I’m not good. I’ll admit that earlier than I drove the 2025 Volkswagen ID Buzz, I used to be fairly skeptical of it based mostly solely on the worth. As an auto journalist, this isn’t actually what you’re speculated to do earlier than driving a automotive, however what can I say? I play quick and unfastened. I imply, are you able to blame me? $61,500 to $71,500 for a Volkswagen minivan looks like a hell of a value to pay. Nevertheless, after spending the higher a part of a day with the ID Buzz, I get it, and I get its value… for probably the most half.
The 2025 ID Buzz begs the query, “How a lot would you pay for individuals to love you?” VW’s reincarnated bus makes up for lack of inside high quality and effectivity by being probably the most trendy and well-liked automobiles available on the market, and it’s fairly rattling sensible in addition. In case you’ve acquired about $70,000 to spend on a automotive that’ll make you tons of pals — and to hell with every part else — the ID Buzz is a compelling package deal
Full Disclosure: Volkswagen flew me out to San Francisco, fed me and put me up in a really good resort all so I may drive the 2025 ID Buzz.
I do know styling is a subjective factor, however it’s onerous to disclaim that the ID Buzz is just not a stunning piece of design. It’s acquired all the good throwback touches you’d anticipate from a retro-inspired automotive, however it additionally has sufficient up to date parts to make it really feel totally at residence in a contemporary world. Up entrance, you’ve acquired the traditional snub-nose and massive emblem from the unique bus, alongside the edges you’ve acquired three strakes within the rear pillar that harken again to the air vents on these unique VW busses, and a few actually nice trying 20-inch wheels that function a throwback to the hubcaps you’d discover on the unique bus. There are some extra modern-looking rims accessible, however you must actually simply skip these. Up high, you’ve acquired an infinite greenhouse that makes the complete van really feel extraordinarily ethereal.
It additionally helps that there are a bunch of various two-tone shade schemes (eight to be precise, with three extra strong grayscale colours) that make this factor appear like nothing else on the highway. In case you’re forking over about $70,000, you’re doing it due to how good the ID Buzz seems. It’s very uncommon {that a} idea automotive (albeit, an outdated one at this level) seems so just like the completed product. It’s even a reasonably respectable measurement. At 195.4 inches lengthy, it’s not precisely small, however it’s about 9 inches shorter than a Pacifica or Sienna.
My solely actual difficulty with how the ID Buzz seems is its headlights. I perceive Volkswagen needed to maintain its company ID face for the bus, and which means it has cat-eye headlights, however I’d have actually favored to see a extra round design. Perhaps that will be an excessive amount of. I additionally don’t love how the second-row home windows don’t retract into the door. As a substitute, they’re little sq. cut-outs that slide inwards. I really feel like this was one thing that was acceptable on vans within the Nineties, however we’ve found out easy methods to make a minivan with roll-down home windows at this level. These are each fairly small gripes, however gripes nonetheless.
Sadly, my actual points with the ID Buzz lie on the within, the place it’s onerous to justify the hefty price ticket Volkswagen is asking for its newest mannequin. Numerous the supplies inside the ID Buzz merely should not ok for a individuals’s automotive that’s priced like a luxurious automotive. That is very true for the higher door panels, dashboard and a number of the switchgear. It’s a number of the most cost-effective plastic I’ve been capable of finding in a automotive outdoors of a rental-spec Chevy Trax. It’s onerous. It’s scratchy. It’s low-rent. It’s dangerous. It’s particularly dangerous while you take a look at the $70,540 (together with vacation spot) as-tested value of the ID Buzz I drove. Take into accout, you’ll be able to nonetheless spend much more cash than that, however I’ll get to costs later.
Materials points apart, the remainder of the ID Buzz’s inside is fairly strong. It isn’t practically as retro-inspired as the outside, which is a little bit of a disgrace if you happen to ask me. I really feel like VW’s designers may have had somewhat extra enjoyable. Regardless, Volkswagen clearly spent a variety of time fixing its infotainment system. The 12.9-inch middle show and 5.3-inch gauge cluster display screen, customary on all fashions, each work moderately nicely. They’re fast to reply and the entire info they maintain is laid out sensibly and legibly. Certain, it might be good to have a bodily quantity knob and HVAC switches, however it’s not too annoying to make use of. Each Buzz additionally will get wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wi-fi charger, eight USB-C ports, a 30-color ambient lighting setup, a leather-based heated steering wheel and three-zone local weather management. Not too shabby. There are another niceties you get with the higher-trim Professional S Plus and 1st Version fashions, like a 14-speaker Harman/Kardon stereo (which is superb), computerized sliding doorways and trunk, massaging seats and a head-up show.
Total, there are three inside colours for the U.S., and thank God none of them are black or grey. You possibly can select from Copper (a terracotta shade), Dune (white/cream) and Moonlight (darkish brown). The leatherette on the seats and armrests really feel pretty premium, particularly compared to the plastics and wooden veneer. Sadly, the U.S. doesn’t get the European inside shade schemes that match the assorted two-tone paints.
As a result of the ID Buzz is a minivan at its coronary heart, you gained’t be too shocked to be taught it’s acquired a metric shit ton of area — that’s an official measurement. Volkswagen says that if you happen to take out the third row of seats and fold the second row down (they don’t fold into the ground due to the battery), the ID Buzz can match 145.5 cubic toes of cargo. With all three rows up, there’s nonetheless 18.6 cubic toes of cargo area behind the third row, and due to VW’s nifty flex board, you’ve acquired two ranges to fill along with your stuff. Becoming individuals is simply as spectacular. At 6-foot-1, I used to be in a position to match into all three rows extraordinarily comfortably with tons of head- and legroom to spare. I ought to word the Buzz comes as both a six- or seven-seater relying on the drivetrain you select. Rear-wheel-drive fashions get seven seats and all-wheel-drive ones get six with two captain’s chairs within the center row.
Because it stands, there are two drivetrain choices you will get in the 2025 ID Buzz. There’s both a rear-motor, rear-wheel-drive setup or a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration. VW says the RWD energy unit places out 282 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque and has an EPA-estimated 234 miles of vary from its 91-kWh battery. In the meantime, the AWD Buzz makes a mixed 335 horsepower. VW isn’t publishing a mixed quantity for torque, however it says the entrance motor places out 99 lb-ft, and the rear motor places out an an identical 413 to the RWD mannequin. I can’t converse for the RWD automotive, however the AWD Buzz was fast sufficient (VW doesn’t quote a 0-60 time). It’s not going to set your hair on hearth, however 335 horsepower is greater than sufficient for what this automotive will probably be used for. Any greater than that and I really feel it might be a bit too highly effective for the multi-link entrance and rear suspension. The AWD Buzz’s vary is quoted by the EPA at 231 miles from that very same battery. Each variations include an 11-kW AC onboard charger, and the Buzz can DC fast-charge at as much as 200 kW.
I’ll be trustworthy, I don’t love these vary numbers, particularly out of a automotive that prices this a lot. That’s simply type of the character of Volkswagen’s MEB structure, although. It’s not deeply environment friendly, and that’s making an allowance for that its drag coefficient of 0.29 isn’t half dangerous. Throughout some admittedly spirited driving, I used to be in a position to get about 2.5 miles per kWh. That’s middling at greatest. One thing just like the Kia EV9 — the Buzz’s closest competitor if you happen to’re utilizing your head — can crack 3.5 and even 4 miles per kWh if you happen to take it simple.
Middling is the best way I’d describe the general driving expertise of the ID Buzz. Which may sound a bit harsh on its face, however we’ve got to recollect it is a 5,300-ish-pound minivan in any case. (1,230 kilos come from the battery, alone.) It was by no means going to be a nook carver, however it’s not dreadful by any means. You possibly can inform the recent dual-motor Buzz I used to be driving was far more snug cruising round city or driving down the freeway than taking the corners of the Pacific Coast Freeway at pace. The electrical rack-and-pinion steering system is fairly properly weighted, however like most electrical automobiles, you get zero suggestions. I do know the wheels are up there, however I’ve acquired no thought what they’re doing. Additionally barely shocking is the ID Buzz’s penchant for understeer. Although extra energy comes from the again, this factor likes to push, however if you happen to’re making an attempt to hustle your ID Buzz down a canyon highway, maybe it’s essential reevaluate your self.
Braking was the one truly suspect a part of driving the ID Buzz. Up entrance, it has 15-inch vented discs, however the rear is saddled with 13-inch drum brakes. I do know that it isn’t a giant deal to have drums on an EV, but when I’m not mistaken that is the most costly drum-brake outfitted automotive you should buy. Take that nonetheless you want. It has regenerative braking, however there’s just one mode and isn’t very aggressive. It’ll gradual you all the way down to about 3 mph, however it gained’t deliver the automotive to a cease. Volkswagen actually doesn’t imagine regen braking is the reply, for higher or worse. Total, brake really feel is type of poor. It’s very spongy and also you don’t get a variety of confidence that this rig goes to come back to a cease if you happen to’re driving onerous. Don’t fear, although — you’re not going to drive it onerous.
I’ve alluded to it a couple of instances, however I suppose now could be a great time to deliver up the ID Buzz’s value. There are three trim ranges: Professional S, Professional S Plus and 1st Version. The Professional S is RWD solely, and the 2 latter trims have AWD as an possibility AWD. The Professional S begins at $61,545, and there are not any choices accessible. Subsequent up is the RWD Professional S Plus, which begins at $65,045, and fork over $69,545 and also you’ll get the Professional S Plus AWD. You possibly can add two-tone paint ($995) and an electrochromic panoramic glass roof ($1,495) to both of these. Lastly, you’ve acquired the limited-time-only 1st Version that comes with every part. RWD variations of that van begin at $67,045, and the AWD 1st Version will set you again $71,545. All of those costs embody $1,550 for vacation spot.
To be trustworthy, I don’t hate the pricing of those automobiles, although I do want there was a less expensive solution to get into the AWD mannequin. You possibly can’t get AWD for something lower than as-near-as-makes-no-difference $70,000, and that’s some huge cash. I’m conflicted, although, as a result of I don’t thoughts the ID Buzz being costly in idea. If VW desires to cost $70,000 for a slice of nostalgia with a unbelievable design, then it ought to go forward. I simply want the inside supplies matched the worth.
The ID Buzz asks its consumers two easy questions: how a lot are you keen to spend on type, and the way a lot would you like individuals to love you? I don’t thoughts that in any respect, truthfully. It’s OK to have some automobiles exist purely to make individuals glad, usefulness be damned. You’ve acquired to be keen to disregard some fairly sizable points if you wish to be ok with the worth. I don’t know if I may do it, however I’m additionally not the audience for this automotive.
Then once more, possibly I’m. I’ve pushed an entire lot of automobiles in my time at Jalopnik, and none have garnered a lot constructive consideration. In all places I went, individuals had been giving me thumbs up and asking in regards to the ID Buzz. It’s the anti-Cybertruck, in a method. It’s a automotive that instills a large amount of pleasure in individuals via the actual fact they can see it. In case you like consideration as a lot as I do, then it is a massive constructive. I simply don’t know if my have to be favored ought to value me $70,000.
