The Volkswagen ID.7 Sedan is VW’s Beautiful New Flagship Electric Car
VW just introduced its newest electric car, the ID.7, with the longest range of VW's EVs – up to 435 miles on a charge– 282 HP and cool technology including "Hey VW" voice assistance. 2025 can't get here soon enough.
Evelyn Kanter
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The Volkswagen ID.7 is a Luxurious EV Sedan Loaded with New Technology
The all-new Volkswagen ID.7 is a luxurious EV performance sedan with a range of up to 435 miles between charges, some cutting edge technology, and powerful and efficient 282-horsepower engine capable of launching 0-60 in around 6 seconds.
You’ll have to wait until mid-2024 to buy it, as it is a 2025 model. That’s about when the Volkswagen ID.Buzz, the electric version of the iconic Volkswagen Microbus, also becomes available in the United States. (Both models are scheduled to go on sale in Europe and China in late 2023.)
This will be VW’s flagship EV, with a price to match. Cost is expected to be at least $50,000 when prices are announced closer to launch. That means the ID.7 will compete with such popular current EV sedans as the Tesla Model 3, award-winning Hyundai Ioniq 6, Polestar 3 and a couple of Mercedes-Benz EQS models.
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The Volkswagen ID.7 is Built on VW’s Global Platform
Since this is a global vehicle, designed to be sold in VW markets around the world, the 8 a.m. news conference I attended in NYC was timed to be friendly also to audiences in Germany, China and elsewhere, being live-streamed.
The ID.7 It uses the company’s MEB platform, which stands for Mobile Electric Drive, and is used also to standardize features such as electronic controls and even how EVs are produced. The technology is shared with several VW sister companies, including Audi.
It boasts a more powerful electric motor than the ID.4 crossover, already on sale in North America, and more luxurious features including massaging seats and additional voice-assisted controls.
Jeffrey Lear, VW Product Manager, told me the ID.7 is for a more affluent customer than the ID.4, perhaps even a more adventurous one, since the new model will have first-ever driving modes such as sport and performance. The controls are on the console, and there are no paddle-shifters, as on some other EVs with similar driving modes.
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Fabulous Features Abound
A top selling point may be its long-distance range. The basic model will have a range of around 320 miles. It’s the upgrade choice that offers the longer-range of another 50-ish miles.
The VW ID.7 will feature a panoramic self-tinting panoramic view, a generous 15-inch screen and reclining front seats with massage as standard features. It’s inviting enough to lure you into a nap – when you are parked, of course – lulled to blissful escape with the reclining seats massaging you gently.
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There is a Ton of Tech in the Volkswagen ID.7
The upgraded navigation/entertainment system will let you place icons to control your favorite functions where you want them, just like you do with the apps on your phone. And, some functions can be done with a swipe, also similar to what we are used to on our phones.
My favorite feature, though, is what designer Lear described as an “augmented reality” heads-up display, which projects what’s coming up in front of you, such as a left turn, with ever-larger and more compelling graphics, so that you can’t miss it. It promises to help the driver keep focused, even when the kids are squabbling in the backseat.
Heads-up displays are a huge driver-safety assist. The one in the ID.7 takes it to a new level, and my fingers are crossed the technology will be shared by other WV models.
Another favorite new feature is the Siri-like control. Say, for example, “Hello, VW, my hands are cold,” and the vehicle turns on the heated steering wheel. Of course, you can also pre-set the car to warm up or cool down before you leave the driveway, so it’s at the optimum temperature for you and the kids.
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Here’s Looking at You
At first glance, the Volkswagen ID.7 looks like an updated version of the much-beloved gas-powered Passat, which has been phased out. Except for its hatchback-like rear, which provides ample cargo space.
The ID.7 will be assembled in one of VW’s factories in Germany, unlike the ID.4, which is built at the company’s factory in Chatanooga and qualifies for the $7,500 tax credit.