Overview
With electric vehicles becoming more mainstream each year, and few capacious EV options for families, the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz aims to address a largely untapped market. The design of the ID.Buzz commemorates the German company’s iconic Type 2 Microbus—or VW Bus for short—which inspired the new van’s retro design. Along with its uniquely nostalgic exterior aesthetic, its spacious cabin will feature flexible seating and three rows. The ID.Buzz’s all-electric powertrain will come in rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations, delivering a driving range that’s expected to be around 260 miles. Plugged into a DC fast-charger, VW says the van will be able to charge its battery from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes. The company also eventually plans to introduce its plug-and-charge technology that essentially eliminates the need to use an app or a card for payment to unlock the charger.
What’s New for 2025?
When the ID.Buzz goes on sale in the U.S. in June 2024, it’ll mark the Volkswagen van’s long-awaited return to our shores.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
VW hasn’t said how much the ID.Buzz will cost or what trim levels will be offered. However, current market pricing for EVs leads us to expect it will start at around $40,000.
EV Motor, Power, and Performance
The ID.Buzz will ride on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive (MEB) platform that currently underpins corporate products such as the Audi Q4 e-tron crossover and the VW ID.4 crossover. While Europe will get both a commercial and passenger version of the ID.Buzz, America will only get a long-wheelbase passenger one. The base model features a single, rear-mounted electric motor that makes 282 horsepower. A dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration with around 330 horsepower is also offered. We’ve driven a European version of the passenger van, which has a shorter wheelbase and smaller battery than the one we’ll get in the U.S., but it still gave us a better idea of what to expect.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
The ID.Buzz comes with an 86.0-kWh battery pack as standard, but Volkswagen hasn’t revealed a driving range just yet. We expect the ID.Buzz will have at least 260 miles of range per charge. VW claims that those who plug into a DC fast-charger will be able to charge from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 30 minutes.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe
Fuel economy estimates for the ID.Buzz have not yet been released by the EPA. When we get a chance, we’ll take the ID.Buzz on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route and update this story with test results. For more information about the ID.Buzz’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
One of the defining details of the ID.Buzz is its cavernous and configurable interior. The front seats feature adjustable armrests as well as tables that fold out of the backrests for rear-seat passengers. There’s also a removable center console between the front seats. The U.S. version features three rows of seats with space for seven riders; a pair of second-row captain’s chairs are available but drop capacity to six passengers. The ID.Buzz’s standout standard features include a 10.0-inch digital gauge cluster, customizable ambient lighting, and a set of massaging front seats.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The VW van’s infotainment system primarily operates through a 12.9-inch touchscreen that sprouts from the middle of the dashboard. A 10.0-inch digital gauge display is also standard. We also expect the ID.Buzz to have standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and possibly some sort of rear-seat entertainment system. A subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless device charging should be on the roster, too.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The ID.Buzz is offered with a diverse selection of standard and optional driver-assistance technology. Volkswagen also offers a memory function for the self-park assist that is said to work on pre-saved routes. For more information about the ID.Buzz’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Volkswagen currently offers an above-average limited warranty and below-average powertrain coverage compared with rival non-luxury brands, but it offers two years or 20,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance. The ID.Buzz’s electric components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Battery components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 20,000 miles
Source: www.caranddriver.com