Volkswagen’s revival of the iconic Microbus as the all-electric Id. Buzz has been a long and anticipated journey. For many, the original VW Microbus represented more than just transportation; it was a symbol of rational design imbued with character, utility, and a spirit of freedom. The hope was that the ID. Buzz would recapture this essence for a new generation. While there’s much to admire in Volkswagen’s modern electric van, a significant limitation casts a shadow over its potential, especially when it comes to long journeys.
Having followed the ID. Buzz project closely, with multiple opportunities to experience different versions over the past couple of years, the excitement has been building. From the initial European short-wheelbase model driven in 2022, to the grand unveiling of the US-market long-wheelbase version in 2023, and finally, driving the long-wheelbase ID. Buzz last October, the anticipation has been palpable. Volkswagen certainly knows how to create buzz around their vehicles, and the ID. Buzz has been no exception, with a build-up spanning over two decades if you consider the initial concept in 2001.
Recently, the opportunity arose for an extended test drive – a week with the ID. Buzz. There was one crucial aspect missing from previous encounters: a real-world road trip. Away from carefully planned press events, the goal was to assess the ID. Buzz’s performance on a long highway drive, encountering the everyday challenges of EV ownership. This road trip test was essential to truly understand if the ID. Buzz could live up to its promise.
The Road Trip Challenge for the ID. Buzz
This road trip wasn’t just about enjoying the scenery; it was a critical evaluation to confirm long-held suspicions. Previous experiences with the ID. Buzz hinted at a vehicle brimming with potential, yet potentially hindered by its all-electric powertrain. This concern stems not from inherent flaws, but rather from the vehicle’s inherent strengths. The ID. Buzz boasts exceptional packaging, resulting in a spacious interior within its distinctive, boxy yet stylish silhouette. Each row of seats, even the third row, offers ample legroom and headroom, making it genuinely comfortable for passengers.
Luggage space is generous even with all seats in use, and folding down the middle row and removing the rear seats transforms it into a cavernous cargo hauler. The ID. Buzz, with its vast interior and comfortable ride, seems purpose-built for road trips. Therefore, a journey from North Carolina to Savannah, Georgia – a roughly five-hour drive – was planned to put these assumptions to the test. This trip, with just two occupants and minimal luggage, represented a moderate challenge for the ID. Buzz, a vehicle capable of carrying much more.
Range Reality: The Achilles’ Heel of the ID. Buzz Road Trip
However, a significant issue quickly became apparent: the ID. Buzz, a vehicle perfectly designed for road trips, is hampered by a range that feels more suited to city driving. The official range rating for the rear-wheel-drive version tested is 234 miles. However, this figure represents a combined cycle, not necessarily real-world highway range. During the road trip, conducted in colder weather requiring heater use, and with the battery charged to 90% capacity, driving at typical highway speeds between 65 to 75 mph, the actual range was considerably less. Realistically, the ID. Buzz achieved between 170 and 190 miles of range, and often even less, as the navigation system proactively directs drivers to charging stations well before reaching critically low battery levels.
This translates to charging stops roughly every 150 to 160 miles, or about every two hours of driving. This frequency is simply insufficient for comfortable long-distance travel. Furthermore, the charging process itself is not as seamless or quick as refueling a gasoline car. While this isn’t a fault of the ID. Buzz itself, it underscores the limitations imposed by the current state of EV charging infrastructure, particularly in the US. While home charging can mitigate these issues for daily commutes, road trips expose the shortcomings of public charging networks.
Road trips necessitate finding the fastest available chargers, as slower chargers can add significant delays, potentially requiring overnight stops. Even fast chargers often require a considerable time commitment. The charging experience encountered during the road trip, often behind retail locations like Walmart, was far from ideal and surprisingly expensive, costing $40 to $45 per charge, making it potentially pricier than gasoline for a comparable combustion engine vehicle.
Charging infrastructure itself can be unreliable. Encountering crashed or malfunctioning charging stations is not uncommon, adding further frustration to the EV road trip experience. While Tesla Supercharger network access, potentially available in the future with an adapter, might improve the situation, it still falls short of the ease and speed of gasoline refueling – the benchmark against which EVs are inevitably measured for road trip practicality.
Frustration and the Unfulfilled Promise of the ID. Buzz
The question then arises: what is the true purpose of the ID. Buzz in its current form? As a cargo van, leveraging its electric platform for local deliveries, it excels. However, the passenger ID. Buzz is inherently designed and marketed as a vehicle for adventure and travel – a modern embodiment of the free-spirited Microbus. It’s meant to enable exploration and create memorable journeys with loved ones and all the necessary gear.
Despite its starting price of around $60,000, the ID. Buzz offers a compelling package. The interior is exceptionally comfortable and spacious, even with darker color schemes, and the multi-zone climate control and premium audio system enhance the passenger experience. It’s a space perfectly suited for enjoying extended drives with family and friends.
However, the reality of frequent and time-consuming charging stops significantly detracts from this road trip ideal. The ID. Buzz excels in many areas. Its acceleration is surprisingly brisk, a stark contrast to the original VW Bus. Highway driving is smooth and stable, thanks to the low center of gravity provided by the battery pack, and handling is remarkably agile for a vehicle of its size. The brakes are also highly effective.
Visually, the ID. Buzz is a standout. The iconic two-tone paint scheme is a major draw, contributing to its unique and appealing aesthetic. It turns heads and evokes smiles, successfully capturing the spirit of the original Microbus while being undeniably modern. Volkswagen has achieved a remarkable feat in creating a cool and desirable minivan.
The ID. Buzz is fast, spacious, practical, stylish, and comfortable – it seemingly has it all. Yet, its limited range significantly restricts its usability, particularly for its intended purpose as a road trip vehicle. While perfectly adequate for urban and suburban driving, its long-distance capability is compromised. It’s frustrating because the ID. Buzz is so close to being exceptional, but falls short in a critical aspect. It’s akin to cloning Leonardo DaVinci but discovering he can’t actually paint.
The Potential Solution: A Range-Extended ID. Buzz
The frustration is amplified by the realization that the range issue is potentially solvable. Introducing a hybrid powertrain or a range extender to the ID. Buzz could fundamentally transform its road trip viability. A range-extended ID. Buzz, perhaps similar to the configuration planned for the new VW Scout, would offer the best of both worlds. It could function as a capable all-electric vehicle for daily driving, while providing the extended range and refueling convenience of a combustion engine for longer journeys.
The battery pack could be slightly reduced to accommodate a combustion engine, potentially a compact inline or flat engine, and a fuel tank, perhaps located at the front – a configuration reminiscent of the original VW Bus.
A range-extended ID. Buzz represents a logical evolution, especially considering Volkswagen’s commitment to range-extended EVs with the Scout. This approach would allow the ID. Buzz to be a truly versatile vehicle, suitable for both everyday electric driving and long-distance road trips without the limitations of current charging infrastructure.
However, due in part to the lingering impact of Dieselgate and the industry’s push towards full electrification, the ID. Buzz remains an all-electric vehicle, constrained by range limitations. While a remarkable vehicle in many respects, the current ID. Buzz evokes a sense of sadness – a feeling of what could have been, and what almost is. Volkswagen has created a compelling vehicle, but it needs to critically re-evaluate the ID. Buzz and take the necessary steps to fully realize its potential. The pieces are there; they simply need to be assembled in the right way to create the truly exceptional vehicle the ID. Buzz is meant to be.
