Volkswagen ID. Buzz - Interior, design and technology
The retro-inspired exterior is matched by a fresh-looking cabin that features plenty of neat touches
Retro looks and an interesting cabin layout help to lift the Volkswagen ID. Buzz above other models in brand’s electric vehicle line-up.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz shares some design cues with the rest of VW’s ID electric car range, namely its slender headlights and perforated front bumper, but the large VW badge front and V-shaped bonnet hark back to the iconic Type 2 microbus. The raked windscreen and wipers that neatly tuck down below the bonnet line boost the car's aerodynamics. The sliding side doors feature discreet rails into the sides of the body, while at the back, the vertical rear end design is similar to that of the larger Volkswagen Multivan.
There are single body colours as standard, while the two-tone paint option combines a Candy White roof and bonnet with either Lime Yellow, Starlight Blue, Energetic Orange or Bay Leaf Green for the rest of the bodywork. They certainly emphasise the ID. Buzz’s hippy van heritage, but they also add more than £2,500 to the price tag.
Life trim comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, while the Style version comes with 20-inch wheels as standard and 21-inch wheels as an option. The latter boosts the ID. Buzz's concept car looks, and in our opinion, doesn't spoil the car's ride too much, either. The four-wheel drive GTX model comes with 21-inch alloy wheels as standard.
What is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz like inside?
The retro exterior looks will turn heads wherever you go, while the interior offers some of the same appeal, and is mixed with VW’s cutting-edge technology. There’s a large touchscreen menu up front, a small digital instrument cluster mounted on the steering column (so it moves with the wheel when you adjust it) and plenty of storage everywhere, while the pale plastics help with the feeling of spaciousness in the cabin.
What is the interior quality like?
The plastics used in the interior are on the hard side – highlighting the ID. Buzz’s van-derived roots – but there are rubber inserts where you need them that boost the feeling of high quality in the cabin.
As with the plastics, the fabric upholstery has a light finish, although there are also dark colours available if you’re concerned about the pale materials showing up dirt. Leather trim isn’t available, with VW opting for eco-focused recycled materials instead.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
VW’s Discover Pro system includes a 12.9-inch touchscreen that has plenty of features, while 10-colour ambient lighting is fitted as standard. This can be upgraded to a 30-colour system with one of the car’s option packs, which also adds matrix LED headlights (standard on Style models and above) and a panoramic roof with an electrochromatic sun shade - the latter is standard on GTX models.
Recent updates to VW’s multimedia system mean the temperature and volume sliders in the ID. Buzz are now illuminated, so they’re easier to use at night, but still trickier to operate than physical controls.
The big screen has shortcuts at the top and bottom, with an unmarked home button to get you back to the main screen if you need it. The display itself is sharp, although the mapping isn’t the most intuitive system to use. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, though, and are displayed large on the screen.
