Used Volkswagen ID 7 2023-present Review

Source Summary

If some electric cars feel like sprint runners, the Volkswagen ID 7 is more like a high-speed train. It's not obsessed with explosive acceleration or flashy gimmicks, but instead covers long distances quickly, quietly and comfortably. In fact, you could consider it the electric equivalent of the Volkswagen Passat . It’s an electric executive car that sits above the Volkswagen ID 3 and Volkswagen ID 4 in the German brand’s line-up. Like most generations of Passat, the ID 7 is available in hatchback or estate form, but in this used review we’ll be looking at the former. Motors and batteries: There are three versions of the ID 7 available: Pro, Pro S and GTX. The entry-level Pro versions come with a single 282bhp electric motor that drives the rear wheels, delivering an official 0-62mph time of 6.5sec. The Pro S takes 6.6sec, while the GTX has four-wheel drive and two motors that produce 335bhp, thus cutting the time down to 5.4sec. As for the all-important range, the Pro has a 77kWh (usable capacity) battery and an official range of 380 miles, which is usefully more than the Tesla Model 3 RWD (323 miles). The Pro S, meanwhile, has a bigger 86kWh (usable capacity) battery and the longest range in the ID 7 line-up, at 433 miles. That matches the Model 3 Long Range and beats any BMW i4 . While the GTX has the same battery as the Pro S, the extra performance on offer drops the official range to 364 miles. On early Match cars, a heat pump was available as an option, which had an impact on the car’s real-world range. We tested two ID 7s in our 2024 winter range test – one with a heat pump and the other without – and the pump-equipped car managed 268 miles against an official range figure (at the time) of 381 miles. Meanwhile, the other one travelled 254 miles against its official 383 miles. It’s worth keeping an eye out for cars with this option fitted on earlier models. Ride and handling: The standard suspension in the ID 7 Pro and Pro S delivers a soft and comfortable ride that's comparable with a BYD Seal . However, it’s not as comfortable as versions with the adaptive suspension system , called Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC). DCC was an option on some versions, but standard on the ID 7 GTX Plus. It does a much better job of ironing out crumbly roads to deliver a level of plushness comparable with the significantly more expensive Mercedes EQE . In the corners, the ID 7 steers accurately and grips hard enough to stay composed, but if it’s agile handling you’re after with your electric car , the i4 and Model 3 are better. Interior and practicality: The driving position in the ID 7 is fundamentally very good. The standard seats get plenty of electric adjustment and adjustable lumbar support, plus a memory function and massage feature. There’s plenty of movement in the steering wheel, too. Despite its sloping roofline, all-round visibility is decent, thanks to slim windscreen pillars and big rear windows and quarterlights. All cars come with front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera as standard. The ID 7’s interior quality is significantly better than that of the ID 3 and ID 4. There are some pleasant suede inserts and soft-touch plastic on the doors, while the mid-section of the dashboard has some padded faux-leather. That said, there’s still some hard and scratchy plastics on the dashboard, centre console and doors. Overall, the i4 and Model 3 are a touch more plush, but there’s not a huge amount in it. All ID 7 models come with a large 15in touchscreen infotainment system as standard. It’s a good setup, offering quick responses, sharp graphics and a user-friendly layout, with several customisable shortcut icons positioned at the top of the screen for easy access. However, the lack of physical controls significantly affects overall usability. Climate functions, for example, are operated almost entirely through the touchscreen, aside from the touch-sensitive temperature sliders located beneath it, which can be fiddly to use. Even adjusting the direction of airflow requires navigating through a submenu within the infotainment system. The touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel are also frustrating, because they can be activated accidentally while driving and don’t always register inputs consistently. As a result, while the infotainment system itself is capable and well-equipped, the overall user experience falls short of the i4, which offers a more intuitive interior layout. The ID 7 is a big car, but thankfully this translates into a very spacious interior. There’s lots of head and leg room in the front, while in the back, there’s more than enough space for a six-footer to sit behind a tall driver. A flat floor makes it easy to fit three adults in the back, too. It’s better for carrying occupants than the i4, Model 3 and Seal, making it one of the most spacious cars in its class. In the boot, the ID 7 has 532 litres of space, which is more than the i4, EQE, Model 3 and Seal. We managed to fit eight carry-on suitcases in the boot of the ID 7, against nine in the Model 3's two boots (it has a front boot that the ID 7 doesn’t get). If you want to carry long items, the ID 7’s back seats split and fold in a 60/40 configuration. While that’s not as versatile as the 40/20/40 split in the i4, a small ski hatch does provide some flexibility. Trims and equipment: There are four trim levels with the ID 7: Launch Edition, Match, Match Plus and GTX. As its name suggests, Launch Edition arrived first, but it was later replaced by Match. Both trims come with a similar level of kit to Match Plus, other than the fact they don't have a heat pump (this was eventually made standard on Match Plus to improve efficiency, but was an option from new). Nevertheless, Launch Edition, Match and Match Plus come with 19in alloy wheels, three-zone air conditioning, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, a head-up display, heated front seats with massage function, rear privacy glass and a heated steering wheel. The dual-motor GTX adds sportier styling, 20in alloy wheels, a black roof, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, laminated rear windows and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. It’s also the only ID 7 available with a red paint finish. "Unfortunately, the ID 7 has the same annoying window switches as the ID 3, where the driver has two switches and a button to activate operation for the rears. I much prefer the more intuitive four-switch setup in most cars." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor If you're interested in buying a used Volkswagen ID 7 or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.