Volkswagen finally gives us an iconic design that combines the practicality of a minivan with styling harking back to one of its biggest success stories. Is the ID. Buzz a worthy successor to the Microbus? Let’s find out.

And how about that color palette! Finally, VW is back with fun two-tone Candy White colors mixed with eye-popping combinations like Pomelo Yellow, Energic Orange and Cabana Blue. If your taste runs more mellow, no worries you’ll also find more mellow choices like Blue Charcoal.

VW’s old Microbus makes so much sense to bring back as an EV since just like the old rear-engine, air-cooled Buses, the ID. Buzz’s electric motors allow for a flat floor and extra utility.

For families, the Buzz is the grooviest option available in the U.S. minivan market right now.

• A shoutout goes to Tom Bush VW for providing the ID. Buzz featured in this review.
• Post your ID. Buzz questions or comments here.

Better yet, you’ll never need to sweat getting to the kid’s soccer game on time because you’ll never need to stop for gas, since you can start every day with a full charge by just unplugging, assuming you have a garage or driveway.

VW’s modern day Bus is much more practical than the old air-cooled classics, getting an EPA-estimated combined 80 MPGe, which is a formula the EPA uses to estimate distances you can on electricity as compared to gas.

Electric motors are way more efficient than those old air-cooled engines ever were.

All the electronics and safety features families have come to expect are available. In fact it’s got so many features packed in, I’m hard pressed to think of much of anything that’s not available.

The AWD version can tow up to 3,500 pounds with a manually-retractable hitch, which is completely hidden when not in use.

For you van lifers that have been dreaming of an EV solution, here it is. No surprise, but aftermarket companies are starting to customize the ID. Buzz, with at least one from Tonke Campers even adding a pop-up roof tent, just like some of the old Microbuses had.

Hopefully VW will take notice and offer a factory camper edition at some point as it has with past Micobuses.

The ID. Buzz has also been racking up awards, winning everything from MotorWeek’s Drivers’ Choice Award for best EV to the North American Utility Vehicle of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show.

VW’s EV minivan excels at its primary mission as a family hauler. It’s got tons of storage and can even haul 4x8s with the second and third row seats folded down. That’s something most pickups can’t even do without the boards sticking up above the tailgate.

When it comes to those family road trips to the beach, camping or whatever; the ID. Buzz has a range of 234 miles for the RWD configuration or 231 for the AWD models.

Although, I’m guessing if you’ve got all three rows filled with kids and their gear, you’ll probably want to grab a charge after about 150 miles.

When you do stop for a snack break and a charge, the ID.Buzz can suck down the electrons at a peak speed of 200 kW, allowing it go from a 10 to 80% charge in 26 minutes in ideal conditions.

At home it can add up to 11 kW per hour, so even if you get back with an almost empty battery you’ll still have a full charge by morning, assuming you install a 60-amp charger. If you’ve got questions about home charging, see this video.

For a minivan, the ID. Buzz handles great. Acceleration is probably stronger than in any minivan you’ve ever experienced. The AWD ID. Buzz can get from 0-60 mph in a VW-rated 5.5 seconds, which is faster than some of the V8s that boomers will remember from their youth.

For those long road trips the ID. Buzz comes with adaptive cruise control and lane keeping.

The ID. Buzz starts at $59,995. Our nicely optioned 1^st Edition topped out at just over $68,000.

The Buzz’s closest U.S. competitor is the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid. Its base price starts at $52,750 but can also climb above $60,000.

The ID. Buzz is a wonderful option for families. It brings a splash of fun to a segment that had gotten a bit boring over the years. Watch the video at the top of this post for additional details and a road test.

2025 ID. Buzz Specifications

¹2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S, Pro S Plus or 1st Edition EPA-estimated total range is 234 miles. Actual mileage and range will vary and depend on several factors including driving and charging habits, accessory use, temperature and topography, battery age, load, and vehicle condition. Battery capacity decreases with time and use. See owner’s manual for details.

²Maximum tow rating when equipped with battery-and-motor system and factory-installed towing hitch. Vehicle load, other accessories, and options may reduce maximum towing capacity. See vehicle Owner’s Manual for details.

³2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S Plus With 4MOTION or 1st Edition With 4MOTION EPA-estimated total range is 231 miles. Actual mileage and range will vary and depend on several factors including driving and charging habits, accessory use, temperature and topography, battery age, load, and vehicle condition. Battery capacity decreases with time and use. See owner’s manual for details.

The post VW ID. Buzz EV Road Test: More Smiles Per kW appeared first on EV Rider.

Gabriel Iglesias, the comedian also known as Fluffy, graciously stopped by as a guest on EV Rider to review VW’s ID Buzz as we kick off our multi-episode coverage of the 2023 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. 

The California-based comedian is a huge fan of Volkswagen’s original air-cooled bus. Top Speed reports he owns more than 80 of them so it only makes sense he would come to Florida to see Volkswagen’s historic display of buses with the upcoming 2024 ID Buzz as the centerpiece.

“I took it out on the highway,” Gabriel told EV Rider. “It rides great. It is definitely not the old-school traditional Volkswagen Bus that will leave you on the side of the 405 Freeway. This thing actually gets you there. And get’s you there pretty fast.”

Although VW’s air cooled were commonly referred to as the “Bus,” they were officially known as the Type 2 Transporter or Microbus. It’s also been called the Kombi.

You’ll find Gabriel’s full review of the ID Buzz in the video at the top of this post. His thoughts on VW’s EV reinvention of the classic Bus are sure to leave you smiling. 

Volkswagen’s first all-electric production van is expected to go on sale later this year in the U.S.  

It’s already on sale in Europe. Pricing had not been announced for the U.S. edition at the time of this post’s publication, but it’s expected to arrive with an estimated range of 300 miles and a 111 kWh battery pack along with bright and airy color combinations that will remind EV Riders of the famous air-cooled Type 2 Transporters.  

Other historic buses on display at The Amelia included a customized Type 2 Transporter that was dubbed the Half-Track Fox. Two axles were added to help get skiers and waitstaff up into German mountain resorts. 

You’ll find a look at several of the classic buses, including the Half-Track Fox, in the video. 

If you enjoy the video in this post, please give it a like and subscribe to my YouTube channel so I can bring you more adventures in EV motoring. 

The post Comedian Gabriel Fluffy Iglesias Reviews VW ID Buzz For EV Rider appeared first on EV Rider.