I have to drive Volkswagen’s new ID Buzz tram twice this summer, and it’s so good I’ve had a second time. While today, VW is known for cars like GTIthe ID.4 EVsome matching crossovers, and a certain emissions scandal, there are two Volkswagens that evoke undeniable love and nostalgia: The Bug and the Bus. Volkswagen had a second and a third Beetle, but we no bus for eons. In fact, the automaker has been introducing the microbus concept for decades. In the area I call home – California and Oregon – you still see millions of examples of the old-fashioned Bus running around, held up with pride.
Came across a classic first generation microbus, also known as Type 2 or T1 (I know, it’s confusing) and there’s no denying that the design still looks great. Decades on, these gems continue to be associated with a particular lifestyle, and as far as appeal goes, they are encapsulating it. See a clean roll and I dare you not to turn around. So how does the new Buzz ID stack up?
The first time I drove the Buzz was at the German test car of the year festival in July. If you’re into cars, this is a dream couple of days, with a host of new vehicles available for short lap drives. This year’s fleet is full of winners – including the forbidden fruit for American drivers, like the absurdly alluring Hyundai Staria van and the offensive Toyota GR Yaris.
Because there’s a lot of buzz surrounding Buzz, I guarantee it’ll go on for a long time. Then I drove it again the next day. It’s actually the only car I’ve driven twice out of the more than 20 I sampled that week.
To be frank, I’m a VW fanboy. I just sold my Mk IV Golf 1.8T recently because it was overpriced (and I regret it). I generally consider the 89hp 4-speed Mk 1 GTI to be one of the most enjoyable cars I’ve ever driven. I even have a white Tiguan that I’ve named Tiggy Snow for snowy mountain adventures and road trips, and I’m not ashamed to say I love it. I recently discovered that I need a VW T4 van in my life. I really don’t, but really, I do.
But what about Buzz? My first impression is that it has a fun, playful look. Attractive, modern, clean. The interior also gives off a similar vibe. It’s airy, considered ergonomic, and it feels fresh. This ID Buzz is a two-row model, short wheelbase, one variant will not be imported into the United States
I drove it to Mücke, skimmed country roads, and I caught it on the autobahn. Acceleration is linear, but not motorized. It never feels fast – count to ten and you’ll only hit 60 mph. That’s fine I suppose – it’s a truck, and the original Bus is a noticeable slow, even if all of its 60 horses can be put into service. But Buzz is fast enough to travel on highways and is surprisingly agile. It also boasts an extremely tight turning radius.
It could be that I came to Buzz with unfair expectations. I just drove Kia EV6 GT earlier that day – a 576hp dual EV, which can easily accelerate to 140 mph on the autobahn, squealing with a Jetsonian jet engine. But again, that same day I also drove the Aiways 5, a crossover from an upstart Chinese EV company. Incredibly, Aiways plans to bring this car to the US, and if that happens, it will instantly become the worst car sold in our country.
But I digress. The Buzz has two driving modes, D and B, the latter allowing for close to one-pedal driving, which I like. The electric powertrain is the same as that found in other ID models, the 150 kW motor being powered by an 82 kWh (77 kWh usable) lithium-ion battery pack. On the Buzz, this setup makes 204 hp, though US customers will be able to use all-wheel drive for a total of 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. The single-motor European Buzz has a range of about 260 miles and charges from 5% to 80% in about 30 minutes with an ultra-fast 170 kW charger. The dual-motor version in the US will likely have a range of 300 km, but we won’t know for sure until the US version launches next year, before delivery in 2024.
It’s not that I’m disappointed with my first snapshot of Buzz. My impression is that it’s a good effort, a product that will sell well, but I’m not sure it feels as special as it should be. The old-fashioned bus has a magical charm built in: The sound of a zippo snapping; catch the crescent moon peeking through the clouds parting in the corner of the windshield; take a dip in the shimmering lake; sleeping under thin sheets surrounded by forest. A bus is a vehicle in which man once lived, a machine that helps its owner really live. Can you get that from Buzz?
My second trip with Buzz was at a VW event for auto journalists in Copenhagen, Denmark. The strategic location for this launch resonated greatly. Denmark can usually get all of its energy needs from renewables. If EVs are indeed green, we need a green grid. There is already a large amount of carbon emissions in battery production, amid other concerns, but it is important to note that we are in the infancy of this change and, in theory, there are many Many technologies are developing that will make this whole thing possible.
This time, with the whole day to spend with Buzz, I have to appreciate some details that I didn’t grasp the first time. Settling in, I noticed how comfortable the seats are. They’re comfortable, the kind that you won’t mind sitting in on longer drives. The optional 12-inch touchscreen looks nicer than the one on other ID models, although it does have a slight flaw. The voice activation also continuously emits random chirps or requests for commands in the middle of my conversations with passengers.
There’s plenty of clever storage, and there are slim, foldable trays on the backs of the front seats, just like you’d find on planes, perfect for snacking. The second row of seats also proved to be comfortable and can slide forward or backward by about six inches.
From a design standpoint, VW was also able to keep some of the spirit of the original Bus, with an extremely short overhang, but part of this is an optical illusion. When you’re in the driver’s seat, you’re actually pretty far in front of the car, but with the large panoramic windshield and a cascading dash hiding some of the bulk in front of you, you don’t realize it. Thanks in part to that windshield – and the cutouts behind the A-pillars – visibility is excellent.
Buzz is also filled with nifty Easter eggs. The center console is completely removable if you want to use that space; Once installed, take a closer look and you’ll notice the dividers double as an ice scraper and a bottle opener. The sixth-generation Golf R Euro-spec had a bottle opener, but somewhere VW dropped it for the US market. If they don’t bring these to the US Special Buzz, feel free to burn the VW to the best of your ability – these little details come in extremely handy and the bottle opener is especially welcome when camping , move or just go for a walk somewhere scenic.
Look down at the footrest and you’ll notice the gas and brake pedals have “play” and “pause” symbols on them, another fun touch. There’s a lot of unconventional materials – and plenty of hard plastic – in the interior, but the styling helps it give it a premium aesthetic. There are packages, at least in Europe, that offer a flat floor mat with compartments underneath, perfect for placing a mattress. There’s also a QUQUO all-in-one kitchen, bed and storage unit that VW showcased. Again, we don’t know if any of this will make it obvious, but things like this embody the spirit of the VW microbus.
On that note, however, the US is only expected to get a three-row version of the Buzz, which is about a foot longer than the Euro model I drove. I’m sure the major powers did their due diligence to find the best product for our market, but it seems like a missed opportunity to exclusively target large families with a product that seems ideal for the young active buyer that every carmaker is obsessed with.
My Euro-standard Buzz has a two-tone paint job, which will be standard on the upcoming US model – a white roof with a choice of warm body colors. VW’s designers have done a fantastic job of incorporating a classic aesthetic into a modern all-electric pickup truck. In fact, I can’t remember a car making as many turns everywhere I went, or garnering as many smiles and thumbs up. There is an instant emotional connection with Buzz. Cyclists on Copenhagen’s many bike paths watched the truck go up and down. Beachgoers near Malmo, Sweden point and wave. It’s the dream scenario every designer envisions for their car, but only a handful of modern vehicles actually do it.
VW ID Buzz will not come to the US for at least another year and a half, but when it does appear, it immediately becomes the most attractive pickup. The more expensive dual-engine version will provide a faster Buzz. The entry level models are expected to start around $55,000and you’ll be able to comfortably add ten thousand dollars to that for all-wheel drive and other upgrades. While we’re only expecting to get a three-row version for now, I hope VW will keep the Bus’s rich adventurous spirit and offer a smaller, more youthful version.
