Volkswagen ID:7 – electric showstopper

SUVs and crossover models may rule the modern motoring world but there’s nothing like a slinky estate car to make a few heads turn.

And when it comes to electric estates, which are few and far between, the new Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer is undoubtedly the star of the show.

Available in the same trio of trim grades as its ID.7 fastback stablemate – Pro, Pro S and GTX 4MOTION – the Tourer is a model that ticks more boxes than you’ll find on Deal Or No Deal.

Upmarket finish and fittings apart, this is a line-up that stretches electric miles beyond range anxiety limits with up to 359, 373 or 424 miles from a single charge depending on which version you go for.

Our tested ID.7 Tourer Pro, the entry level car, comes with a 77kWh battery as opposed to the larger 86kWh pack in the other two grades, giving it a healthy range of 373 miles. It’s pretty quick too, developing 286PS and capable of 0-62 in 6.6 seconds.

The beauty of this model is that everything is completed in the manner of a prestige grand tourer – well mannered, smooth and comfortable with the minimum of whine from the motor.

While having a home wallbox is a money-saving necessity, charging the Tourer Pro at a public rapid facility should take about 28 minutes to get from 10-80 per cent and a couple of minutes less for the larger battery variants.

Move inside and you are instantly struck by the sense of space in a cabin that offers acres of room both front and back with slender window pillars that make it easy for the driver to get an overall view at roundabouts and over the shoulder.

Head and shoulder room in rear is excellent and – a rare treat – even a six-foot-plus centre passenger has a comfortable perch and a flat floor for feet. And if you’re lucky enough to be up front then the massage seats provide the spa effect.

Overall you’re looking at a prestige quality fit and finish with sift touch rather than hard brittle plastics, perforated leather seats and suede effect door inserts.

Infotainment comes via a 15-inch touchscreen that’s fairly straightforward once you get used to it and also has a voice assistant for accessing most of the car’s functions.

As for stowage space, those up front are treated to a pair of cup holders, glovebox, deep door bins, an armrest container plus a mobile phone charge pad while the rear of the cabin adds more cup holders in the centre armrest, door bins and pockets in the front seat backs.

A 605-litre boot ensures genuine estate-size load capacity, which is extended by flipping the 60/40 split-fold rear seats, and the boot floor is also height adjustable with a small space below for odds and ends or cables. You also get an electric tailgate.

Standard kit is comprehensive, the likes of 19-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, a head-up display, IQ Matrix LED headlights, rear-view camera and parking sensors, adaptive cruise control plus Android Auto and Apple CarPlay all included.

There’s plenty of safety gear too, including an auto emergency braking set-up that can spot pedestrians and cyclists, a tyre pressure loss indicator, the e-call emergency service and lane-keeping assistance.

Overall the ID.7 Tourer fits all the criteria that has made SUVs the dominant force in the modern car market, but does it with an extra splash of style and distinction.