Volkswagen goes anti-Volvo, with all-electric ID.7 Tourer station wagon coming next year

Volkswagen ID.7 tourer
(Image credit: Volkswagen)

Volvo, arguably the main purveyor of the estate car, station wagon, shooting brake or whatever you want to call it, famously sent ripples across the automotive landscape earlier this year when it stated it would discontinue all of its saloon and estate models to focus solely on SUVs.

But what if you don’t want the jacked-up ride height of an SUV? What if you adore the elongated proportions of a good old-fashioned station wagon?  Well, Volkswagen has got your back, because it has said it will provide capacious trunk space in the form of the ID.7 Tourer that will arrive next year.

The ID.7 Tourer is wearing fairly heavy camouflage in the images Volkswagen is prepared to reveal right now, but the company says it offers 545-liters (19.2 cu ft) of storage space when five people are buckled up inside, or a massive 1,714 liters (60.5 cu ft) when the rear seats are folded flat.

Performance and electric range are yet to be confirmed, but we know the Tourer will be based on the ID.7 saloon, which itself manages 435 miles of range on a single charge when equipped with the larger 86kWh battery.

VW also says the camouflage foiling used to disguise the styling is based on the multi-layer paint of the ID.7 saloon. But cleverly, there are QR codes at the rear that seamlessly blend in with the covering – presumably so passers-by can get extra info on the upcoming model.

Volkswagen ID.7 tourer

(Image credit: Volkswagen)

Big boots to fill

News of the impending VW ID.7 Tourer is music to the ears of anyone wanting copious amounts of storage space, without the hulking frame of an SUV. With many EV manufacturers playing it safe with body styles, the elongated ID.7 could be the extra choice that sways some potential buyers.

In addition to this, BMW has confirmed it will be bringing an i5 Touring model to the electric line-up, with hints of a fiery M-Division model potentially becoming the high-performance all-electric estate car many have been dreaming of.

Could this mean Audi will also attempt to play catch-up with an RS6 e-tron? We can only keep toes and fingers crossed. And hey, maybe even Volvo will pull a u-turn on its decision to walk away from arguably one of its most iconic body styles.

You might also like

Leon Poultney
EVs correspondent

Leon has been navigating a world where automotive and tech collide for almost 20 years, reporting on everything from in-car entertainment to robotised manufacturing plants. Currently, EVs are the focus of his attentions, but give it a few years and it will be electric vertical take-off and landing craft. Outside of work hours, he can be found tinkering with distinctly analogue motorcycles, because electric motors are no replacement for an old Honda inline four.

Read more
Kia EV9
Exciting new EVs are coming in 2025: here’s what you need to know
Volkswagen ID.EVERY1 Concept Car
Volkswagen reveals the ID.1 concept car, which will spawn its cheapest all-electric model to date
Hyundai Ioniq 9 Test Drive Korea
I've driven Hyundai's enormous Ioniq 9 – and it's the most luxurious EV the brand has ever made
Polestar Cars Line-up 2025
The Polestar 7 SUV is coming in 2026 – and it wants to take the fight to Tesla's Model Y
VW ID.One
Volkswagen teases new EV that's set to become the cheapest it's ever made
Volvo ES90 Teaser Images
Road trips ahoy! Volvo says its upcoming ES90 will offer up to 435 miles of range
Latest in Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
Mercedes-Benz CLA 2025
I’ve tried the new Mercedes-Benz Superscreen – and its Google Gemini-powered smarts push EV infotainment to the next level
The Toyota FT-Me Concept sitting in a car park
Toyota's self-charging concept EV could help you tackle the daily commute on solar power alone
Nissan EvolvAD Autonomous Drive on the road
I’ve tried Nissan’s latest advanced driverless technology – and it handles 60mph on rural roads better than most humans
Rivian R1T
Big Rivian update delivers hands-off driving to rival Tesla Autopilot – and a new 'Rally' mode
The Deepal EO7 from the side, an SUV and pick-up truck combo
I drove an electric SUV that transforms into a pick-up, and it’s as fun as it is functional
Tesla Model 3
Tesla's EV sales are plummeting – as used Model Y and Model 3 prices crash to bargain levels
Latest in News
Google Pixel 8a in aloe green showing
Google Pixel 9a benchmark link teases the performance of the upcoming mid-ranger
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #1148)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #379)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #645)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro HANDS ON
Leaked iPhone 17 dummy units may have given us our best look yet at all four models
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over