Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer

All versions of ID.7 Tourer feature autonomous emergency braking (AEB) to help mitigate or prevent low-speed collisions with other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. There's also adaptive cruise control to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, as well as lane-keep assistance to help maintain positioning within the lane. A blind-spot monitoring system is also standard, and provides a warning of vehicles that are alongside you when indicating to change lanes.

When parked up, it'll also provide a warning of approaching vehicles to hopefully prevent you from opening a door into the path of a cyclist. There's also a rear cross traffic alert system designed to stop drivers from reversing out into the path of an approaching car. Volkswagen has a fairly standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which can't quite match the unlimited mileage policy provided by BMW.

The battery pack comes with a separate eight-year/100,000-mile warranty, which guarantees that the battery pack will retain above 70 per cent of its capacity over that period, or it'll be replaced under warranty. Those covering high mileages will appreciate the fact that service intervals are every two years, and you can cover an unlimited number of miles during that time. A service plan can be set up at the time of purchase for a lump sum of GBP372, or GBP15.50 per month over 24 months.

Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer alternatives

The ID.7 Tourer is positioned above smaller electric estates such as the Peugeot E-308 SW and Vauxhall Astra[1] Electric Sports Tourer, and provides a much bigger boot.

The ID.7 Tourer also delivers the long-range driving comfort of a BMW i5 Touring, but without the latter's premium pricing. In terms of where the ID.7 Tourer sits in the Volkswagen range, it costs less than the Volkswagen ID.Buzz[2], but more than the ID.4 and ID.5 electric SUVs. The ID.Buzz would be better for those that have bigger families, especially now that it can be had with seven seats.

However, the ID.7 Tourer has much greater range thanks to its superior aerodynamics and reduced weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Volkswagen states that its ID line-up of electric cars only requires servicing every two years, with no specified mileage limits.

Based on the real-world efficiency of 3.3mi/kWh we achieved in a Pro S 86kWh version in mild conditions over a mix of A-roads and B-roads with a little motorway driving, we calculate that a model can go around 284 miles before needing to recharge.

The Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer is hugely practical and can embarrass traditionally powered estate cars in terms of boot space.

Plus it has an incredibly long electric range, particularly in 86kWh Pro S form.

References

1. ^ Vauxhall Astra (www.autoexpress.co.uk)
2. ^ Volkswagen ID.Buzz (www.autoexpress.co.uk)