Twenty years of concept cars. Six decades of history. And now it’s finally here. VW has reinvented the Microbus for the EV era. We have been driving the (camouflaged) van variant for a while, but now the passenger version is also available. See the Volkswagen ID here. buzz.
The funny name immediately reflects the approach of this sliding door MPV: it should bring what is missing from so many electric cars. Character, personality, a soul. The design is in line with this – the almost flat front, the minimal overhang at the front and rear, the wheelbase of almost 3 meters. It’s all made possible by the MEB platform, which also includes the ID.3, ID.4, Q4 e-tron, Skoda Enyaq and Cupra Born (and many more future models).
The agility and range of the Volkswagen ID. buzz
For a tall van, the center of gravity is extremely low, and the fact that the electric motor is in the back makes it even more retro with a little imagination. It also provides a turning circle of just over 11 metres, meaning this large family bus is just as manoeuvrable as a Golf. Four-wheel drive (and wider turning radius) versions will follow later, and it appears there’s also a performance-oriented ID. Buzz GTX is in the pipeline…
In these photos you can see the Volkswagen ID. Buzz as it will initially appear: short wheelbase, the Pro version with 77 kWh battery, just over 200 hp. In the real world you will get about 320 to 400 kilometers with it. Charging goes with a maximum of 170 kW, with which you go from 5 to 80 percent in 30 minutes. Next year there will be an entry-level Buzz Pure with a smaller battery and a slightly more friendly price. In the long wheelbase version you will be able to fit more than five people and to shuffle the seats. That Buzz also gets a bigger battery.
Where’s the California?
The version you really want is, of course, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz California – the surftastic full electric motorhome everyone has been waiting for. Apparently that will not come before 2025. VW is in no hurry to redeem the diesel version that is still selling well. But once it comes, you’ll be able to plug in your juicer fridge or mini-jacuzzi – handy if you’re staying overnight in the wilderness.
The ability to use your Buzz as an energy source is first and foremost an eco-friendly way to lower your energy bill. Connect your Buzz to cheaper electricity during the day, charge your home battery in the evening (we all have that, don’t we? No, neither do we).
The tech in the Volkswagen ID. buzz
Other future-like tech in the ID. Buzz includes car-to-X communication. This downloads data from other VWs in the area, so that you are informed about missing road markings or a traffic jam that could disrupt your flow. There is also a self-parking function that can remember difficult maneuvers, such as a narrow driveway. If you do it yourself once to prove that it is possible without damage, the Buzz will take over your movements and can do it hands-free the next time. Smart. Until you forget to open your garden gate before pressing the big ‘go’ button.
Just kidding: the Volkswagen ID. Buzz has almost no buttons. Volkswagen says their haptic, touch-sensitive nonsense is always being polished and will function better in the Buzz than the awful interfaces in the Golf, ID.3 and ID.4. We only believe it when we see it. But the design and materials are very light, cheerful and BMW i3-like, and that’s a good thing. Lounge-like atmospheres. Also the exterior colors (seven options, or four two tone versions) may be there.
When will the Volkswagen ID. buzz?
VW’s reborn van will be available to order from May (prices to be announced later) and will hit the market this year. He has taken ample time to delight us with his arrival – was it worth the wait?
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