Volkswagen has unveiled its new ID.7 Tourer – an extended version of the flagship ID.7 saloon – in another sign that the family estate car is about to have an electric resurgence.
The ID.7 estate offers a boost in luggage space over the conventional model as well as rapid charging times and a massive battery range, as the German car giant looks to put down a big-booted marker in the all-electric estate ring.
The Tourer gives buyers an electric alternative to the new Passat launching this year.
It promises the same comfort levels and generous tech as the ID.7 fastback – from massage seats to wellness apps and artificial intelligence drivers can chat with.
Volkswagen has unveiled its new ID.7 Tourer – an extended version of the flagship ID.7 saloon – in another sign that the family estate car is about to have an electric resurgence
The ID.7 launched in 2023 as the largest ID car to date, and a rival for the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4.
Retailing from £55,570, the saloon ID.7 is not cheap, but VW see the executive car as the halo model for the brand as it pours money into its electric line-up.
By 2026 Volkswagen intends to launch 10 electric cars.
Considering VW’s lineage in estate cars – which includes the Passat, Golf and Arteon – the new ID.7 Tourer makes sense, especially considering the electric estate market remains sparse with only a handful of options available to early adopters.
As the name suggests, the Tourer is aimed at long journey drivers.
This is an EV designed for the endless motorway hours endured by business drivers, or the family summer holiday voyages across Europe and enough space to bring the dog along, too.
As the name suggests, the Tourer is aimed at long journey drivers. This is an EV designed for the endless motorway hours endured by business users and those who often embark on family holidays across Europe
At launch, buyers will be able to choose between the Tourer Pro and Pro S, with a 77kWh and 86kWh battery respectively
The VW ID.7 Tourer Pro S has an extremely impressive range. The German brand says it can go for 685 kilometres (around 425 miles) until it needs to be recharged
At launch, buyers will be able to choose between the Tourer Pro and Pro S, with a 77kWh and 86kWh battery respectively.
The Pro S has an extremely impressive range of 685 kilometres (around 425 miles) and ultra-rapid charging up to 200kW.
This means charging the battery from 0 to 80 per cent should take less than 30 minutes.
How does its single-charge mileage compare to the competition?
Currently only the soon-to-be-unveiled Audi A6 Avant e-tron’s predicted 435-mile range will outdo the ID.7 Tourer.
Other electric estate cars simply can’t rival its long-distance credentials.
Estate EV models like the MG5 EV, Vauxhall Astra Electric Sports Tourer and Peugeot e-308 SW only offer distances in the mid 200-mile brackets.
While the updated Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo is predicted to have 378 miles of range, but that comes with a far bigger price tag than the VW.
Imelda Labbé, member of the Volkswagen brand board of management said: ‘Together with the ID.7 fastback saloon and the new Passat Variant, the new ID.7 Tourer perfectly rounds off our offering in the upper mid-sized class.
‘It is particularly attractive for frequent drivers and business customers thanks to its generous space and long ranges.’
Standard on all models are LED headlights and tail light clusters, diamond-cut 19-inch alloy wheels and roof rails
The ID.7 Tourer Pro S offers ultra-rapid charging capacity up to 200kW. This means charging the battery from 0 to 80% should take less than half an hour
The same size as the ID.7 fastback, the difference comes in the rear of the car. The Tourer is higher at the back which gives it that long estate look and much more space
German estate cars have always been a go to for Britons, with sleek but understated styling hitting the right balance for a nation of drivers who generally like to avoid being ostentatious.
The same size as the ID.7 fastback, the difference comes in the rear of the car. The Tourer is higher at the back which gives it that long estate look and much more space.
The Tourer has some of the classic Passat estate look with a hint of the more flash coupe style, combined with the aerodynamic swooped silhouette that’s typical of the ID cars.
Standard on all models are LED headlights and tail light clusters, diamond-cut 19-inch alloy wheels and roof rails.
Optionally you can add a panoramic sunroof, and a fancy ‘smart glass’ one at that.
By using the car’s voice assistant or the touch control, the sunroof flips from transparent to opaque – depending on how much basking in the sun you do or don’t want to do. It repels the heat to keep you cool in the summer or reflects it in in the winter to keep you warm.
There’s just as much room for front and back passengers as there is in the fastba
How much space does it have?
Behind the looks, this unveiling is all about practicality and comfort – after all that’s why you buy an estate.
With five people onboard, there’s 605 litres in the boot and a ginormous 1,714 litres with only two people in the car. That’s a hefty amount of overpacking easily accommodated.
It also means the ID.7 Touring trumps all its current rivals in terms of capacity.
There’s just as much room for front and back passengers as there is in the fastback saloon, and the seats likewise come with air conditioning and massage function.
With five people onboard, there’s 605 litres in the boot and a ginormous 1,714 litres with only two people in the car. That’s a hefty amount of overpacking easily accommodated
And then there’s the big draw of the interior.
The Tourer will come with the new MIB4 infotainment system which has a 15-inch touchscreen, IDA voice assistant and ChatGPT integration for the first time.
Use the voice assistant to check the weather, ask Wikipedia for a quick fact, see your friend’s flight status or hear breaking news.
VW has been generous with standard equipment, not sneakily charging people heaps more for all the good bits of tech.
So, all versions of the Tourer will benefit from the same augmented reality head-up display as the fastback ID.7 and now Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can be integrated into the AR head-up too.
If you do want to splash out, you can get an optional Wellness app as part of the Interior Package and Interior Plus Package.
The app changes everything from background lighting and air condition to massage functions and acoustic sound tapestries. It will launch with three ‘wellness moods’: Fresh Up, Calm Down and Power Break.
The Tourer will come with the IDA voice assistant and ChatGPT integration for the first time. Use the voice assistant to check the weather, ask Wikipedia for a quick fact, see your friend’s flight status or hear breaking news
Price points and trims have yet to be announced, but it’s likely that the Tourer will come at a small premium on top of the conventional saloon
Expect to be paying north of £50k for VW’s new estate car, making it more than £20k dearer than the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer and MG’s 5 EV
For families, safety assists play particular importance, and the good news is that the ID.7 Tourer will be launched with the latest state-of-the-art assist systems from VW.
Standard safety features include Autonomous Emergency Braking, Dynamic Road Sign Display and the Car2X system that updates you on the latest roadworks, accidents, traffic and incoming emergency vehicles as you drive.
The bad news, though, is that many of the most advanced systems are optional.
You have to pay more for the Connected Travel Assist (includes Lane Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Emergency Assist) and the very helpful Park Assist Plus which enables fully automatic parking of distances up to 50 metres.
Price points and trims have yet to be announced, but it’s likely that the Tourer will come at a small premium on top of the conventional saloon.
Expect to be paying north of £50k for this estate car, making it more than £20k dearer than the Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer and MG’s 5 EV.
