining in the rear.

The trunk with the wide-opening tailgate holds between 532 and 1,536 liters – there is no frunk. In the meantime, we adjust the fairly comfortable ergoActive premium seats and enjoy the good ergonomics that are typical of VW. The view then falls on the cleverly arranged driver display and the standard augmented reality head-up display. The 15-inch infotainment screen is easy to reach and below it there are finally illuminated sliders for volume and temperature control. After the operating disputes over the previous ID products, the new generation of the modular infotainment kit (MIB), apart from the steering wheel with its imprecise touch fields, is a kind of quantum leap for the northern German car manufacturer.

The optional ergoActive premium seats are not only very comfortable, they can also be heated, cooled and massaged.

High ease of use and short loading times

The menus are structured logically, and the response times to spoken (“Hello Ida!”) and manual input commands are pleasingly short. The system was also supplemented by fast charging planning that, at first glance, makes sense. No matter whether we wanted to drive from our test location near Marseille to Tegernsee, Athens or the south of Italy, the ID.7 calculated the route within a few seconds and planned the appropriate charging stops. Was the adaptive Climatronic needed without manually adjustable ventilation nozzles? A matter of taste! The consumption and charging values ​​are less doubtful. On our uphill and downhill journeys with stages on the French motorway, heavy rain and outside temperatures of around nine degrees Celsius, the ID.7 Pro leveled off at 22 kWh per 100 kilometers. Under other conditions, however, significantly less should be possible. The recuperative gear “B” is certainly also helpful here, but it still doesn’t allow one-pedal driving to a standstill.

The operational range of the net 77 kWh lithium-ion battery would be a theoretical 350 kilometers given our driving style. However, it is more practical to deduct up to 25 percent on overland routes, as the battery is never completely empty, but is usually not charged above 80 percent. Produces a long-range operating radius of approximately 260 kilometers on one charge. The 86 kWh battery with more range potential from the ID. Buzz won’t come until 2024 – just like the station wagon called the Tourer. At least the ID.7 Pro can make up ground elsewhere. When he tested it himself, he charged from 10 to 80 percent in just under 30 minutes on a 150 kW DC column (max. DC charging power according to the manufacturer up to 175 kW; 11 kW AC). This almost corresponds to the values ​​from the VW data sheet – without having exhausted the maximum charging power.

The ID.7 station wagon variant, called Tourer, will arrive in mid-2024. With its variable trunk, it is primarily aimed at families and traveling salesmen. New competition for the VW Passat!

The spirit of the Phaeton can resonate in the chassis

The Wolfsburg-based company didn’t put too much emphasis on driving comfort either. With the new and widely adjustable DCC chassis, the VW ID.7 almost achieves the rolling comfort of a Phaeton. Of course, the adaptive dampers cannot completely replace the air bellows of the Piëch sedan, but on normally poor roads the Stromer shines with its velvety softness and even manages the slight oscillation without becoming spongy. Exceptions: Short bumps or transverse speed bumps are transmitted into the interior quite bluntly. It is also striking that Volkswagen has tuned the steering to be very weighty. This seems unusual at first, but at the same time it conveys an opulent driving experience.

The solid road holding is of course also due to the low-mounted battery pack between the axles (wheelbase: 2.97 meters) and the curb weight of over 2.2 tons. Nevertheless, the VW engineers have managed to skillfully conceal the numerous pounds and the external dimensions of the ID.7 (turning circle: 10.9 meters). When it comes to drive, the flagship initially comes with a 210 kW/286 hp rear-wheel drive, which in our opinion offers more than enough power. Merging onto motorways is just as easy as mastering steep mountain roads. It goes from zero to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, limited to 180 km/h. Spinning wheels are also rare thanks to the centrally networked driving dynamics manager. The future all-wheel drive variant is therefore primarily for Alpine regions that are still guaranteed to have snow or for those who need more traction.

With its 210 kW/286 hp rear-wheel drive, the VW ID.7 Pro accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds. The speed limit is 180 km/h.

First conclusion

The ID.7 is certainly not a “game changer” for the entire industry, but it is for Volkswagen. It is not just a new number, but a new generation of electric cars from Wolfsburg. The quality and infotainment are finally good, as is the space and the large trunk. If you still want to complain, it would certainly be about the still manageable long-distance range. The Pro S variant, which will soon be available, will follow up here. A bit petty: the heat pump always costs extra. In our opinion, the new VW ID.7 does not compete with a Hyundai Ioniq 6, but rather with the Mercedes EQE and BMW i5. (Text: Thomas Vogelhuber | Images: Manufacturer)

Technical data VW ID.7 Pro 77 kWh