Volkswagen ID.7 EV: New VW Electric Sedan
In the age of the electric car, sedans are becoming cool again. While North American customers still love their SUVs, sedans have numerous advantages when it comes to electric driving: their smaller frontal areas and sleeker silhouettes make electric sedans notably more efficient than their SUV counterparts – which means that they score far better for EPA-estimated range. Volkswagen is the latest auto brand to launch a spacious EV sedan, and on paper, the 2025 ID.7 looks like a strong package.
Volkswagen ID.7 Range and Efficiency
The first full EV sedan in the Volkswagen lineup, think of the ID.7 as kind of an electric Passat, the company’s well-known gasoline model. It is a big, sleek, and aerodynamic five-seater built on the company’s modular electric platform, which is also the foundation of the ID.4 SUV and the upcoming retro ID.Buzz minivan.
Unlike those vehicles, whose tall silhouettes and elevated ground clearance make them harder to push through the air, the ID.7 is shaped like a teardrop. On the European WLTP testing cycle, Volkswagen claims a staggering 430-mile range, though we expect the EPA range estimate to be more conservative, probably around 350 miles – that’s about 50 miles more than the longest-range ID.4 model.
What’s more impressive about that range is that the ID.7 delivers it without a massive battery. In fact, the two trim levels that will be offered in the U.S., Pro S and Pro S Plus, will both have the same 82-kWh battery that is used in the higher ID.4 trims. Instead of a huge battery, the ID.7 is hugely efficient. The front section and roof are carefully sculpted, and intakes on either side of the front end guide air down the sides of the vehicle to the rear, forming an “air curtain” along the sides of the vehicle.
Performance and Technology
It's not just impressive aerodynamics that helps the ID.7 achieve its efficiency. Every system in the car has been optimized to reduce energy consumption. For instance, intelligent vents in the all-new air conditioning system can detect when the driver is approaching the car, and begin to heat or cool the interior before the driver arrives; they also control the flow of air dynamically to warm or cool the cabin as quickly as possible.
The ID.7 will have plenty of performance to go with its range and efficiency. Rear-wheel drive ID.7 Pro S and Pro S Plus models will have a single electric motor driving the rear wheels which makes 282 hp and 402 lb-ft of torque. If that’s not enough for you, or you want the security of all-wheel drive, horsepower is bumped up to 335, enough to dash to 60 mph in about 6 seconds.
ID.7 Standard Features
As you would expect for a big, luxurious sedan, the ID.7 comes very well-equipped. All models have a long list of standard high-end features, including:
- 19-inch wheels
- Front and rear illuminated light bars with illuminated VW logos
- Power-folding mirrors
- Keyless access with proximity unlocking
- Power tailgate with easy open and close access
- IQ.Drive driver assistance technology with semi-automated driving capability
- Park distance control with park assist plus, memory parking, and overhead view
While it’s about the same size as the midsize Passat, the ID.7 is even more spacious. It’s more versatile, too; even though it has a sleek sedan shape, it’s actually a hatchback, and the “trunk” and rear glass power up to reveal a huge cargo area, which can be expanded easily by folding down the rear seats.
Without a large engine to package, the wheels are pushed out to the corners of the car for short overhangs and a long wheelbase – which liberates limousine-like levels of space inside. A clean, minimalist dashboard and plush power seats contribute to the feel of modern luxury, and the everything you can touch looks and feels high-end while incorporating many recycled and sustainable materials.
Plenty of tech comes along with the luxury, as well. All ID.7s have:
- A 15-inch infotainment display supplemented by an augmented-reality heads-up display that projects vital information onto the windshield
- Panoramic glass roof with electrochromic tinting
- Illuminated décor
- 12-way heated power front seats with massage and memory
- Heated steering wheel
- Three-zone climate control
Volkswagen ID.7 Pro S
The Pro S models enhance the features list further with 20-inc wheels, an adjustable DCC suspension, dynamic steering, and “climatronic” front seats which have an automatic heating and ventilation function. There’s also a powerful 700-watt, 14-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system with a front center speaker and a trunk-mounted subwoofer.
Final range and pricing details for the Volkswagen ID.7 will be announced closer to its on-sale date later in 2024.
