Volkswagen ID. Buzz review

Is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz a good car?

There’s substance to go with the obvious style of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz. It’s a practical electric family MPV that just so happens to emulate the original Type 2 microbus in terms of looks, while its large dimensions mean there’s lots of room inside, especially in long-wheelbase form. If you can stomach the high asking price, then it’s a characterful family car that will have buyers thinking twice about choosing an SUV to fit the same brief. We’d even go so far as to say that the VW ID. Buzz is the best model currently available in Volkswagen’s electric car line-up.

How much does the Volkswagen ID. Buzz cost?

With prices starting from £59,000, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz is one of the priciest cars that VW sells - only the Touareg SUV and Multivan people carrier are more expensive. This gets you behind the wheel of a five-seat model in Life trim, while upgrading to six seats adds around £200 to the price. The seven-seat model is based on a longer-wheelbase body, although a price rise of around £360 is quite reasonable considering the extra versatility that the LWB version offers – we think it’s worth the extra outlay.

The jump in price from Life trim to the mid-range Style model is around £5,000, which brings with it luxuries such as matrix LED headlights, bigger wheels, three-zone climate control, electric rear windows, tinted rear windows and a Harman Kardon sound system, but we don’t think you’d feel short-changed with Life spec.

At the top of the range, the GTX is another £3,600 more than Style, and features more power thanks to a twin electric motor set-up that adds four-wheel drive, even larger wheels, electric front seats with massage, four heated seats and panoramic glass, plus a sportier look and suspension set-up. However, thanks to its extra power, the GTX has a shorter range than the other models in the ID. Buzz line-up.

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There is a choice of 79kWh and 86kWh batteries, while rear or four-wheel drive are available, with the latter exclusively for the top-spec GTX. Maximum range – a claimed 293 miles – is achieved by the single-motor Life model with the 86kWh battery, but even the most powerful GTX with the smaller battery has a claimed range of more than 250 miles on a full charge.

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A sub-eight-second 0-62mph time for the basic ID. Buzz isn’t rapid compared with other EVs, but when you consider the car’s size and a kerbweight of more than 2.5 tonnes, it’s more than fast enough for most buyers. The GTX is even quicker, at 6.1 seconds, but this does come at the expense of range. In corners, the car’s weight pegs it back, so we’d recommend taking things easy, rather than pushing the car’s limits – while the centre of gravity is relatively low, the tall seating position amplifies body roll. Read more about the Volkswagen ID. Buzz’s electric motors, performance and drive…

With prices starting around £60,000, there’s quite a premium to pay for getting behind the wheel of the ID. Buzz, but VW isn’t struggling to sell them, and strong residual values boost the car’s appeal. Everyday costs are reasonable, although the car’s size and weight mean that it’s not the most efficient EV around. At least the big battery sizes help in that regard. Read more about the Volkswagen ID. Buzz’s range, charging and running costs…

While passers-by will have their heads turned by the looks of the ID. Buzz, passengers will definitely see the appeal of the cabin. The big windows and light-coloured trim amplify the sense of space inside, while colour coding the seat upholstery to the pastel exterior shades is a nod to the classic Type 2 Bulli. The layout is reasonable to get along with, and includes updates to help with the user friendliness of the dashboard. Read more about the Volkswagen ID. Buzz’s interior, design and technology…

One area where the ID. Buzz diverges from the classic Type 2 is its sheer size. It’s a big car, measuring nearly five metres long in LWB guise and almost two metres wide. That means there’s lots of space inside, with plenty of shoulder and legroom for three in the back, while the tall roof and big windows boost the sense of space inside. The LWB model boosts practicality further with its seven-seat layout and a sliding middle row, while there’s enough space behind the third row for the weekly shop. Read more about the Volkswagen ID. Buzz’s boot space, comfort and practicality…

With the VW Group’s MEB architecture under the skin, the ID. Buzz has a platform that’s shared with a wide array of EVs within the organisation. That strength in numbers also applies when it comes to the safety kit on board, because there’s a comprehensive range of systems on offer, and the amount of kit you get is the same across all three trim levels. Read more about the Volkswagen ID. Buzz’s reliability and safety…

Volkswagen ID. Buzz Style long-term review

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Auto Express Editor Paul Barker is in charge of our funky long-term Volkswagen ID. Buzz. He’s been enjoying its company on bank holiday journeys, taking shelter under the enormous tailgate during a sudden downpour, and revelling in the vast boot that can hold all manner of football kit, scooters, and bodyboards that the family uses on trips away.

While it has been garnering a lot of attention, family and friends have remarked as to why such a large car only has five seats, to which Paul has had to explain that a seven-seater is on the way. You can read the full long term test here...

Volkswagen ID. Buzz alternatives

High prices pitch the VW ID. Buzz above equivalent electric van-based MPV rivals to the tune of at least £20,000. The main opponents are a range of closely related models in the shape of the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric, Citroen e-SpaceTourer, Peugeot e-Traveller and Toyota Proace Verso. While these models all benefited from a facelift at the end of 2024, none are as stylish as the ID. Buzz, and they can’t match it for range, either.

From the perspective of a desirable and upmarket family car, the ID. Buzz can be ranked against similarly priced electric SUVs, including the BMW iX3, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y. However, the ID. Buzz is more practical than any of these, thanks to its flat-folding seats and vast cargo area, while the LWB version adds seven seat without compromising versatility. None of these alternatives can turn quite as many heads as the ID. Buzz, either, and for some that will be enough to justify its entry price.