Volkswagen ID.7 review - Range, charging & running costs
“The ID.7 is expensive to buy and likely to cost a lot to insure, but higher-spec models boast a competitive range”
The Volkswagen ID.7 is quite an expensive car to buy outright, starting from more than £51,500 for the entry-level Pro model. While the ID.7’s class-leading 436 miles to a charge might appear to soften the blow somewhat, that’s a figure available only on the even more expensive 82kWh battery Pro S version, which starts from around £55,500.
The entry-level 77kWh battery gives the ID.7 a 381-mile range – at this price range that’s a little less impressive, considering you can get a Long Range Tesla Model 3 that goes even further on a charge (436 miles) for less.
Perhaps it’s unfair in some ways to compare the ID.7 to the Model 3, as it’s a closer match to cars such as the BMW i5 in size, and much cheaper – the i5 starts from under £67,000 and manages up to just 362 miles to a charge, but is a much more premium vehicle.
Another thing to bear in mind is that when we drove the 77kWh ID.7 in real-world conditions, it failed to even achieve 300 miles to a charge, so it’s worth adjusting your expectations if you’re drawn in by the impressive on-paper figure. It’s worth noting that a heat pump can be fitted, helping to preserve range in colder weather conditions, although it’s a shame this is £1,050 extra.
The 77kWh model has peak 170kW charging speeds, however, so it should take just under half an hour to achieve a 10 to 80% top-up. Those speeds increase to 200kW for the Pro S, but its larger battery capacity means it should take roughly the same amount of time to recharge.
| Model | Battery size | Range |
| Pro | 77kWh | 382 miles |
| Pro S | 82kWh | 435 miles |
How efficient is the Volkswagen ID.7 in the real world
When we first tested a Volkswagen ID.7 we averaged 3.4 miles/kWh. A later test of an ID.7 Tourer Pro S in mild temperatures netted 3.3 miles/kWh over a mixture of quick A and B-roads, as well as some time spent on the motorway.
What will the Volkswagen ID.7 cost to insure?
The ID.7’s insurance groups could come as a bit of a surprise, because sitting in groups 38 to 39, it won’t be cheap to insure. For context, a Standard Range Tesla Model 3 sits in group 48, and Long Range versions sit in the highest group 50.
