Volkswagen ID.7 Review: High mileage user contender?

With a choice of coupe or tourer is the electric ID7 the front runner for high mileage company car drivers?

Is the Volkswagen ID.7 the right choice for business leasing?

When it comes to company cars the VW Passat was forever popular across UK fleets and businesses offering a choice of saloon, coupe and cavernous estate versions. 

In the world of electric vehicles and where range is still a huge consideration - especially for higher mileage users - has the ID.7 with a choice of sleek coupe style fastback or tourer finally answered the question - where is my long range executive style EV? 

The ID.7 shares the same platform as the smaller ID.4 and ID.5 but you immediate get a sense that it is much more refined and designed for higher mileage users. The car is spacious inside for either version, quiet, comfortable and pack with technology - it feels like a place you could easily spend significant time in!

Range is one of the key talking points and feature of the ID.7 and with an official range of up to 384miles depending on model variant and battery it's easy to understand the appeal - a real world estimate in excess of 300 miles itself would serve c.15000 miles per year with just a charge at week-ends! 

Of course the theory and estimate is all well good but is the ID.7 all style and silence or does it actually deliver where it matters in the real world? 

Real-world range and efficiency for high mileage users

Our recent case study of an Essex business replacing their Volvo V90 D4 Momentum with an ID.7 210kW Match Pro S Plus 86kWh and effortlessly covering over 400 miles per week [ 20000miles per year ] suggests it does - click here to read the full case study but in short the driver needed long-distance comfort, boot space for testing equipment, competitive running costs and for it to not feel like a compromise in any way. Leased on business contract hire with full maintenance to fix costs and just 3% BIK in the current tax year - even by 2027-28 a 40% tax rate driver will still be paying less than £100 per month. 

 The inside is predictable for an electric Volkswagen  - functional,   minimalistic   but brimming with tech and worth noting that the large   central screen in the   cabin is much faster and clearer than earlier ID models.  Seats are excellent   and built for long distance and that extends to the rear where passengers can   enjoy amply legroom and a flat floor. 

 Luggage space is also plentiful with the Coupe's 532-litre boot for most     applications but if more kit, luggage, samples or dog are the essence of the   load then the ID.7 Tourer is definitely the better choice with large SUV like load   space. 

Who is the ID.7 really for? 

The ID.7 feels like the company car drivers natural EV replacement for the faithful Passat for those wanting the VW refinement, comfort and load space of the Passat but without the hefty tax bill!

The image of the Passat may have suffered a little as it was so popular as a company car but although drawing natural comparisons the ID.7 is a significant upgrade in both forms. 

The ID.7 looks so attractive on business contract hire and salary sacrifice that it's hard to see who wouldn't consider it,if their criteria was a longer range saloon or estate style car - and perhaps for that reason alone it could easily be the car that finally marks the arrival of the mainstream manufacturers to the arena of EV innovation, long range and premium practicality. 

The range along with the choice of EV's continues to grow which can only be good news for anyone considering their first step into electric vehicles and wondering whether they can realistically work for them and also early adopters up for renewal who will welcome the changes along with the improvements to the charging infrastructure. 

Wherever you are in your EV consideration or transition we're on hand to offer impartial and independant guidance and insight based on over ten years of owning and operating plug-in and full electric vehicles - giving you the confidence to decide when, how and even if you can transition to electric. 

For more information or to ask a question call us on 01206 585837 or click here to arrange a call back at a time convenient for you.