2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz First Drive Evaluation

Now, you may lastly cease holding your breath. When you’re on the lookout for an all-new model of the basic people-mover, the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz is simply on the brink of roll into U.S. showrooms.

The German automaker has executed a surprisingly good job at selecting up the basic Microbus design cues, beginning with the blunt nostril adorned with an outsized “VW” brand. And don’t let the brand new van’s comparatively compact footprint idiot you. The inside is surprisingly roomy.

However there are some notable variations, beginning with Buzz’s all-electric drivetrain. And it’s not low-cost transportation. After factoring in supply charges, even the bottom mannequin tops $60,000 — although it presents numerous pleasant options they couldn’t have even imagined in the course of the Summer season of Love.

In brief: The 2025 VW ID.Buzz’s retro-futuristic seems are spot on; it’s acquired usable vary and is surprisingly enjoyable to drive. Creature comforts are spectacular, and it’s large enough to throw a mattress within the again for some correct VW van tenting.

2025 VW ID.Buzz Evaluation

As a long-time automotive journalist — and a good longer-term fan of the unique Volkswagen Microbus — I’ve misplaced rely of what number of instances the automaker rolled out ideas proclaiming to be the successor to the basic people-mover.

It got here oh so shut again in 2011 with the gas-powered Bulli. However solely with the debut of the all-electric 2016 BUDD-e did it lastly appear to be a revival was actually going to occur. The 2017 ID.Buzz idea nailed it, and the general public acclaim satisfied Volkswagen to substantiate manufacturing plans later that 12 months.

By now, you is likely to be questioning what occurred. Effectively, the German automaker truly rolled out a manufacturing model almost 2 years in the past … in Europe. That model has a brief wheelbase, a notably underpowered drivetrain with barely acceptable vary, minimal creature comforts, and simply two rows of seats.

So, whereas we’ve needed to sit on our fingers ready for the true Microbus inheritor to cross the Atlantic, I believe most potential patrons will discover the wait nicely price it. The American model of the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz is a worthy successor.

The retro-futuristic seems are spot on. It’s acquired a much bigger battery pack, and even the bottom, rear-drive mannequin is surprisingly enjoyable to drive. There are creature comforts your hippie (grand)mother and father couldn’t have imagined. And there’s greater than sufficient room to throw a mattress within the again do you have to need to relive previous adventures.

Getting the Design Proper

Volkswagen made a smart alternative delaying the U.S. launch of the ID.Buzz. Whereas the two-row European package deal did seize a number of the basic Microbus design cues, it takes the third row to stretch the van out to its correct dimensions.

That stated, at barely 195 inches, bumper-to-bumper, it’s 2 inches shorter than the all-electric Kia EV9, but presents considerably extra inside house. How rather more? It will blow your thoughts, as they’d have stated when the unique Microbus was round: a full 146 cubic ft — which is greater than what the 226-inch-long Chevrolet Suburban presents.

And, as I already famous, the Buzz is designed, like the unique Microbus, to provide house owners loads of flexibility. The rear bench is detachable, for one factor, making it straightforward to show this right into a camper.

The outside design could be regarded as retro-futuristic. VW stylists clearly needed to supply a paean to the previous with particulars such because the comparatively flat nostril and the general form of the Buzz. It provides fashionable particulars, like sliding doorways, and, critically, the blunt face is designed to soak up crash forces, not like the unique which tended to fold up in a head-on crash. After all, there are many fashionable security options, which I’ll get again to.

ID.Buzz Inside

The cabin isn’t simply roomy, it’s additionally visually interesting in a surprisingly non-Teutonic manner. It’s virtually Scandinavian in its open-aired simplicity. And patrons are sure to love the numerous storage niches constructed into the middle console and doorways, amongst different issues. 

Buzz does carry over most of the components first seen in VW’s preliminary battery-electric ID.4. That features the 5.3-inch digital gauge cluster that rides atop the steering wheel. Even the bottom mannequin additionally will get an easy-to-read 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen.

If there’s one factor I’d hoped Volkswagen would have rejected from the ID.4 toolbox, it’s the absurd controller used for the ability home windows. It options simply two buttons, in addition to a 3rd management to modify between entrance and rear home windows. I’ve discovered nobody who’s pushed within the older EV who felt this method was simpler — removed from it. And, the sideview mirror controls are equally dysfunctional.

Powertrain

The choice to go along with solely a three-row mannequin for the U.S. was clearly sound. So was providing a extra gutsy drivetrain with a bigger battery pack.

That stated, at a most 234 miles per cost for the rear-wheel-drive Buzz, some potential patrons are going to expertise vary nervousness and draw back. Nonetheless, as an EV proprietor myself, that actually will probably be greater than sufficient for many house owners, particularly if they’ve a house Degree 2 charger.

The only-motor package deal places energy to the rear wheels, similar to the unique Microbus. Output is 282 horsepower and 234 pound-feet of torque.

The improve, a twin-motor 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, is obtainable on all however the base trim package deal and bumps horsepower to 335, although torque drops to 231 pound-feet. And, sure, that’s not a typo. I’ve but to get a full clarification from Volkswagen engineers.

Van Charging

Buzz can deal with as much as 200 kW from a public fast charger and, the place that’s out there, ought to take you from a ten% state-of-charge to 80% in 26 minutes, VW claims. Count on the 91kWh lithium-ion pack to take 8 hours or extra when absolutely drained utilizing a 240V residence charger.

One perk VW has introduced: ID.Buzz patrons will get 500 kWh of free vitality when utilizing the Electrify America charging community (which the automaker owns).

At launch, Buzz will include the extensively used CCS charging port. VW, like nearly all rivals within the U.S., just lately inked a cope with Tesla, permitting its EV patrons to plug into the extensively out there Supercharger community. The German maker plans to ship adaptors to ID.Buzz house owners someday in 2025 and can change to Tesla’s NACS charging port at a “later” date.

ID.Buzz Driving Impressions

I made a decision to concentrate on the single-motor model of the EV, staying nearer to what I used to expertise driving the previous Volkswagen Microbus. But it surely was a completely completely different expertise. And that’s an excellent factor.

That previous hippie van was a handful to drive, gradual, sloppy and way more enjoyable in reminiscence than actuality. Not so the ID.Buzz.

My route started on the hilly streets of San Francisco earlier than taking the Golden Gate Bridge over to Marin, logging some miles on the divided part of US 101. As with the ID.4, Buzz’s electrical motor delivers loads of instantaneous torque, greater than sufficient to deal with the steep San Francisco streets after which to merge and make quick passes on the freeway.

The subsequent a part of the journey had us getting off on California 1, and this is likely one of the tougher sections of the Pacific Coast Freeway, with loads of hills and tight, usually blind, curves. Contemplating driver and passengers sit even increased up than in a Chevy Suburban, the ID.Buzz suffers surprisingly little physique roll, even in aggressive cornering. Blame or credit score, as you’ll, that huge battery pack. It interprets right into a surprisingly low middle of gravity, contemplating the van’s general form. 

There’s a trade-off; nevertheless, the suspension was clearly tuned for stability on freeways and windy roads. It’s a bit stiff on tough pavement, nevertheless. However I discover the trade-off nicely price it.

I additionally appreciated the steering setup. It could provide rather less increase than some Individuals would really like, however I discovered it responsive and predictable, whereas providing simply sufficient street really feel.

Expertise, Security, and Creature Comforts

Even the bottom ID.Buzz Professional S package deal comes with a shocking variety of fascinating options, together with entrance heated, cooled, and massaging seats. Consumers additionally get welcome tech touches corresponding to eight USB ports and keyless entry.

And, be aware, the van doesn’t characteristic a begin button. Like ID.4, it mechanically fires up as quickly as a driver buckles up.

VW, in the meantime, has built-in an AI system into Buzz’s smartphone app to make it simpler to ask questions, say, when an inscrutable IP warning mild triggers.

Different options, corresponding to the ability tailgate and an upgraded Harman Kardon audio package deal are provided, both customary or as choices, on the upper trim packages. One in every of my favorites: an electrochromic panoramic roof. It goes from clear to opaque with a easy button faucet. It’s the primary time VW is providing that expertise within the U.S.

One other plus: a retractable trailer hitch that doesn’t spoil Buzz’s traces.

Contemplating there’ll be loads of household patrons, Buzz comes customary with an in depth array of IQ.Drive superior driver help methods. That features entrance emergency auto-braking, rear visitors alert, and energetic cruise management. Different options, corresponding to a head-up show and street signal recognition, are choices.

VW ID.Buzz Pricing

One factor VW officers received’t talk about: gross sales targets, although they acknowledge the 2025 ID.Buzz isn’t going to ship Tesla-level volumes. And there’s good motive for that, not less than from a worth perspective:

• The bottom 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz Professional S begins at $59,995 and comes solely with rear-wheel-drive.
• The Professional S Plus package deal provides extra customary options and jumps to $63,495 in RWD, $67,995 for the 4Motion package deal.
• The limited-run Buzz 1st Version provides lots extra laborious and software program options and is available in at $65,495 for RWD, $69,995 for AWD.

Add $1,550 for supply charges to all these numbers.

2025 Volkswagon ID.Buzz Evaluation: Closing Phrase

It’s been a very long time — a really, very very long time — ready for a worthy successor to the enduring Volkswagen Microbus. Many people who have been younger hippies within the day at the moment are grandparents. VW tried repeatedly to provide you with the proper method for a successor — and the Bulli got here shut — however it was the proper determination to carry on till a battery-electric mannequin was attainable.

The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz turned heads wherever I drove it. And, it actually had me smiling throughout my 2 days behind the wheel. Sure, I’d like to see the automaker repair these goofy window and mirror controls, however there’s surprisingly little else to complain about.

I sometimes measure the deserves of a take a look at car by how I really feel when it comes time to show again the keys. Frankly, I’d have appreciated to log much more time within the fashionable Microbus reincarnation and might’t watch for an opportunity to gather one for a full week’s take a look at drive.

Pricing will definitely restrict demand. However I count on loads of people with deep sufficient pockets will probably be lining as much as take supply.