By Ian Strachan.
Volkswagen’s electric estate car – the ID.7 Tourer – is probably one of the most effective ambassadors for going all-electric.
This stylish award-winning estate has all the advantages of a modern petrol-powered estate in terms of practicality, space and performance. But its impressive range of more than 420 miles on a single charge (that will take you from Birmingham to the Scottish Highlands) and a charging time of not much more than 25 minutes demolishes most of the anti-electric arguments.
Going fully electric is no longer as expensive as it used to be, and the problem of range anxiety is rapidly becoming yesterday’s worry as ranges extend with every new product launched. Plus, the ID.7 demonstrates that you don’t have to forego the fun of driving.
I tested the ID.7 Tourer in Pro S spec which comes with a bigger battery for maximum range. It’s fully electric, with rear-wheel drive powered by an 86 kWh battery. It develops 286PS, has a top speed of 112 mph where allowed, and will propel you from 0 to 60 mph in just over six seconds.
Of course if you take full advantage of the ID.7 Tourer’s impressive performance, you will pay a range penalty. But you’ll still get sufficient range for most journeys. The car also has a heat pump instead of a conventional heater, so warming the car no longer takes a substantial bite out of the car’s range.
The ID.7 Tourer is a good looker from all angles. My test car came in a no-cost Moonstone Grey with a contrast black roof. Attractive 19-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, gloss black door mirrors and silver roof trim all add to its side-on appeal.
The interior of the ID.7 Tourer is modern and well laid out. You get pleasant black trim and seat materials with seat bolsters adding to comfort and appearance. The seats have power adjustment and a massage feature for driver and front seat passenger. You also get a heated, leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel, ambient lighting with 30 colour options and plenty of storage spaces.
Ride and handling is exceptional, with a softish adaptive suspension setting which irons out most but the deepest potholes. Road noise and wind noise are minimal which makes for peaceful motoring.
This is an estate, so carrying capacity is a given. On the ID.7 Tourer you get an impressive 605 litres of boot space behind the powered tailgate, which can be increased to a huge 1,948 litres by folding the seats.
Specification on the ID.7 is good, with three-zone electronic air conditioning with intelligent air vents (which are a bit awkward to use, particularly when driving), all-round airbags, large 15-inch colour touch-screen navigation system with DAB eight-speaker radio plus Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity and voice control, USB ports front and rear, adaptive cruise control, augments reality head-up display and a range of safety technology including lane keeping aid, driver alert system, distance monitoring and park assist.
You also get all round electric windows and door mirrors, automatic windscreen wipers and lights, tyre pressure monitoring, heated windscreen, front and rear parking sensors with camera, high-beam assist and smartphone charger.
My test car was also fitted with an exterior pack at £1000, an exterior styling package at £600 and a mains charging cable at £190.
If the ID.7 Tourer is your first experience of a fully electric vehicle you’ll be hooked for life. It’s not cheap, at £55,315 on the road for the Pro S Match Plus spec, but residuals are good and the smugness comes free.
