Volkswagen’s kicking-and-screaming, white-knuckle, clutching-at-the-doorframe-while-being-dragged-by-the-legs foray into the world of EVs hasn’t impressed me much. I reviewed the ID.5 and hated it. It felt like Volkswagen outsourced the design and engineering to Renault—so poor was the execution.

Unfortunately, VW is starting to improve—but they’re doing it in gaga-goo-goo baby steps. Why is that unfortunate? Because any chance to bash VW, we take it, and sadly, on this occasion, we are somewhat limited.

The Volkswagen ID.7

The Volkswagen ID.7 is meant to be a direct replacement for the Passat. The Passat was as bland and mundane as VW gets—but solid inside and out. The interior, especially, felt executive-class, even if motoring journalists dismissed it as boring. But don’t listen to motoring journalists—many of whom are either paid to lie or held hostage by the… NEW CAR PRESS LAUNCH!

UK buyers currently have six trims to choose from and more options than an all-you-can-eat buffet—except here, you pay for every extra. Prices start at £51K for the RWD 77kWh saloon, climbing to £62K for the 86kWh dual-motor GTX 4Motion. The 86kWh battery adds another £4K to the spec price. There’s also an estate version—but honestly, the sedan looks better and has a liftgate boot anyway, which makes it just as practical.

The Interior

If the ID.7 is the replacement for the Passat, then I’m a replacement for Albert Einstein.

Stepping into the ID.7’s cabin, I immediately felt the cost-cutting. Sure, build quality is still solid, but it falls far short of the previous-gen Passat. And that’s depressing, because the entry-level price for this car currently stands at £51,000.

We had the bloody irritating Arteon on long-term test—which shared a Passat interior. In my opinion, it was every bit as good as an Audi or BMW in terms of build quality and material choice. At least it’s spacious inside, easily accommodating taller passengers in the rear, and when the hallowed rear seats are folded flat, you know what? You get a lot of space, who would have thought it!

Chinese EVs are offering better, plusher interiors for less. I’m not dropping £51K to sit on the roof and admire my new car from above—I’m driving it. From behind the wheel, I want to feel like I’m in a £51,000 machine. Instead, it feels more like a VW T-Cross.

The Infotainment System

Still bad to the bone—but getting better. Slightly. Thankfully, it supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so you can sidestep VW’s bloated software.

Shame the hardware feels like it was specced during the Neolithic era.

The Exterior

I actually like the understated styling. It’s a big car—bordering on MPV territory, which is down to EV packaging.

To give you a sense of size, it’s almost as long as a Mercedes S-Class, but taller. Somehow, VW has styled it to hide its bulk—almost like it’s been shrink-wrapped. It rides on 19-inch alloys as standard with wheel sizes going no bigger that 20-inches.

The Drive

VW doesn’t exactly excel at suspension—we discovered that with the Bloody Awful Tiguan and the Bloody Irritating Arteon. But the ID.7 surprised me. It feels solid, gliding over potholes and broken roads without tossing you around like a ragdoll.

This is the bare minimum I expect from VW. I don’t want a car with suspension tuned to impress UK motoring journalists. I’m not after a razor-sharp ride—I just want comfort and ease. And here, finally, VW delivers a step in the right direction.

There’s just enough power from the electric motor to deliver decent pace. Regardless of the battery size, you get 282 bhp and of 545Nm of torque.

Efficiency

VW’s past attempts at EV efficiency were extremely sub-standard. Winter or summer, it didn’t matter—the range was garbage.

But I’m sad to report they’ve made big gains. And I say “sad” because I’m at my happiest debunking VW myths and folklore. Yet here I am, through gritted teeth, admitting they’ve finally built a winter-proof EV.

The ID.7 easily gets 300 miles on a full charge—even in colder temps. By comparison, the ID.5 I tested previously, barely managed 140 miles in winter, and that was with conservative driving.

It’s got all the usual driving modes, but to be honest—I use them less and less these days. They’re like toys kids play with for five minutes and then ignore.

The Verdict

It drives well. It’s efficient. It has solid range. But that’s not enough.

Yes, it’s packed with the latest tech and semi-autonomous safety features—most of which work most of the time.

But that interior? A huge letdown. VW cut costs in all the wrong places. This was supposed to be the new Passat. Instead, it feels like a new downgrade. I’m not paying £51K for a cabin that feels subpar when the Tesla Model 3 offers a more premium interior, thanks to better materials throughout.

VW, you took me to the promised land… and left me in the desert to rot. You let the vultures circle.

So here’s my advice: if you want a large, practical electric sedan—look elsewhere. Or wait until the ID.7 hits the used market. Because this thing is going to depreciate like a tank sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Then—maybe—it’ll be worth a look.