Volkswagen ID.7 - long-range mid-range attacks
Volkswagen is finally launching a purely electrically powered Passat counterpart for comfortable travel. ntv.de has now been behind the wheel of the large saloon for the first time. A station wagon and more powerful variants will also follow.
For all interested parties who would now like to scream: But yes, the ID.7 will soon be coming to us as an estate. Because we Germans are very clear about this - we either want an SUV or an estate. But be that as it may, to explore the new Volkswagen ID.7 for the first time, the saloon will do just as well. The 4.96-meter-long Wolfsburg model with rear-wheel drive (both the drive axle and the engine are at the rear) invites you to go cruising.
Is this actually mid-range or upper mid-range? I'm in favor of mid-range, even though Volkswagen speaks of "upper mid-range". I rather see the future derivatives of the PPE platform in the business class segment, but we can still philosophize about that. Here and now, I have two things in mind that I want to pay attention to: the space in the rear and the infotainment.
However, before I sit in the back for a test drive, I'm drawn to get behind the wheel. Sure, I'm curious about the driving experience of the new Volkswagen electric car. So I settle into the comfortable seat and let my eyes wander. Wait, didn't Volkswagen promise to finally make the steering wheel buttons easier to grip? This has already been done in the Passat, but the ID.7 will probably have to use up the ordered quota of the old unit elements without individual (much easier to operate) push buttons before it can get the new switches. Well, you'll survive the fact that the steering wheel is a little more fiddly - but to be honest, the old system is a tiny flaw.
You no longer have to think about refined engines in the ID.7
Nevertheless, the engine now starts - albeit in a whisper. And whereas in the past you would have pondered the smooth running of an engine at this point, now you reflect on rolling comfort or wind noise. How clever of Volkswagen to present the new model in a speed-restricted country (130 km/h) - up to this speed, it remains pleasantly quiet in the ID.7 anyway. And even at the speed limit of 180 km/h, you should still be able to have a conversation at room volume. Here, the Volkswagen certainly benefits from its ambitious, efficiency-driven aerodynamics (cw 0.23), which even undercuts the cw value (0.25) of the new Passat despite its higher body. Nevertheless, there are production vehicles with better values, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 6 or Lucid Air (both cw 0.21).
But what is really striking about Volkswagen's latest BEV is not the noise. What is striking, because it is emphatically pleasant, is the suspension of the ID.7. The future ID.7 estate will officially be called the "Tourer", although the saloon is already a pretty gentle tourer in the classic sense. How refreshing that a car is being brought out these days that goes against the trend of not advertising it with supposedly sporty characteristics, but instead emphasizes how smoothly it drives. Although the optional 20-inch wheels do give the chassis a good workout with their low 40 mm cross-section. And yet this Volkswagen smoothes out rough tracks with virtuosity - and it feels significantly better than previous Passat models, for example. And especially when you move the virtual controller of the adaptive dampers, which are available at extra cost, in the comfortable direction. The extended wheelbase of 2.97 meters also contributes to this impression.
However, I must briefly touch on the subject of sportiness. As a test application, I press down on the right pedal and see what happens. The 286 hp rear-wheel drive car (blessed with 545 newton meters of torque) pushes off gently but quite powerfully and is said to reach country road speed after just 6.5 seconds. A pretty credible figure - and that is also a kind of sportiness.
The ID.7 is also supposed to charge sportily, but this has yet to be proven in extensive tests. However, its large battery with 77 kWh of usable energy is definitely suitable for long-distance driving. The clock on the test car actually shows a range of 360 kilometers with a battery charge level of just 65 percent - that would be 553 kilometers with a full battery. That's not quite the promised 621 kilometers. But you don't have to be petty. It all depends on how economically you drive the 2.2-tonner in practical operation.
The factory puts the combined WLTP consumption at 14.1 to 16.3 liters. However, this will also have to undergo a reality check. Just like the claim that it is possible to recharge electricity for 204 kilometers of driving within ten minutes with a maximum charging capacity of 175 kilowatts. Even if this theoretical performance stands up to the practical test and should be sufficient even for the occasional field worker, one cannot speak of outstanding technology in view of a 400-volt electrical system. But don't worry, at some point Volkswagen will also switch to 800 volts. But that will take a while yet.
The ID.7 is full of high-tech
After I've spent some time being kneaded by the new seat with pressure point massage (it's quite funny, but it's not really a big hit), I sit down in the second row once I've arrived back at my destination. Wow, and this seating position is more comfortable than a seat massage. There's plenty of knee room and, of course, solid cushions. You can stand it like that. I can watch the sky through the panoramic roof and let my mind wander or "switch" its glass pane to milky by means of a touch-sensitive slider using electrochemical technology. Incidentally, the workmanship and finish meet the strict requirements of a premium product, as can be seen from an initial inspection.
But then I have to go back to the front. The local Volkswagen contact recommends that I try out the really crazy parking assistant. So we choose a secluded spot at the lunchtime location where the ID.7 is supposed to park automatically in the future (a supervising engineer directs me). After a bit of tapping on the screen, repeatedly driving back and forth and concentrating on the parking space, the position would eventually be saved. I wonder whether this isn't too much preparatory work for too little benefit. Well, you just have to see how the system works in a tight parking garage. In my opinion, however, experienced drivers can currently maneuver the car even faster. Nevertheless, my respect goes to the technicians who are able to get to grips with such an application mathematically.
There is, of course, even more assistance. Active cruise control now also includes assisted overtaking. Do we need that? Perhaps to amaze the other passengers. Otherwise not really. But you can see it differently. The driver, on the other hand, is amazed at why the undoubtedly extensive head-up display is presented as an augmented reality solution. I don't think it's enough for this description. At least it comes as standard, unlike the LED matrix light and heat pump, which cost a few thousand extra.
The operating system of the ID.7 is new
My final word goes to the 15-inch touchscreen with its new operating system, on which everything is now supposed to run much better and faster. Let's put it this way: the range of functions is not getting any smaller. And a bit of trial and error is also necessary with the new Volkswagen in order to master the interface. At least there is the option of assigning important functions to direct selection buttons, which are strategically located in the first row. In addition, tiles of different sizes point the way to various theme worlds. These include the high-tech air conditioning system with its motorized air vents. Air flows out of them as required, even if you just approach the ID.7 with the key in your pocket.
The question remains as to whether the mid-size class from Emden (that's right, the ID.7 is built at the traditional Passat site) has a good chance of really shaking up the Volkswagen BEV registrations. Let's see, the estate is still to come. And the GTX with all-wheel drive and a crisp 340 horsepower.
The saloon is not impractical either, by the way. Almost 1600 liters of luggage equivalent fit in the trunk. At 56,995 euros, the Wolfsburg-based company would like to receive quite a lot of money for its silent tourer - rich equipment or classy, backlit decorative strips or not. The ID.7 is therefore more likely to be something for companies, where it can make the most of its electric car benefits in terms of company car tax. With a gross price of less than 60,000 euros, it is still in the best class, where only a quarter of the list price applies as the tax base. Alternatively, Volkswagen can also put together an attractive package with an affordable leasing rate for private customers. They can already get a feel for it at the dealer. Or take a test drive in the near future.
The ID.7, with its upper mid-range status, is a great fit for the upper middle class looking for a comfortable, long-range electric vehicle. Despite Volkswagen's claims, some may argue that the ID.7 falls into the mid-range category instead.
With its debut as a saloon, the new Volkswagen ID.7 is making waves in the mid-size car market, even though Volkswagen typically does not produce models in this segment. However, the upcoming estate variant is expected to cater to the German preference for estates or wagons.
Source: www.ntv.de
