By Breda Corrigan
The design of the all-new, all-electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz is inspired by its great ancestor, the original Beetle-based T1 Microbus, and it is the first electric Minivan/MPV from the German vehicle manufacturer as part of the Volkswagen ID series of EVs. The vehicle was first shown as a concept car at the 2017 North American International Motor Show, and the production vehicle was officially unveiled in March 2022 as a five-seater under the name ID. Buzz, and a cargo van as the ID. Buzz Cargo. The name “Buzz” was derived from the word “bus”, as the original VW T1 Microbus is commonly known simply as the “Volkswagen Bus”, but it is also a clever reference to the sound of electricity.
Funky & Flexible.
The styling of the ID. Buzz was chosen to be modern, fresh and exciting, while retaining some design cues of the original T1 Microbus, including the prominent front-mounted VW logo and optional two-tone paint. State-of-the-art technologies and a flexible cabin concept ensure mobile comfort that sets new standards, and it promises to be the ideal companion for almost any adventure. A large part of the likeable appearance of the ID. Buzz is the modern lighting design, which provides the vehicle with terrific visual drama. In terms of size, the ID. Buzz has an overall length of 4712mm, which is slightly shorter than a VW Passat estate, and it stands 1937mm tall, so it will comfortably fit into the majority of multi-storey car parks. For many families, the most important dimension will be the space between the front and rear axles (wheelbase), and at just under 3-metres, the result is cavernous cabin space for all occupants. Equally impressive is the cargo space behind the rear seats. With a massive 1,121-litres of space available, families can load up virtually everything (even the kitchen sink!) for fun days out, or the family holiday. However, when the split-folding rear seats are dropped, the space on offer extends to a van-like 2,205-litres.
Four Trim Levels Available.
The ID. Buzz is available with a choice of four trim levels: Life, Family, Tech and Max. The entry-level Life starts at €68,470 and comes with 19” alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, manual sliding doors, LED headlights, “BuzzBox” removable centre console with storage, dual-zone auto aircon, heated windscreen, 10” Infotainment system, App-Connect for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (wired and wireless), navigation system, natural voice control, DAB radio, and a suite of driver assistance systems. Family trim is priced from €73,040 and also includes IQ.LIGHT – LED matrix headlamps with automatic headlight control and poor weather light function, LED rear combination lights with variable lighting function, illuminated strip between the headlamps, armrest for driver and front passenger seats, stainless steel foot pedals with ‘play’ and ‘pause’ symbols, heated front seats, and additional driver assistance systems. In addition to Family trim, the ID. Buzz Tech (priced from €74,640) comes with 20” alloy wheels, power tailgate with ‘Easy Open’ function, 12” infotainment screen, “Area View” inc. rear view camera, “Side Assist”, “Light Assist” and an anti-theft alarm system. Buyers who opt for the flagship ‘Max’ trim variant (priced from €77,640) will benefit from 21” alloy wheels, ‘Easy Open’ power-sliding side doors, comfort seats up front with pneumatically adjustable lumbar support, and a 30-colour ambient lighting function.
Fast-Charging Compatible.
Powering the ID. Buzz is a 150kW electric motor and a 77kWh battery pack that drive the rear wheels. Producing 204hp and 301Nm of instant torque, the 0-100km/h sprint can be completed in 10.2-seconds, on its way to an electronically-limited 145km/h (where permitted). The maximum charging power for fast charging (DC) is up to 170kW, so the battery can be charged from 5 to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes at a fast charging station with the appropriate charging power, and for drivers who don’t have 30 minutes to spare, they can boost the range by around 160km in just 10 minutes. Charging the battery from 0-100% via a 7kW domestic wallbox charger will take around 12 hours to complete. When not needed, the charging cables can be stored under the boot floor for convenience.
Test Car Details.
My test car was an ID. Buzz Max, which was finished in striking two-tone Candy White/ Pomelo Yellow Metallic paintwork, and Lemon-Mistral ‘Seaqual’ seat trim. The ID. Buzz shares its underpinnings with its ID.3 and ID.4 siblings, and this enables the Buzz to deliver a smooth and refined driving experience. The perfectly-weighted steering set-up was engineered to provide the Buzz with a turning circle of just 11.1-metres, and this proves very useful when manoeuvring in and out of tight spaces. In keeping with other ID models in the VW range, the rear motor-transmission layout in the ID. Buzz won’t be persuaded to succumb to power oversteer. The Buzz’s solid handling characteristics are bolstered by the perfect weight distribution provided as a result of the battery pack being located between the axles. With MacPherson-strut suspension up front and a multi-link set-up at the rear, the ID. Buzz soaks up rutted road surfaces with ease, ensuring that occupants enjoy a cosseting and pampered ride quality on every journey. Acceleration from the get-go is lively, especially given the fact that Buzz weighs over 2500kg, and a useful thrust of torque allows for easy overtaking manoeuvres. The dashboard stretches out in front of the cab, and the large windscreen provides the driver with a terrific view of the road ahead. The seats are comfortable and supportive in equal measure, and the overall impression I got from my time with the ID. Buzz is that it feels like a car that can confidently cover long distances with ease. The gear selector in the ID. Buzz is attached to the steering column and its operation is very easy to get used to, with brake regeneration activated by selecting ‘B’ on the gear shifter when required. The ID. Buzz has a certified towing capacity of 1,000kg (braked) and it can be specified with a retractable tow bar for convenience.
Verdict.
The new VW ID. Buzz is fully electric, fully connected and full of new ideas for the modern age. Impressive levels of comfort, along with the muted silence within the cabin, introduces a new quality to long-distance road travel, while the magnificent blend of retro and modern styling makes the ID. Buzz one of the most distinctive vehicles on the road. It is fun to drive, funky and immensely practical too. As testament to just how good the new ID. Buzz is, it has been awarded the prestigious title of Irish Car of the Year 2023 by the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI) in association with Continental Tyres.
