- U.S. spec is 3-row, 10 in. longer than Euro model out two years in the past
- Bigger 91-kwh battery pack, higher-power rear motor
- EPA vary as much as 234 miles, 10-80% in 26 min.
- Begins at $61,545, spans to $71,545 for high 1st Version AWD
VW’s electrical Bus reboot is lastly arriving within the U.S.. And by design, it’s laborious to think about a greater method that VW may need positioned an electrical van for the previous and the long run, unexpectedly.
All people needs one. Certain, it’s late and it’s been wracked by a long time of false begins and idea autos, and by now the unique Hippies could have ended their touring days. However throughout generations, everybody has tales and feels tinges of nostalgia upon seeing the nostril of this van and the signature two-tone themes.
This previous week I drove the ID.Buzz not in San Francisco however on the agricultural again roads and thru the suburban communities of north Georgia. Based mostly on the range of questions, gawkers, and thumbs-ups—love from a tattered Tacoma, an Explorer, and a Cybertruck—it took all of 10 minutes to see that mass-market demand for this factor past “blue” America and counterculture hotpots is on the verge of boiling.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
The ID.Buzz will get smiles all over the place it goes and hums above the frequency of American EV discord, and whether or not or not it’s electrical, which isn’t any small feat this election yr. In fact it’s electrical, and who cares if it’s electrical, unexpectedly.
If VW was fretting in regards to the timing, it made me marvel if the late arrival helps this factor notice its potential—as a result of the ID.Buzz isn’t an ungainly, two-dimensional homage to the previous.
ID.Buzz styling hits highs, received’t harsh your mellow
Not like a protracted listing of autos in current automotive historical past—together with, let’s be trustworthy, VW’s New Beetle—the Buzz doesn’t push its retro waves so insistently that it harshes your mellow. The Buzz gives simply the correct amount of retro-fun on the skin, however contained in the Buzz is only a nice van that takes full benefit of its EV platform.
The ‘50s and ‘60s air-cooled cues could also be there, however from the within out, from any angle however the entrance, the Buzz is extra a reboot of the Eurovan system. It’s (nearly) a flat-floor field on wheels, with three rows of seating, good for as much as seven, and an enormous quantity of versatility and cargo area.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
In U.S. type, the ID.Buzz is obtainable in a collection of seven totally different two-tone schemes pairing numerous colours with white, or a Cherry Crimson-and-gray two-tone, or monochromatic white, grey, or black. And for now and the foreseeable future the ID.Buzz involves the U.S. solely on this three-row type, with an general size of 195.4 inches, driving on a really lengthy wheelbase of 127.5 inches. Its general peak of 76.2 inches makes it about 10 inches taller general than VW’s ID.4 crossover, whereas nonetheless providing 6.1 inches of floor clearance that ought to be simply fantastic for getting down two-tracks on the way in which to campsites or trailheads.
VW ID.Buzz impressions: Fast and quiet, exact however heavy
VW determined sooner or later that it couldn’t launch the ID.Buzz within the U.S. with its authentic standard-wheelbase type issue—thus including two lengthy years to its arrival date. So for us, the upgrades embrace a few 10-inch stretch, a brand new infotainment interface, software program enhancements, and a extra highly effective rear motor—in addition to a much bigger 91-kwh battery (vs. the 82-kwh pack in these Euro variations).
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
How does the ID.Buzz drive? In a phrase: heavy. Sure, you do really feel all three tons. It’s additionally softly sprung, and clearly tuned extra for a compliant experience than for dealing with. However due to the low heart of gravity and exact steering, it’s by no means a handful. And in the event you’ve finished loads of drive time in full-size, truck-based vans and minivans alike, it’s a driving expertise that’s clearly within the minivan zone. The ID.Buzz is sort of huge, at 78.1 inches with out the mirrors, and on the slim Georgia backroads, with no shoulder, I appreciated its predictable conduct and simple lane placement.
In parking tons, the identical factor goes, inside the actuality that it’s each bit so long as some three-row SUVs. In single-motor rear-wheel-drive type because the one I drove, the turning circle is a tremendous 37.4 toes, though AWD variations will increase that to 42.7 toes. Having actual, old style, through-the-windows outward imaginative and prescient—past digital camera programs and beeping sensors—actually helps.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
Whereas VW hasn’t outlined any critical adjustments to suspension tuning in refreshing this mannequin for the U.S., this ID.Buzz didn’t present as a lot nosedive below laborious braking as we skilled with a drive within the shorter model a pair years in the past—maybe a good thing about the longer physique.
The ID.Buzz will get VW’s personal uprated electrical drive unit (known as AP550 and now used within the 2024 VW ID.4) on the rear wheels, making 282 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. These upcoming AWD variations will get the identical drive unit on the rear wheels plus an inductive motor on the entrance wheels, making 99 lb-ft of torque and upping the overall output to 335 hp.
Though one editor who drove the ID.Buzz known as it sluggish, I discovered it to be lots perky with the single-motor setup. 0-60 mph occasions might be 6.0 seconds in dual-motor type, in keeping with VW, whereas rear-wheel-drive variations just like the one we drove take it to about 7.5 seconds. Towing capability for the ID.Buzz is 2,600 kilos for a braked trailer, or 1,650 kilos unbraked.
Sure, it’s heavy. Even in its leaner rear-wheel-drive type that we test-drove, it formally weighed in at simply 32 kilos in need of three tons. Add the dual-motor AWD setup and also you’re at 6,197 kilos.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
ID.Buzz vary and effectivity
As in different VW EV merchandise, a twist of the shifter permits entry to both the ‘D’ mode, which helps you to glide with minimal regeneration, or the ‘B’ mode, which dials up regen considerably however stays fairly gentle. Switching the drive mode to Sport makes every of those ranges barely greater, with Sport and ‘B’ companion for hilly, twisty roads, however there’s nonetheless nothing fairly like a one-pedal mode right here. However brake pedal really feel and mixing are precisely what they must be—predictable and progressive.
VW says that the ID.Buzz will get 2.5 miles per kwh (83 MPGe) mixed, with the EPA freeway cycle yielding 2.2 mi/kwh (75 MPGe). In a 110-mile loop up into low mountains, together with some U.S. freeway speeds, fast-moving backroads, and mid-speed suburban streets, with exterior temps round 50 levels Fahrenheit, I averaged 2.6 mi/kwh in keeping with the journey laptop. Then, on an easygoing freeway cruise, most of it fairly stage at 65-70 mph, I averaged 2.4 mi/kwh.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
We charged the ID.Buzz, too, with Stage 2 charging that flexed its 11-kw onboard charger, and with some DC fast-charging. In an expertise that admittedly wouldn’t mimic what most house owners would have on a highway journey, we plugged a 160-kw CCS connector in at 44% and nonetheless noticed a peak of 117 kw round 49%, with the state of cost reaching 90% in a few half-hour. VW says that DC quick charging at as much as 200 kw permits a 10-80% cost in as little as 26 minutes.
In all, whereas a 100% cost quantities to as little as 191 miles in keeping with the gauge cluster, we noticed higher, with our outcomes roughly akin to the Buzz’s EPA vary score of 234 miles (or 231 mi. in AWD type).
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
Journey planning is constructed into the native navigation system, and it’ll begin preconditioning of the battery pack to entry the utmost cost price mechanically with a charging cease alongside the route, or with a press of the digital button on the display screen. And if you wish to bypass all of it and go along with the mapping app of your alternative, you may nonetheless pair your telephone for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. I combined it up between CarPlay and the built-in interface, and either side labored nice.
Buzz bins of flexibility, area, tech right here
The three-row VW ID.Buzz additionally has a number of flexibility in door bins and numerous storage locations. The tall console between the entrance seats can elevate utterly out of the car, as a type of mini-cooler if you want, and the pull-out drawer with cupholders and extra storage stows away neatly to maintain it feeling ethereal and spacious. Two ranges of door bins and a splash tray offer you loads of area for the smaller items of a highway journey.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
I discovered the grippy telephone shelf simply to the proper of the steering wheel to be a perfect place for my telephone to cost wirelessly with out sliding round. And within the effort to equipment this mannequin out a bit higher for 3 rows, there at the moment are eight USB-C ports on board. Entrance seats are heated, cooled, and power-adjusted, offering an inbound armrest plus an upright driving place and the type of again assist I like for longer journeys.
The sliding door powers open and closed in a method you’ll discover completely acquainted in the event you ever had premium minivans within the family—and, it simply barely stays out of the way in which of charging-in-progress, we discovered. The most important alternative ID.Buzz patrons would possibly face would be the seating structure—buying and selling out the center bench in our mannequin for second-row captain’s chairs and a six-passenger capability (the one method for AWD variations).
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
Though the far-back cargo space of the Buzz seems a bit unusual at first look, with baskets beneath a sturdy hinged door, the folded third row, and the folded second row all line up on the identical stage—save for a niche of some inches between the second and third row. If you wish to sleep within the factor, that’s nothing piece of plywood received’t remedy. Take away the seats—they’re heavy—and the rearmost part bumps as much as once more require some type of level-up, in the event you plan to sleep, reside, or in any other case inhabit this car for one thing different than simply driving.
VW is guessing that almost all of Buzz clients will come from “giant SUVs.” It boasts extra inside area than the Atlas, within the footprint of a Cross Sport. VW additionally claims best-in-industry third-row legroom versus. different American-market autos.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
One factor VW has carried over from the ID.4 and the Euro-spec ID.Buzz is its one-fits-all energy window controls, combining the entrance and rear window operation—for the in any other case very cool rear window-within-a-window in again—into one swap. Right here it’s much more doubtlessly overwhelming and complicated. VW, why did you topic us to this?
My solely different dynamic gripe follows what’s in any other case a praise—the absence of engine noise and nice isolation of road-surface noise. Simply above 65 mph we seen some whooshing wind noise within the zone between the entrance pillar and the facet mirror, which wound itself nearly to a whistle by 80 mph. I ought to word the model I drove was nonetheless formally a pre-production prototype, so window sealing could not have been as much as manufacturing snuff.
The ID.Buzz, in U.S. type, achieves a coefficient of drag of 0.29, in keeping with VW, and the highest pace is as much as 99 mph (from 90 in earlier Euro variations).
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
ID.Buzz costs: The beginning of a nasty journey?
The pricing and positioning of the Buzz is the one unhealthy journey right here. It’s simply confounding
Due to the way in which it was applied—pragmatic inside, retro cues on the skin, however not overdone—the most important puzzle in all of that is how and why VW sees the ID.Buzz as a distinct segment mannequin.
The Buzz begins at $61,545, together with the $1,550 vacation spot payment, with the Professional S, which incorporates all of the active-safety tech, three-zone local weather management, an influence tailgate and energy sliding doorways, heated second-row outboard seats, and the faster, revamped 12.9-inch infotainment system. Professional S Plus variations add the retractable tow hitch, a head-up show, Harmon Kardon premium sound, and in AWD variations solely, the captain’s chairs structure and a heated windshield. The highest 1st Version prices $67,045 in single-motor type or $71,545 with AWD and provides the panoramic roof and two-tone look (optionally available individually), roof cross bars, and flooring mats.
Our check ID.Buzz, a Professional S Plus in Cabana Blue and Sweet White on the skin ($995 further), with a Dune inside and the optionally available $1,495 electrochromic panoramic roof—large, at 67.4 inches lengthy and 40.8 inches huge—provides as much as $67,535. That cup grew to become a pearlescent grey because the solar shone on it. VW says that and the retractable trailer hitch are firsts for the model in America.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
VW has no plans to construct the ID.Buzz within the U.S. anytime quickly, so there’s no hope for a $7,500 tax credit score. It didn’t even develop the Buzz by regular passenger-vehicle channels, as an alternative turning to its commercial-vehicles unit to comprehend this product—which looks like it ought to have been a Golf-like undertaking on the core of the corporate’s survival.
In 1965, when Microbus gross sales began to speed up and get wrapped into the counterculture, the common value of a brand new car was about $2,650, and the admittedly no-frills Microbus lineup topped out round $2,550. Based on the federal authorities’s official client worth index calculator, VW’s $2,550 then would equate to about $25,400.
Immediately, the common worth of a brand new car at the moment stands at round $48,000, and VW’s option to promote this car at 25% above that clearly underscores that they see it as a premium car, a distinct segment mannequin which will come and go.
However on this format, the ID.Buzz may command a market of 1 for years. Bear in mind when minivans made a design assertion? The Chevy Astro Van, the Ford Aerostar, the Pontiac Trans Sport and the opposite “dustbuster” vans from GM, the Toyota Previa: That is simply as head-turning, with endurance.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
The ID.Buzz actually wanted to be a just-the-basics $40,000 car, offered very like Scion was promoting its autos some years again, plus a modular inside and an countless lineup of official VW equipment. It will have offered like loopy—to companies, to youthful lively sorts, even to households looking for to have a car they will change the configuration of through the years—and it might have answered dealerships’ trepidation over the sustainability of the retail mannequin within the EV period.
As it’s, the ID.Buzz is a good product that limits the way forward for the model within the U.S. inside a ridiculously slim bandwidth.
Will priced-out ID.Buzz patrons purchase a Kia EV9 or base Rivian R1S as an alternative? Will VW sellers behave with their markups? Let the craziness start.
