Volkswagen’s new ID.7 Tourer electric estate challenger goes on sale this week, priced at £52,240.

The premium load lugger joins the existing ID.7 fastback, offering “bags of space”

It’s the brand’s first-ever battery electric estate vehicle, joining the burgeoning sector as a rival to the BMW i5 Touring and upcoming Audi A6 E-tron Avant.

The premium load lugger joins the existing ID.7 fastback and is expected to appeal through “bags of space” and leading aerodynamic efficiency thanks to its sleek design. It also delivers an electric alternative to the new ICE and PHEV Passat estates.

First to arrive is the ID.7 Tourer Pro Match variant, which features a 286hp rear-mounted motor and a 77kWh battery, giving a forecast WLTP range of 374 miles and able to charge at up to 175kW.

It will be joined in the summer by the Pro S – complete with a larger 86kWh battery with a projected range of about 425 miles and a charge rate of up to 200kW.

The sporty GTX all-wheel drive model will also arrive this summer, featuring the 77kWh battery and a dual-motor all-wheel drive system, as with the ID.4 GTX and ID.5 GTX. This lifts power to 340hp.

Boot space for the ID.7 Tourer stands at up to 605 litres, leaping to 1,714 litres with the rear seats folded down. This also delivers a near 2m-long load area.

Design features on standard models include LED headlights and LED tail light clusters, roof rails and diamond-cut 19-inch alloy wheels. It also gains an illuminated Volkswagen logo at both the front and the rear compared to its fastback sibling.

The interior comes with premium materials, intelligent automatic air conditioning with smart air vents, and optional ergoActive heated front seats with pressure point massage. An optional panoramic sunroof with smart glass that can switch between opaque and transparent electronically is also available.

Standard equipment includes 15-inch infotainment screen with IDA voice assistant and the arrival of AI technology via ChatGPT in the future.

The ID.7 Tourer also delivers keyless locking and starting, luggage partition net, 30-colour ambient lighting, heated multi-function steering wheel, Discover Pro navigation system, an enhanced augmented-reality head-up display and a rear-view camera.