• Dashboard dominated by huge screen
• Touch controls cover most functions
• Big improvements over other ID models

How is the quality and layout?

The ID.7 is well trimmed with tasteful colours and materials to sit comfortably atop the Volkswagen range and comes across as inviting in a way the ID.4 and ID.5 simply don’t. Many of the touchpoints are nice, with the steering wheel and seat facings feeling suitably premium, but there are some hard plastics that jar if you go looking.

In ID fashion, the speedometer and other vital functions are displayed on a small screen ahead of the driver, with most of the other controls handled by the central 15.0-inch touchscreen. There are some quick keys for items such as seat heating and cooling, but for most other functions, you’re back to the big screen. It could be worse, though, because its sheer size means on-screen functions aren’t too evasive for stabbing fingers.

And praise be, the infotainment’s volume controls have been improved. The volume bar is now backlit, and you can see where to swipe at night, while the climate controls are now permanently featured on the bright 15.0-inch infotainment screen.

The GTX brings a dose of extra sportiness courtesy of its microsuede upholstery and red stitching and piping across the seats, steering wheel and dashboard. It helps to lift the interior quite significantly.

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Infotainment and tech

Volkswagen’s most recent infotainment system is the company’s technical Achilles heel, but the ID.7 represents the firm’s first opportunity to fix some of its mistakes. And it seems to have been successful, with previous gripes being addressed successfully.

The result is much better than other current Volkswagen products, and doing something as simple as changing the cabin temperature doesn’t take four screens of prodding. It is now possible to create your own ‘tiled’ home screens, and you can also customise a ‘car control centre.’

Volkswagen’s ‘Smart Air Vents’ are still a baffling feature – what is wrong with physical controls for these? Instead, they can only be moved via the touchscreen. In other words, if you want to change the direction of the vents you’ll need to go into a dedicated screen and drag each one, or call out a setting to the car’s voice assistant.

We also love the optional ‘darkening’ panoramic glass roof available on the ID.7, which floods the cabin with light yet at the press of a button can turn opaque without the need for a sunblind, helping to free up headroom.

Comfort

• Excellent seats
• Good driving position
• Just as comfortable in the rear

The driving position is good and the front seats offer plenty of adjustment, with heating massaging functions included as standard, and ventilation with the top-spec GTX. They don’t feel particularly plush on first acquaintance but spend an extended period in them, and you’ll appreciate how supportive they are.

Comfort is aided by the fact that there is no transmission tunnel. So, there is plenty of space for feet and limbs, especially in the rear passenger compartment.