Volkswagen ID.Buzz review

The original Volkswagen Type 2 bus was an enormous hit around the world. It had space for the whole family – even big ones – and its friendly looking front end meant it avoided the in-your-face brashness that’s become popular on modern SUVs.

After years of teasing its return, Volkswagen has finally committed to this – the ID.Buzz. As you’ll notice from the little prefix, it’s part of VW’s growing range of ID electric cars, so all models come with battery power only.

Don’t go thinking this big bus can’t handle road trips, however, with a range figure well above 200 miles and the ability to regain 80% of its charge in around half an hour. Plus, the muscular electric motors under the ID.Buzz mean it doesn’t suffer from the dangerous lack of power that original Type 2 owners will be all too familiar with.

Arguably the most important feature of the ID.Buzz’s interior is its sheer size, but we’ll discuss that in more detail in the Practicality section below. As for the design and overall fit and finish, we’re generally impressed with the ID.Buzz.

Despite its big body, there’s absolutely no creaks or rattles from ill-fitting interior trim as you go down the road. All the panels and controls feel sturdy enough to cope with family life, and you hear plenty of reassuringly solid clunks and clicks as you fold and adjust the car’s seating.

As standard, ID.Buzz models in Life trim come with a dark-coloured interior theme. Upgrade to Style trim and you get bright colours that match the car’s paint and off-white details all across the upholstery and interior surfaces. For our money, the lighter look is much nicer and helps make the cabin feel more inviting.

New for the 2024 update is an upgraded 12.9-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. We had more than a few complaints about the older screen setup and we’re pleased to say this new version has managed to address some of them. We’ll go into much more detail in our detailed Interior, Tech and Practicality section.

If there’s any area the ID.Buzz scores a perfect 10 in, it’s here. This is about as practical as family vehicles get.

In fact, the only way you’re going to get more space for less money, is by shopping the selection of van-based MPVs like the Ford Tourneo Connect or Vauxhall Combo Life. These models major on space like the ID.Buzz, but can’t match the VW’s refinement, performance or premium trimmings.

Every seat in every model has acres of space. That means even the centre-rear seat in five-seat versions, and the sixth and seventh seats in LWB models are large enough to carry tall adults with space to spare. Very few seven seaters can claim that – many large MPVs can only carry children or smaller adults in the third row with very limited legroom, but that’s simply not an issue in the ID.Buzz.

Of course, cargo space is equally impressive. Put passengers in all seven seats and you’re left with a 306-litre space that’s on par with most family hatchbacks. However, fold the third row down and this rockets up to 1,340 litres or a ludicrous 2,469 litres if you fold the second row, too. Five-seat normal-wheelbase (NWB) models have a 1,121-litre boot with all seats in place or 2,205 with the second row folded.

The 2024 update to the ID.Buzz range has brought with it a new electric motor. All LWB models, plus NWB models from mid-2025, will get an upgraded 210kW (286hp) motor. This is a healthy boost over the standard 150kW (204hp) earlier models are equipped with.

However, thanks to the way electric motors deliver almost all their torque nearly instantly, no ID.Buzz model could ever be accused of feeling slow. Pulling away from a stop is effortless and that sense of abundant power carries you all the way to motorway speeds without the car ever feeling strained.

Buyers after ultimate bragging rights should look to the new GTX model. This powertrain option is available on both NWB and LWB versions and adds a second electric motor on the front axle. That means four-wheel drive and a total of 250kW (340hp), plus a 0-62mph time of just over six seconds.

Cruise around in the ID.Buzz and you’ll thoroughly enjoy the driving experience. The power delivery is smooth and insistent, the controls are precise and predictable, and general refinement is superb. It’s a very relaxing place to spend hours on the road, made easier by the sheer amount of space you and your passengers can lounge about in.

Load your ID.Buzz up with a few people and their luggage and it’ll easily tip the scales over three tonnes, however. That’s a significant figure and there’s only so much the big bus can do to hide it.

That means if you enter a corner with a little more speed than you anticipated – easy to do considering the car’s punchy electric motor – you’ll feel a substantial amount of G-force pulling you away from the corner apex. To be clear, the ID.Buzz remains planted and contains its body roll well through turns, but the hefty mass and inertia it generates will be felt obviously by passengers in the cabin, so expect plenty of complaints from the back seats.

Take the lead out your right foot and the ID.Buzz and remains an easy, comfortable car to live with. There’s next-to-no motor or drivetrain noise, and barely any roar from the tyres or thuds from the suspension over bumps. Only at higher speeds do you start to notice some wind whistle although, realistically, you’ll only pick that up because the rest of the package is so quiet.