As the sports utility format began its inexorable march to dominate the automotive mainstream, it was wagons that first fell by the wayside. Sedans and compacts held on longer, but none could stand in the way of the SUV. While largely dead in the U.S. , in Europe, tastes are a little different. There is still room for a big ol’ wagon, it seems, as Volkswagen is pushing forward with the ID.7 Tourer.
It’s Volkswagen’s first electric wagon, and a pleasant sign of good things to come. The complexities of the EV transition could have seen automakers looking for an excuse to cut bodystyles, but Volkswagen didn’t go that route. Instead, it’s brought us a beautiful long-roof design that’s humble, well-turned out, and modern all at once.
Let’s talk numbers. Volkswagen has stated that the ID.7 is a flagship amongst its EV models, and thus the wagon version measures up well. It’s available with ranges up to 425 miles (685 km) on the WLTP cycle. It’ll recharge at up to 200 kW on a DC fast charger, and can go from 10 percent to 80 percent charge in “significantly less than 30 minutes.” Plus, you get the glorious storage space that wagons are so beloved for. Feel free to stock up at Ikea, because this thing has a volume of 21.4 cubic feet (605 liters) in the back, or a mighty 60 cubic feet (1,714 liters) with the seats down. In this configuration, Volkswagen notes the load area is almost 6.5 feet (2 meters) long.
It bears noting that range is slightly down on the fastback sedan, which will achieve 434 miles in its longest range trim. Ultimately, though, you’re trading 9 miles of range for a heck of a lot more practicality, so it’s not a wildly difficult call to make.
Oh, and joy of joys—you can option it with a roof box! There’s an aero penalty to pay, but you’ll get an additional 16.2 cubic feet (460 liters) of storage for whatever silly nonsense you can dream up. Want to bring enough kettle corn to a soccer game for both the home and away fans? This is the EV to do it in.
Power is naturally the same as the ID.7 sedan. The single-motor setup delivers 282 horsepower and 402 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. That’s plenty to get you zooming along a European motorway at some ludicrous three-digit speed. Just don’t expect to do the same in the U.S., because this broad and storied nation will not be receiving the wagon version of the ID.7.
Forever moving with the times, Volkswagen will also offer ChatGPT functionality in the ID.7 tourer. It’s a part of the IDA voice assistant, which is designed to handle queries in natural language. According to the German automaker, it’s intended to do more than typical automotive voice systems. “Within the system limits, this not only enables control of many vehicle functions, but also answers specific questions on all conceivable subjects by accessing online databases and features new integration of ChatGPT,” reads the release. So, if you’re driving along and want to hear some wildly inaccurate scientific facts, your wagon might just be able to deliver. You can leave your crazy drug-addled older cousins at home, you won’t need them anymore!
A nicer touch is the panoramic sunroof, which will be an option on the model. It uses liquid crystal technology to turn opaque or transparent at the touch of a button, a feature previously seen on various concept and luxury vehicles. Beyond that, Volkswagen have made it clear that the vehicle will feature a high level of standard equipment, as per the existing ID.7 models. It will have details like motorized air vents, massaging seats, and a special “Wellness In-Car” app that changes interior settings to “enhance well-being” for the driver and passengers. The latter can control features like interior lighting, air conditioning, and seat massage to help the occupants Fresh Up, Calm Down, or take a Power Break, depending on the configured mode.
U.S. customers will have to look wistfully across the Atlantic and make do with the ID.7 fastback sedan when it arrives in the second half of 2024. Even if it’s not coming stateside, though, we have to commend Volkswagen for continuing to bring new wagons into the world. May they roll ever forth.
Image credits: Volkswagen
As an American who is in the market for a new EV but I want something with more storage space this looks great… Except we don’t get nice things here.
Your loss VW, wagon would have been on the short list of potential cars. The sedan isn’t even a blip because I already have a sedan and don’t need another.
Worth pointing out that the ‘sedan’ is actually a liftback, which improves practicality a huge amount over a conventional sedan.
But it also looks awkward compared to the wagon, and is also going to be a lot less practical than it too. I know which one I’d buy.
At some point, automakers decided U.S. Market wagons should only exist as luxury vehicles for the well heeled while the rest of us are happier riding high in boxy or egg shaped CUVs with compromised horizontal storage space and third rows shoehorned into impossibly tight spaces.
Based no this mindset, this VW will never come stateside; and even if it does, it will meet the same fate as the Regal Tour X: overpriced, minimally marketed, then fail with the buying public taking the blame.
A wagon it may be, but it still has the ID.otic controls characteristic of VWs of late:
The whole time reading this I was asking “Will it come to America?” and every line in which the answerer “no” was delayed was a waste of time.
VOLKSWAGEN IS PROVING NOTHING, America is the only place wagons are dead, and a headline like this only strings us along with false hope only to disappoint.
Yeah yeah Europe gets another interesting vehicle whose manufacturer is too boring to bring to the states. At this point you can’t even argue wagons couldn’t sell in the States because there are no wagons to sell in the first place! If you don’t give consumers the ability to choose wagons, of course they won’t choose wagons.
As a diesel VW wagon owner (and daily driver) I’m very interested in some sort of EV wagon to replace it at some point, but my hopes are perpetually crushed by these “not for US” announcements.
I guess my only option is to keep my wagon and hope that a gallon of diesel won’t go over $20 in my lifetime..
Or somehow convert it into an EV or PHEV…
Nah, an EV conversion wouldn’t make any sense for a car where its engine will outlast the rest of it a few times over. At its current 170k miles the only work on the engine was the regular timing belt service at 130k.
I live in Chicago, so even though VW galvanized its body, I’m sure the salt will eventually win.
That’s interesting, what year is your VW? I only know of gas engine VW reliability being crap, but that diesel sounds like it’s not at all bad.
2015, the only year VW sold a diesel Mk7 Golf here (also the last year they sold a diesel here).
I also have a modded & tuned 2017 GTI that I run 30psi of boost through on the track, on stock engine & stock turbo. At 60k miles runs great and doesn’t burn a drop of oil.
I think the Mk7 Golfs are quite good, unlike Mk4, 5 and even 6. You still gotta maintain them, if you’re only used to putting some canola oil every couple of years in a Corolla engine, then german cars are not for you 🙂
Still. Only. Two. Freaking. Power. Window. Switches.
I’m gutted that they’re still pulling this Ux shit. Sincerely this would be at the top of my EV list. But the current VW Ux is a dealbreaker.
Not coming to the US? And over $60k (probably significantly?). I wish VW was interested in selling me a car I’d like to drive… for a reasonable amount of money.
Shame. It looks nice.
Oh wait… Chat GTP? Oh hells no. Never mind.
Your AI overlord disapproves of your rejection of him. All bow to Chat GTP!
That’s the body style I want for an EV. But even if it came here, expecting it’d be outside my price range.
F You, VW
This won’t come from to the US because it will cannibalize a few ID4 sales.
Also, modern CUV’s are slowly becoming butch wagons. A Trax is 61″ tall. My sedan is 58″ tall. Not much of a difference.