February 2024 was an exciting time for electric cars – particularly because it saw the announcement of the VW ID.7 Tourer and the BMW i5 Touring. Can you imagine – two quality electric estates announced in the same month, plumping up a segment of the market that was looking a little flat.
Well contain yourselves, estate car fans, because there’s now a Volkswagen ID.7 GTX. Sure, most of VW’s discourse around this launch focuses on the saloon version, but we all know that it’s the hot estate version that’s going to turn heads.
If I’ve not made it abundantly clear, I’m a huge fan of estate cars. That’s not because I’m old fashioned (I might be) and haven’t adopted the trend for SUVs. It’s because I genuinely feel that estate cars are better. Just look at it.
IMAGE CREDIT: VOLKSWAGEN
I don’t think estate cars have a dowdy image – evoking memories of inefficient station wagons from the 1980s – all I see is the comfort and practicality. The spacious cabin, the ease with which you can transport a dog and your baggage for a weekend away – or indeed stuff it to the brim for a long camping holiday in the south of France. Pound for pound, the estate packs a bigger punch than an SUV, while often being more efficient and more dynamic when driving too.
Now that you’re sold, what does the VW ID.7 GTX have to offer?
That brings me to the ID.7 GTX. For those not familiar with GTX, that’s the moniker that VW puts on its most powerful models. It started with the ID.5 GTX, but now there are GTX versions that appear, regular as clockwork, after the launch of a new ID model. GTX, importantly, shifts those models from two-wheel drive to all-wheel drive, something that’s comparatively easy in electric cars, as you just add a second motor.
For the ID.7 GTX, this sees the power at 250kW from the two motors, with 210kW on the rear axle and 80kW on the front. The GTX also gets VW’s 4MOTION designation as the power is managed between front and rear to provide optimal performance. Compared the VW ID.7 Pro, that’s 40kW more power.
Four essential ID.7 GTX Tourer stats
250
kW
The 250kW peak power makes this the most powerful VW estate yet. That’s not so hard when this is the spiritual successor to the Passat.
5.5
seconds
The ID.7 GTX Tourer will do 0-63mph in 5.5 seconds. The ID.7 GTX saloon will do it in 5.4 seconds.
200
kW
With boosted charging speeds, you’ll be back on the road in no time. There’s a big 86kWh (net) battery in the GTX.
605
litres
When talking estates, luggage space matters. The 605 litres makes for more space than a BMW i5 Touring.
The result is that you’ll get increased towing capability – up to 1,400kg – while the saloon version (or fastback as VW calls it) will do 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds. The Tourer (the mighty estate), will do 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds.
That’s not hugely fast – it’s slower than the AWD Tesla Model 3 for example – while the 369 miles of range from the 86kWh (net) battery in the saloon is useful and compares favourably with the figures for the BMW i5; the Tourer model will cover 363 miles from a single charge, a little less.
The ID.7 GTX gets a bump in charging to 200kW (from 175kW) meaning you’re getting a little more for your money here too, with VW saying that you can charge from 10-80 per cent in 26 minutes.
The GTX also comes at a higher level of trim than other models, so much more standard equipment, while there’s exclusive GTX styling too. It will roll out with 20-inch wheels, IQ.Light LED matrix headlights and illuminated VW logos front and rear. There’s GTX branding scattered about the interior, on the steering wheel and seats, for example, as well as on the sills and exterior.
IMAGE CREDIT: VOLKSWAGEN
Wireless connectivity with your smartphone and an augmented reality heads-up display are standard, while the ChatGPT-aided IDA voice assistant is also present to serve your every need.
The ID.7 GTX Tourer is, according to VW, the most powerful of Volkswagen estates. It will accommodate 605 litres of luggage (or just a massive dog) while carrying five passengers, and you can carry 75kg on the roof.
When I last discussed these cars, I said I wasn’t able to compare the performance of the ID.7 GTX Tourer with the BMW i5 M60 xDrive Touring. Well now I can and it’s perhaps a comparison to gloss over, because the BMW i5 M60 xDrive Touring remains formidable. I suspect it will be down to the Audi Avant A6 e-tron to rival the performance that BMW is laying down.
UK pricing isn’t available at the time of writing, but pre-sales start in Germany from 6 June 2024, with prices starting from €63,155 for the saloon and €63,955 for the Tourer.
