• 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 enough trimmed to sit comfortably atop the Volkswagen range. It’s well-trimmed in tasteful colours and materials, and comes across as inviting in a way the ID.4 and 5 simply aren’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 mean 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.

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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 current Volkswagen products. You can actually see where to swipe now, 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 wit 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.

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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, cooling and massaging function available. 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.