The launch of Volkswagen’s ID series wasn’t without its challenges. The ID3, in particular, had numerous software issues, which faded into the background over time. Since then, the electric range has grown significantly and was rounded off at the top last year with the large ID7. Does that mean everything is immediately good? Let’s take a look at user reviews.
The Volkswagen ID7 is the electric alternative to the Passat and the now-defunct Arteon. It operates in the D-segment, a class that seems to be becoming less popular every year. Nevertheless, the ID7 is doing well. Although you don’t see it on every street corner, around 1,200 units were sold in the Netherlands last year. The Passat hasn’t reached that number since 2019.
Space and Seating Comfort
A car the size of the ID7 almost has to be spacious; an ID7 Tourer measures just a few centimeters shy of 5 meters. The claim seems to hold true: “The space for rear passengers in the ID7 is immense,” writes the owner of such a Volkswagen ID7 station wagon. The luggage space is also acceptable: “With the rear seats folded down and the roller cover neatly stored under the floor of the trunk, there seemed to be no end to the amount of stuff I could cram into my ID7.”
However, there are also critical notes. “Oddly enough, the luggage space isn’t much more than in the small Tesla Model 3,” writes the owner about his red ID7 Tourer GTX. “Used as I was to the enormous space under the trunk and the wonderful frunk, I miss both here.” A third ID7 Tourer driver agrees: “It is indeed a shame that the car doesn’t have a frunk.” The space for luggage and passengers does receive a high mark.
People are unanimously positive about the furniture of the large Volkswagen. “The seats are perfect,” is the short and powerful reaction from an ID7 Pro S Business driver. Another Pro S Business driver says the same thing with a little more detail: “The seats offer more than enough support, both front and rear – partly thanks to the adjustable seat of the front seats – and with the extensive massage function, you can easily stay in it for hours.”
Infotainment and Operation
A pain point of the Volkswagen ID series turned out to be the new infotainment. With the ID7, this problem seems to be largely resolved; according to most users, the operation is intuitive. “The large screen is easy to operate,” we read. “In the beginning, it takes a while to find the settings, but you get used to it (very) quickly.” Nevertheless, the user interface leads to some frustration for the following owner. “A few buttons would be handy. And then VW delights me with a few buttons (lights and windshield heating), and then they are just out of reach.”
Several users praise the ease of use of the head-up display. Even a former Tesla driver is full of praise. “The ID7 also does a good job. Fast, intuitive, and a lot of options to configure your own ID7. Maybe too many options.” The head-up display itself also gets applause. “It works flawlessly, and especially the navigation in your windshield is top-notch!” That doesn’t apply to the next driver: “I recommend fans of sunglasses with Polaroid lenses to use other lenses when using a car with a head-up display. The Polaroid lenses largely filter out the projection in the windshield.”
On the Road with the ID7
Drivers are quite positive about the handling of the large Volkswagen. “My car doesn’t have adjustable damping and is just comfortable to call it,” says the owner of an ID7 Pro Business. “The driving and rolling noises remain nicely in the background while the body sits like a block on the road.” The relatively low ground clearance of this car does have a disadvantage for this driver: “When entering some private basement garages, the bottom of the car hits the boundary between the curb and the entrance fairly easily, with a grinding noise that goes through marrow and bone as a result.”
The driver of the red ID7 GTX did opt for the adaptive suspension. “I don’t know the car without it, so I can’t compare, but it irons out all the bumps, or it goes tightly through the sharpest turn. Just a click on the screen. Wonderful, choices.” All this despite the choice for larger wheels. “The 21-inch wheels were a conscious choice to bring the proportions even more into proportion. They also drive great! At no point does the car stand out negatively. Neither on long waves nor on cobblestones.”
The owner of an ID7 Limousine is also very satisfied with the driving characteristics of his EV. “Steering? I have nothing to criticize. Little feeling, but they always say that about Mercedes as well. The average comfort rider isn’t so concerned about that at all; he primarily wants a calm feeling, and that’s what you get.” Almost without exception, people mention the silence on board the ID7. “The car drives very well, extremely comfortable and whisper-quiet,” reports the owner of an ID7 Pro S Business.
The driving assistance systems generally work well, but not always flawlessly. “ACC on the highway does it better with Volkswagen than with Tesla: less hands-free, but when overtaking, for example, with Volkswagen, the ACC simply takes over again,” writes the ex-Tesla driver. Another reports: “The software regularly intervenes by suddenly braking fully, apparently because danger is seen in the bushes that are along the driveway.”
Malfunctions and Irritations
Many users have completed the first year, some share their experiences after a few months or a few thousand kilometers. You can argue that that is not enough for a good review, yet previous new models showed that the first kilometers were the bumpiest.
With the Volkswagen ID7, that is considerably better, although it is not completely bug-free. “Once, the charging cable would not unlock. When I turn the car off and on again, everything works again,” says the owner of an ID7 Limousine from 2024. The owner of an ID7 Tourer from this year can also live with it well. “It is a driving computer, so there is sometimes an error message, but so far without major problems. You sometimes read other reports about the ID series from Volkswagen, but I have no serious complaints so far.”
Unfortunately, the driver of the red ID7 GTX meets a different fate. “When fast charging (aka DC charging), the car breaks off the attempt after 1 to a maximum of 3 minutes.” After having been at the dealer for more than two months, there is light at the end of the tunnel: “The biggest problem was not being able to fast charge, and that seems to be solved,” writes the driver in a response. “It also seems to be limited to a certain batch of GTXs.”
Consumption and Range
So far, the ID7 seems to immediately convince its users in the vast majority of cases, a boost for Volkswagen. That conviction even remains when we mention the most discussed EV topics: energy consumption and range. The ID7, delivered with a 77 kWh or even 86 kWh battery pack, is economical with power.
The owner of an ID7 Limousine with the large battery provides insight: “I recently achieved a consumption of 14.3 kWh/100 km with a tailwind, 14 degrees Celsius and at 100 km per hour on the highway. That would mean a total driving range of 601 kilometers. On the way back with the same speed but with headwinds, a consumption of 16.7 kWh/100 km was achieved. Still neat, but I was surprised that the wind makes such a difference.” An ID7 Tourer driver adds: “In the winter months, consumption averages around 20 kWh/100 km. With the warmer days in March 2025, this is considerably better. Here, consumption drops to an average of 15 kWh/100 km.”
Anyone who can do a little math easily distills an average from this, which becomes almost reality for the following owner. “Even in this colder period, consumption is more than satisfactory,” writes the owner of an ID7 Tourer 77 kWh. “On average, I am now at 17.2 kWh per 100 km, and that over more than 12,000 km since the purchase in August 2024.”
So it looks good for this large German. It turns out to be very spacious, very comfortable, economical, and much more reliable than predecessors in the ID series. Based on the first user experiences, the large ID7 seems to be Volkswagen’s electric top model in several respects.