ID Buzz is a van for the modern age
What is it?
The Volkswagen ID Buzz arrives with a huge amount of expectation. Drawing inspiration from the original VW Bus, the ID Buzz is a van for the modern age. With a cutting-edge electric powertrain and a spacious, modular cabin, this reflects the direction that Volkswagen is heading.
It’s based on the same platform as cars like the VW ID.3 and Audi Q4 e-tron, which should give a more car-like driving feel than ever before. Let’s take a look at what it’s like.
What’s new?
There’s very little that isn’t new on the Volkswagen ID Buzz. It arrives as Volkswagen’s first ground-up electric van and, as a result, the firm has thrown the works at it.
But a lot of the ID Buzz’s make-up has been dependent on time and technology. In order to remark the famous bluff nose of the original van, Volkswagen couldn’t fit a conventional petrol or diesel engine in the rear like the 1950s classic - so it had to stay the course until an electric powertrain that was up to the job was developed.
What’s under the bonnet?
For now, the ID Buzz adopts a rear-wheel-drive layout, with a 201bhp motor from Volkswagen’s ID 4 Pro Performance giving propulsion. It’s linked to a 77kWh battery to give a range of around 258 miles, while it can charge at speeds of up to 170kW, too.
Volkswagen claims a 0-60mph time of around 10 seconds, but the ID Buzz’s 310Nm of torque gives it plenty of shove off the line and, in the real world, it feels far quicker than those on-paper figures would lead you to believe.
What’s it like to drive?
The ID Buzz manages to take that car-like driving experience to a whole new level. Now Volkswagen’s vans have always had a more friendly approach than their rivals, but the ID Buzz really steps this up a notch. It’s wonderfully refined, with the lack of a petrol or diesel engine only highlighting just how quiet the cabin is. There’s a small amount of wind noise, but it’s not too bad.
There’s a really solid feeling to the ID Buzz, too. There’s no rattling or shaking that you might expect from a traditional van, but - understandably - feels more like a taller version of the ID 4.
How does it look?
We’d always say that how successful a car’s looks are is down to the individual, but we’d argue that anyone who sees the ID Buzz will be won over by its design. It’s a modern take on the origins bus, for sure, but it’s not some rose-tinted throwback - it’s a really great bit of styling in its own right.
Volkswagen has included traditional split-tone colours on the ID Buzz, however, though there’s the option of complete colours for drivers who don’t fancy something quite so eye-catching.
What’s it like inside?
If you select the ‘seat styling package’ - which is standard on ‘Style’ vans but a £1,000 option on other trim levels - you’ll get a bright interior that more than lives up to the exterior. As well as white interior plastics and fabric, you can also add in yellow, green, orange or navy blue accents that throw some added colour into the cabin.
But looks aside, the ID Buzz really delivers when it comes to space. Both front and rear-seat passengers get loads of space, while the headroom levels are really generous too. For now, there’s no seven-seater option, but Volkswagen has said that this might appear when a long-wheelbase version of the ID Buzz hits the road.
What’s the spec like?
Volkswagen has released the ID Buzz with just a pair of trim levels - Life and Style - but base-spec cars hardly do without. You get a 10-inch infotainment screen, digital cockpit setup and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Even heated seats and a heated steering wheel are thrown in as standard.
Style versions get more cosmetic-focused upgrades courtesy of that jazzy interior colour pack, some upgraded headlights and larger alloy wheels.
Verdict
It feels that Volkswagen has more than delivered with the ID Buzz. It’s a modern interpretation of a model held dear by VW fans the world over, but one that happily transitions into the modern, electric age.
It’s backed by great technology, too, while its range means that it’s not limited to around-town use. As a piece of design, it’s a great effort, but as a complete van this is one successful release.