Goodbye Passat, hello future.
Volkswagen has finally revealed the all-new ID.7 mid-size electric sedan, making it both the new flagship of the electric ID. model line and the sixth VW to be based on the modular electric drive (MEB) platform. For customers in the United States, the ID.7 is also significant for being the first all-new VW sedan to be launched here since the current Jetta five years ago.
One might've been forgiven for thinking that VW was on track to abandon the sedan segment entirely, with the Passat already discontinued in the USA and the future of the Arteon looking bleak. But with the Volkswagen ID.7, the German manufacturer is showing us otherwise. Although it looks quite conservative, the new ID.7 has the most powerful electric motor in any ID. vehicle yet and a highly advanced interior.
The ID.7 will come with a new electric motor delivering 282 horsepower and 402 lb-ft of torque. This motor is integrated into the rear axle with the inverter and two-stage single-speed gearbox, so it will be rear-wheel drive.
To generate more power from this motor, VW used a rotor with stronger permanent magnets, redesigned the stator, and improved thermal stability with a new combined oil and water cooling system. No claims have been made regarding 0-60 times, but with its strong outputs, the ID.7 should comfortably accomplish the sprint in under six seconds.
Interestingly, VW did not mention an all-wheel-drive version with a dual motor, but we fully expect an arrangement like this to follow, potentially making over 300 horses. At the New York reveal, executives told CarBuzz that the flexibility of the MEB platform means AWD is possible.
A new DCC adaptive damping system should help to ensure a comfortable ride, and drivers will be able to choose from Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Individual modes. A low center of gravity, thanks to the placement of the battery in the floor, and high-damping elasto-kinematic mounts on the rear axle should contribute to composed handling while hopefully masking the car's weight.
The new ID.7 will come with two battery sizes, the smaller one having a usable capacity of 77 kilowatt-hours (82 kWh total). A larger 86-kWh battery will be available as well. However, VW has confirmed only the smaller battery will make it stateside.
With the larger battery, the ID.7 has a claimed potential range of 435 miles on the WLTP cycle or 382 miles with the smaller battery. With the latter, VW is targeting an EPA range of 300 miles, which is some way shy of the Tesla Model 3 (358 miles for the Long Range).
Part of the reason for its impressive efficiency is the ID.7's slippery shape, with a drag coefficient of around 0.23 and a frontal area of just over 26 feet.
The Pro model with the smaller battery supports maximum charging speeds of 170 kW at a DC fast-charging station, while the Pro S with the bigger battery can charge at up to 200 kW. These are not class-leading charging rates, but they should be sufficient to get the battery from 10 to 80% in around half an hour. The battery can also be preconditioned before charging, thanks to a new thermal management system.
It may not be a direct replacement for the Passat, but this is what a new generation of that model could have looked like. Like the ID.4, the ID.7 has a generally curvy design that is modern and approachable but not as aggressive or visually impactful as some other EVs such as the BMW i4.
In terms of size, the ID.7 is very similar to the Passat. It measures 195.3 inches in length (almost two inches more than the Passat) and has a 116.8-inch wheelbase. At 73.3 inches, it's also a little bit wider than the Passat, and it stands taller at 60.6 inches. No curb weight figure was given, but given the weight of the smaller Model 3, we expect the ID.7 to exceed 4,000 pounds.
In front, the ID.7 has a sculpted hood and LED headlights joined by a full-width LED strip that forms part of the daytime running lights. Unlike the Passat, this isn't a traditional three-box-style sedan as it has a practical liftgate at the back.
The gently curved beltline and strong D-pillar are other unique design touches, while the rear features wraparound LED taillight clusters and a full-width lighting strip. The aluminum-alloy wheels measure up to 20 inches in size, although like other specifications, this could differ for models bound for the USA.
The high-tech interior is mostly devoid of physical controls, has a clean, horizontal design theme for the dashboard, and is very spacious. Rear legroom looks especially expansive, as a result of the long wheelbase.
There is no traditional gauge cluster, with a much smaller digital display clearly visible through the steering wheel's spokes. VW says an augmented-reality head-up display is standard.
There is nothing small about the 15-inch central touchscreen display, which has an all-new menu structure. Volkswagen ergonomics have been frustrating for a while, so the ID.7's screen permanently displays settings for the ventilation system and seat heating/ventilation/massage. Those touch sliders for the ventilation system do seem finicky, but we'll reserve judgment until we get behind the wheel ourselves.
Standard and available features include a 10-color ambient lighting system, several pre-programmed "atmospheres" like Euphoria, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
This is VW's electric flagship, so the company has spent more time on the little details. For instance, the new-generation front seats make it possible to separately adjust the intensity of heating and ventilation for different parts of the seats. Even the bolsters can be heated or cooled, the seats can be electrically adjusted in 14 directions on certain models, and the available ergoActive seats with massage contain 10 air cushions for a pneumatic pressure point massage.
Even the ventilation system is packed with tech to improve comfort, such as smart air vents with tiny motors that enable them to open and close interactively to distribute air around the cabin better.
At 18.8 cubic feet, the ID.7 is practical as well, offering more trunk space than the majority of sedans on the market.
Pricing for the new VW ID.7 has yet to be revealed, but considering that it's a mid-size model and the company's electric flagship, we expect it to start at around $45,000, increasing to about $55,000 for more expensive models. The Tesla Model 3 currently starts at less than this ($41,990), but it is smaller and also appears to be a less luxurious model than the ID.7. If you want a premium badge on the nose, expect to pay $52,000 for the base BMW i4 eDrive35.
Production of the ID.7 will start in Germany from June, with deliveries to North America starting in 2024 as a 2025 model year vehicle.
As production is centered in Europe, the ID.7 won't qualify for tax incentives, but VW is looking at US production for more EVs in future, so this may change.
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