Test Car Specifications
Model: 2024 Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer Pro Match 77kWh
Price: From £52,270
Motor: 210kW electric motor
Transmission: single-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Battery: 82kWh lithium-ion battery (77kWh net)
Power: 286hp
Torque: 545Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 373 miles
0-62mph: 6.6 seconds
Top speed: 112mph
Boot space: 605-1,714 litres
Styling
Like the Saloon, the ID.7 Tourer is designed to be as aerodynamic as possible, maximising the range available from the battery under the floor. Given range is such a critical consideration when it comes to choosing an electric car, it's a good idea, and the ID.7 looks pretty good as a result. The shape is quite soft and rounded, but it's hardly ugly. In fact, it's arguably even more handsome than the saloon, albeit marginally less aerodynamic, and some neat touches like the illuminated VW badge give it a little more premium credentials.
Interior
While VW’s work on interiors has not been brilliant of late, the ID.7 has generally been a vast improvement. The materials on show are much better, both in the estate and the saloon, and the design is relatively smart, while everything feels pretty solidly screwed together.
As in the saloon, the focus is on the massive central touchscreen, which is a bit of a mixed blessing, because while it looks good and generally works quite well, both the screen and its associated touch-sensitive switchgear are a bit fiddly at times. It isn’t disastrous – at least the volume control and heater switches are now backlit so you can see them at night – but it’s hardly the ergonomic triumph we might expect from VW.
That said, the head-up display that’s fitted as standard to all ID.7 models is brilliant, with the ability to pick out other cars on the road and highlight them, telling you what the adaptive cruise control is seeing. The system can also pick out the lines and warn you if you’re wandering out of your lane.
But while all that is very impressive, it’s much the same as the saloon, and so too is the view out. Yes, the rear end is a bit different, but it doesn’t impact visibility too dramatically. In fact, with a rear wiper on the Tourer, it’s arguably easier to see out of on a wet evening.
Practicality
The ID.7 is not a small car, no matter whether you choose the saloon or the estate, so both cars have plenty of room. But the Tourer pulls ahead noticeably with its 605-litre luggage bay, which is almost 100 litres bigger than that of the saloon. And it's as big as anybody really needs, with more than enough room to carry a family of four's luggage, while the inclusion of roof rails means you can add a roofbox if you so wish. But while you might expect the boot to be big, you might be more surprised to find the Tourer offers more rear headroom than the Saloon, making it even better at carrying four tall adults.
Performance
As with the saloon, the ID.7 Tourer currently gets a choice of two main powertrains: the 'Pro' tested here and the more expensive 'Pro S'. Both are all-electric, with a single, 286hp electric motor driving the rear wheels, but they have different battery packs. The Pro gets an 82kWh battery, of which just 77kWh is usable, while the Pro S gets a larger battery with 86kWh of usable capacity.
As a result, the Pro offers an official range of 373 miles on a charge (just a little less than you'll get from the Saloon), and should easily cover about 250 miles between trips to the plug, even on relatively cold days at motorway speeds. However, the Pro S ups the official range to 424 miles, and should see customers approach the 300-mile mark in the real world.
Both versions offer performance that's more than adequate, with 0-62mph times well under the seven-second mark, but more important is the charge capability. The Pro can charge at 170kW, enabling the battery to be filled from five per cent to 80 per cent in less than half an hour, while the Pro S can be charged at 200kW, allowing it to manage the same feat.
The two main ID.7 Tourer models, however, are also joined by a performance-orientated GTX version, which has two motors providing all-wheel drive and a 0-62mph time of 5.5 seconds. But though that model uses the same battery as the Pro S, it isn't as efficient, so the range is just 359 miles on the official test.
Ride & Handling
You can look at the ID.7 Tourer’s driving experience in one of two ways. You can either complain that it isn’t very exciting – primarily because it isn’t – or you can applaud it for being pretty much indiscernible from the Saloon. It’s a big, heavy thing, and it’s set up with comfort in mind, which is fine in our book. It may not be as nice to drive as a BMW i5 Touring – it doesn’t have the poise or the precision – but it wafts along the motorway beautifully, it’s quiet and there’s a pleasant absorbency to the suspension.
And although we may not love the steering, which is quite light, there’s no denying the ID.7 is easy to drive anywhere, while the body control is good enough to allow you a little bit of fun on the right road, even if the car isn’t that rewarding. In short, it isn’t especially engaging or interesting, but it feels safe and secure, which will be enough for most. And that’s as true of the Tourer as it is of the Saloon.
Despite that, there is one thing to watch out for. Because the Pro and Pro S models are rear-wheel drive, the rear end can step out if you give it a bootful of power in a corner. The electronics kick in quickly to help out, and the whole event is pretty benign, but it can be alarming to the uninitiated.
Value
The ID.7 Tourer starts at £52,270 for the basic Pro Match tested here, and that's only a little more than you'll pay for the Saloon. And it comes with all the same equipment, including the big touchscreen, head-up display and heated and ventilated seats. A rear-view camera, three-zone climate control and an electrically actuated tailgate are all included in the price, too. It's all very promising, but the fact remains that £52,000 is a lot to pay for a VW estate, and those who want the Pro S with its larger battery will pay more than £56,000. The GTX, meanwhile, costs almost £63,000 before options. When an Audi A6 Avant e-tron starts at £65,000 or thereabouts, the value becomes questionable.
Verdict
Like the saloon, the ID.7 Tourer has plenty going for it. The range is very usable, if not top-notch, while the car looks great and has plenty of interior space. As a practical proposition, it's outstanding. But it doesn't come cheap, and though it doesn't have as much competition as the saloon, it does have to justify its price tag. Paying that much for a car that doesn't excite or offer much in the way of bragging rights will be a tough pill to swallow for some customers.