VW ID.7 Pro Match 77kWh

VW’s new flagship executive car – essentially replacing the long-serving Passat – the ID.7 has big wheel tracks to fill. Capacious, packed with technology and promising a decent range between charges VW have certainly afforded it every chance of doing just that but, more importantly, how does it stack up against rivals from BMW, Mercedes and, of course, Tesla.

Let’s find out shall we?

Climb inside the ID.7 and you’ll find yourself sitting pretty in no time. It’s easy to get comfortable behind to wheel thanks to a driving position that’s almost perfect in the way it lines you up with the essential controls. The standard seats offer plenty of flexibility - all electric, including lumbar support – as well as a massage function.

Despite its coupe-like lines the ID.7 offers a great view of the road. The front pillars are narrow so it’s easy to see out of the front and sides at junctions while the big rear windows and cutouts in the rear pillars ensure that you get a decent view over your shoulders.

Standard equipment includes front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera. There’s also VW’s Park Assist Plus system which, in certain cases, allows the car to park itself. Matrix LED lights mean that, driving at night, you can leave them on high beam without worrying about dazzling oncoming drvers.

The instrument panel is minimalist – as is the cabin as a whole – and can’t be configured but the vast majority of information you need is shown on the head-up display so you rarely have to take your eyes off the road.

One area that VW has significantly upped its game – certainly in comparison with other models in the ID range – is quality. There’s an interesting mix of textures and materials that include microfleece and leatherette on the seats, steering wheel and doors. The soft-touch plastics on the dashboard add the sense of quality craftmanship.

The glossy black trim and capacitive climate control sliders are backlit and that helps a little pizzazz to the cabin’s ambience.

Slap bang in the middle of the dashboard – you can’t miss it – is a 15in infotainment touchscreen. It dominates the front passenger space that is otherwise largely devoid of distractions.

Again, compared to previous models in the range this is a big step forward. It responds significantly quicker to inputs and the sheer amount of screen real estate allows you to see a lot of information in one glance. The software seems to have fewer bugs than earlier versions too.

There’s an impressive level of personalisation available, allowing you to add your favourite shortcuts at the top of the screen and customise which features are displayed under each menu option.

AI is slowly permeating every facet of our lives and motoring is not immune as is borne out by its inclusion in the voice control system in the ID.7 which can now recognise a wide range of phrases . It has access to pretty much every function but, in my experience, it proved to be far from perfect.

That fallibility can be particularly frustrating when all you want to do is simply adjust the air conditioning and you find yourself pining for the simplicity of manual controls.

It’s a big car, boasting a wheelbase of almost three metres and an overall length of almost five. That space doesn’t go to waste, creating a capacious interior that is light and airy up front and limo-like in the rear.

Two six-footers can comfortably ride in tandem and, thanks to the flat floor, the rear bench can easily accommodate three adults. The middle seat is raised slightly which does impact on headroom for taller passengers.

Cabin storage is generous with large door bins in the front, a good-sized cubby in the armrest, space beneath the centre console which is also home to a pair of cupholders and a wireless phone charging pad.

In the back there’s two more cupholders hidden in the fold-down centre armrest and door bins that are big enough to hold bottles of water.

Boot space is 532 litres with the rear seats in place, rising to 1,586 with them stowed away. The 60/40 split doesn’t offer a great deal of versatility but there is a ski hatch that means you can transport lengthier items like, er, skis and still carry a couple of passengers in the back.

The VW ID 7 promises a range of up to 384 miles, which should help alleviate any anxieties about arriving safely at your destination.

It's a polished performer with barely any noticeable motor wine when accelerating up to cruising speeds and wind and road noise is kept to a minimum.

It's brakes, while not the most progressive, do boast a very welcome adaptive regenerative breaking mode which helps the car to slow when you lift your foot off the accelerator and feeds energy back into the battery.

It doesn't offer one pedal driving - a function that allows you to drive Paul rarely touching the brake - but on motorways and dual carriageways the system this flawless. It uses the radar to monitor traffic in front of the vehicle and increases the level of regeneration if the car ahead slows down, and does so in a progressive and gentle manner.

The ID.7 is fitted with passive suspension as standard but youcan add adaptive suspension, included on my review car, as part of the exterior pack and, while I was unable to compare the two versions back to back, it’s not hard to recommend the upgrade which brings with it a level of plushness that suits the character of the car.

The steering, while lacking a significant level of feel, is accurate and grips hard enough two feel fairly agile. Unfortunately, push harder and you will arrive at its limits a bit sooner than in its closest rivals. It’s clear, though, that despite the the ID 7 isn’t at its most comfortable being thrown around tight and twisty bends you’ll find on Britain’s B roads preferring, instead, the open spaces of our high-speed motorways where it can best demonstrate its consummate cruising abilities.

Also available as an option is a progressive steering system that quickens the response at low speeds to improve manoeuvrability but whether it represents good value is entirely subjective.

Power is delivered from a single 282bhp electric motor that drives the rear wheels. Some may be of the opinion that doesn’t sound particularly impressive next to some of its rivals but it will – according to official figures – take the ID.7 from zero to 62mph in reasonably sprightly 6.5 seconds which, let’s be honest, is more that adequate for a large proportion of drivers.

Having put the ID.7 through its paces that number doesn’t sound unreasonable either. Press the accelerator and the response is instant meaning that pulling away from junctions and overtaking slower-moving traffic couldn’t be easier.

The ID.7 is, by some margin, the best of the ID bunch so far.

It isn’t without its flaws – but show me a car that’s perfect - with its fiddly climate controls and the omission of physical air vent controls and that raised middle seat that reduces headroom. It’s also competing against rivals that are sharper to drive.

There are, though, far more compelling reasons to add the ID.7 to your shopping list than to omit it: It’s incredibly refined at any speed with a comfortable ride and a decent range. Interior quality is excellent , with decent equipment levels including handy parking aids and offers a comfortable driving position.

Whether those are reasons enough to shift it to the top of your list well, that’s up to you.

Price: 51,550

As tested: £57,180

Powertrain: Electric motor

Transmission: Direct drive single speed

Max speed: 112mph

0-62mph : 6.5 seconds

Range (WLTP): 383 miles

Consumption (WLTP): 4.7 miles/ kWh

Max power: 286PS

Max torque: 545Nm

Charging time (DC): 175kW rapid charger 28min to 80%

Charging time AC: 11kW 3-phase 8hr to 100%

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