First Look Review: The 2025 VW ID.7 is a charming Tesla Model 3 challenger

Update: ‘Driving Impressions’ section revised.

The VW ID.7 is scheduled to arrive at U.S. dealerships in the second half of 2024. A little over half a year ahead of the release, I had a chance to experience it in person in Los Angeles. Here are my first impressions of the new electric sedan from Germany.

Design

The VW ID.7 features a fluidic and futuristic exterior design, exuding a charismatic character. I think the visibly short but curvy and sculpted hood, swept-back sleek headlamps with intricate details, and a sporty bumper with side air curtains contribute to a dynamic first impression.

The particularly long, bow-shaped greenhouse and fast-sloping roofline make the ID.7 Volkswagen’s most elegant and flattest ID. model to date. I particularly like how the beltline swiftly rises from about the middle of the rear doors. At the rear, I don’t find the design of the visibly wide, wraparound LED tail lights particularly attractive, but I’ll admit their pattern imbues a high-tech and futuristic styling into the car.

Made in Emden, Germany, the ID.7 will build a reputation in the U.S. for its meticulous build quality. I’ve noticed that the panel gaps of the car are tight and consistent. The paint finish is also noteworthy, and the exterior is quintessentially German.

Interior

The VW ID.7 has a minimalist, tech-laden interior with a horizontal dashboard, a massive, 15-inch free-standing central touchscreen, a compact steering wheel, an elegant center console with both open and secured storage spaces, and stylish door cards.

When I first stepped into the cabin and sat in the driver’s seat, the compact size of the instrument cluster, integrated into the dashboard, struck me as unusual. From a 12.3-inch display in the gas models to a 5.3-inch display in the initial ID. EVs, and now an even smaller instrument cluster in the ID.7, marks a significant shift in their cockpit design. However, as I discovered during my experience in Los Angeles, this change is a result of VW’s advancements in head-up display technology.

The ID.7 marks a segment-first with its standard Augmented Reality (AR) HUD, a step up from the traditional head-up displays. The combination of a smaller instrument cluster and the AR HUD should enhance my focus on the road. However, I can’t say the same about the temperature and volume adjustment touch sliders located under the infotainment system, even though they are illuminated. The touch-control buttons on the steering wheel also get a thumbs down from me.

What I truly appreciated in the VW ID.7 was the strong emphasis on comfort. Volkswagen has equipped the car with 12-way electric seats with adjustable thigh support and memory and massage functions. Then there are electronically and automatically controlled AC vents that factor in the position of the sun in addition to customer preferences. My favorite interior feature of the new electric sedan is the dimmable panoramic sunroof that can be made opaque when needed by using the slider near the rear view mirror.

I felt that the seat covers and other soft-touch surfaces Volkswagen has used in the ID.7 matched the expectations that I have from a German car. The quality of buttons, switches, and levers are top notch. The plastics in the lower part of the dashboard and center console as well as the door panels were also commendable for its price segment.

From what I understand, the 15-inch touchscreen infotainment system has clear graphics. Going by early demos, I think the menu structure is also well laid out, and is easy to use. I like the fact that the home screen is permanently visible, something new customers yet to get accustomed to with this infotainment system will truly appreciate. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto support, sat-nav, natural online voice control, IDA voice assistant, etc. are some of its key features.

As a six-foot-tall adult, ingress in the ID.7 was not a problem for me. The steering wheel offered sufficient grip and manual adjustment, while the all-around visibility was good for a sedan. In the driver’s seat, I felt that lumbar support was good and that I had enough under-thigh support. The headroom was also not a problem here.

In the back, I felt that ingress was a bit compromised due to the lower roofline. The angle of the rear-seat backrest was comfortable, but I was disappointed that the German engineers decided against offering seat recline. Sitting right behind the driver’s seat, which was still in my set position, I had ample legroom and knee room. The shoulder room was generous for two adults like me to sit comfortably for long distance journeys. As for the vertical axis, my head was almost brushing up against the headliner, if I sat up. The rear seat also gets individual heating and ventilation.

The electric liftgate of the ID.7 has a wide opening and reveals a cargo area with up to 18.8 cu.ft. of capacity. I like the fact that there’s a through-load function in the rear seat, which will allow customers to carry long objects.

Driving impressions

The ID.7 will be available in the U.S. in a single-motor RWD variant and a dual-motor AWD variant. The former will have a 77 kWh battery pack and a powertrain that produces 282 horsepower and 402 lb.-ft. of torque. Volkswagen has confirmed that a larger battery pack is in the pipeline but not if it plans to offer that in the U.S. I think it could reserve the larger battery pack in the dual-motor AWD variant that’s expected to be launched in 2025.

Volkswagen has used a new, more powerful, and more efficient electric motor in the ID.7. Internally called ‘APP550’ and also ‘MEB Performance,’ the new electric motor is made at the Volkswagen Group Components site in Kassel, Germany, since May 2023.

American automotive journalists have driven the ID.7 single-motor RWD, and share several views in common. Apparently, Volkswagen has designed this car for comfort, not aggressively speeding into corners. The ride is smooth and barely any wind and tire noise make it into the cabin, offering a hushed experience like in a luxury car.

The ID.7 is quick off the line and offers enough power even at higher loads, meaning overtakes are effortless. It’s not neck-snapping quick, though, and while it handles well, it’s not a car that likes being tossed around tight corners at extreme speeds, for Volkswagen has engineered it to be a comfort-focused four-door coupe. Even though it’s quite long, those who’ve driven it would also tell you that it’s easy to maneuver. Unfortunately, one-pedal driving is unavailable in this model, which is the only drawback on the driving front.

Also See: 5 aspects that I feel could be improved in the VW ID.7

Price

The base VW ID.7 will likely retail at approximately USD 55,000 onwards.

TopElectricSUV says

The VW ID.7, a streamlined and charismatic electric sedan, targets style-conscious customers seeking a blend of style, technology, and comfort, along with practical cargo space and a reliable driving range. It offers the spaciousness of a Tesla Model S at a price point slightly above that of the Model 3 in Europe.

If priced competitively, I think that the ID.7 has the potential to be an unexpected success story for Volkswagen in the crossover-dominated U.S. market and could significantly enhance the image of the ID. series here.

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