The Volkswagen ID. Buzz has been one of the most anticipated electric vehicles, promising to revive the iconic spirit of the classic VW Microbus for the modern age. The idea of Volkswagen bringing back the beloved Bus, reimagined as an EV, conjured images of nostalgia and practical, quirky design. For many, including myself, the original Microbus was more than just transport; it was a symbol of clever, rational design imbued with character, usefulness, and a certain free-spirited charm. Every journey in an original Bus felt like an adventure, filled with smiles and fond memories. So, naturally, expectations for the ID. Buzz were high, perhaps unrealistically so. While there’s much to appreciate about Volkswagen’s electric revival, a significant flaw prevents the ID. Buzz from fully capturing the magic of its predecessor, leading to considerable frustration.
My journey with the ID. Buzz has been a long one, marked by multiple encounters and growing anticipation. It feels necessary to recount these prior experiences to fully understand the context of this review. My first experience was driving the European short-wheelbase ID. Buzz back in 2022. Then, in 2023, I witnessed the unveiling of the US-market long-wheelbase version at a special event. Finally, last October, I had the opportunity to drive the long-wheelbase ID. Buzz at yet another launch event. Volkswagen certainly knows how to build excitement, but this prolonged rollout, spanning over two years, has created immense anticipation for this vehicle.
Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz launch event video frame, highlighting the long-awaited arrival of the electric microbus.
In fact, the anticipation stretches back even further, almost 24 years, to when Volkswagen first teased the concept of a reborn Microbus in 2001.
Alt text: Volkswagen Buzz concept car from 2001, showcasing the retro-futuristic design that foreshadowed the ID Buzz.
Recently, I had the chance to spend a week with the ID. Buzz. Knowing this was my opportunity for a comprehensive Id Buzz Review, there was one crucial test I needed to perform – something I hadn’t been able to do during the previous controlled drive events: a real road trip. This meant experiencing the ID. Buzz in the unpredictable conditions of real-world highway driving, without the support of Volkswagen’s event staff and meticulously planned routes. I needed to assess how this electric van performed at highway speeds and in the messy reality of everyday travel.
The Road Trip Challenge
Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz in vibrant orange and white two-tone paint, parked at a charging station during a road trip, emphasizing the need for charging infrastructure on long journeys.
This road trip test was essential to confirm a suspicion that had been growing during my previous encounters with the Buzz: while it’s nearly a fantastic vehicle, the decision to make it a purely battery-electric vehicle has significantly limited its potential. This concern stems not from the vehicle’s shortcomings in design or function, but rather from its inherent strengths. The ID. Buzz boasts exceptional packaging, resulting in a remarkably spacious interior within its streamlined, boxy silhouette. Each row, including the often-cramped third row, offers ample legroom, headroom, and overall space.
Alt text: Spacious interior of the Volkswagen ID Buzz, showing comfortable seating and ample legroom, highlighting its practicality as a family vehicle.
Even with all rows in use, luggage space remains generous. Folding the middle row and removing the rear seats unveils a cavernous cargo area. The ID. Buzz is inherently designed for road trips. So, I embarked on one, a modest journey from central North Carolina to Savannah, Georgia, a roughly five-hour drive – or so it should have been. It was a relatively light trip, with just two occupants and minimal luggage, far from the vehicle’s full capacity.
The Range Reality
However, here lies the central problem: the ID. Buzz, a vehicle perfectly suited for road trips, is hampered by a range more akin to a city car.
Alt text: Front view of the Volkswagen ID Buzz in city traffic, illustrating its urban-friendly design but hinting at range limitations for longer distances.
The official range rating for the rear-wheel-drive version I tested is 234 miles. However, this is based on a combined cycle and doesn’t accurately reflect real-world highway road trip range. During my test, conducted in cold weather requiring heater use, with the battery charged to 90% (upped from the default 80%), and driving at typical highway speeds of 65 to 75 mph, the actual range was significantly less. I consistently achieved only 170 to 190 miles, often even less, as the navigation system proactively directs you to charging stations well before reaching critically low battery levels.
Alt text: Dashboard view of the Volkswagen ID Buzz navigation system displaying nearby charging stations, emphasizing the reliance on charging infrastructure during EV road trips.
Realistically, this translates to charging stops every 150 to 160 miles, approximately every two hours. This frequency is simply insufficient for comfortable road trips. Moreover, the charging process itself is nowhere near as quick or convenient as refueling a gasoline car.
This isn’t a fault inherent to the ID. Buzz itself, but rather a consequence of the current state of EV charging infrastructure in America. While home charging is often touted as a solution by EV enthusiasts, its relevance diminishes significantly on road trips. For daily commutes, a Level 2 home charger mitigates the frustrations of public charging. But on the open road, reliable and fast charging infrastructure is paramount.
Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz parked at a public charging station, highlighting the challenges of finding convenient and reliable charging points on road trips.
Road trips necessitate utilizing the fastest chargers available, as slower options can add hours to travel time. Upon returning from my trip, I attempted to use a local charger and encountered a rate of only 15 miles of range per hour. Starting from a 20% charge, a full charge would have required eight or more hours.
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However, faster chargers do exist, some surprisingly branded by Mercedes-Benz, like the ChargePoint station I encountered.
Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz charging at a Mercedes-Benz branded ChargePoint station, illustrating the diverse and sometimes unexpected nature of public EV charging infrastructure.
Despite the Mercedes branding, it was a standard ChargePoint unit. Most charging stops during my trip involved approximately 30 minutes behind a Walmart, often next to stacks of shipping containers – far from an ideal experience. Furthermore, charging isn’t inexpensive. The average cost per charge for the Buzz ranged from $40 to $45, and the round trip required at least two charges, potentially more. Surprisingly, this proved more expensive than the fuel cost for a comparable gasoline vehicle.
Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz charging behind a Walmart store, depicting a typical, less-than-glamorous EV charging scenario during a road trip.
The EV charging experience is undeniably a significant drawback. While electric vehicles offer numerous benefits, convenient charging is not currently among them. Charger malfunctions are also a reality, reminiscent of frustrating computer crashes.
Alt text: A crashed public EV charging station screen displaying an error message, symbolizing the unreliability and frustration sometimes encountered with EV charging infrastructure.
The forthcoming Tesla Supercharger adapter for non-Tesla EVs may improve the situation, but it still won’t match the ease and speed of gasoline refueling – the benchmark for convenience, whether entirely fair or not.
Source of Frustration in this ID Buzz Review
Alt text: Side profile of the Volkswagen ID Buzz emphasizing its retro van design, highlighting its intended versatility and road trip appeal, despite EV range limitations.
This brings us to the fundamental question: what is the intended purpose of the ID. Buzz? In its cargo configuration, the platform is undeniably ideal for local deliveries. It excels in that role. However, the passenger ID. Buzz, in both form and spirit, is clearly designed to be a road trip vehicle – a symbol of freedom and adventure, capable of transporting people and their belongings to any destination.
And it’s important to remember the price point. The ID. Buzz starts at around $60,000. It’s not an inexpensive vehicle.
Alt text: Interior detail of the Volkswagen ID Buzz dashboard, showing the spacious and comfortable cabin designed for long journeys, contrasted with the practical limitations of EV range.
The interior of the model I tested, while featuring a darker color scheme I personally prefer less than the brighter, more playful options, was incredibly spacious and comfortable. The multi-zone climate control and premium audio system were excellent. It’s a space designed for enjoyable journeys with family and friends, accommodating up to seven passengers in comfort for extended periods.
Alt text: Rear seating area of the Volkswagen ID Buzz, showcasing the spaciousness and comfort for passengers, ideal for family road trips, but limited by charging stops.
However, a significant portion of those “hours at a time” might be spent waiting at charging stations, often in less-than-desirable locations.
The ID. Buzz possesses numerous positive attributes. It drives remarkably well. The acceleration is impressive, particularly when considering the sluggish performance of the original VW Bus. Highway driving is smooth, with the low center of gravity from the battery pack contributing to excellent road holding and surprisingly agile handling for such a tall vehicle. The brakes are also excellent, a point I can personally attest to after a deer unexpectedly crossed my path – a testament to their effectiveness in avoiding a collision.
Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz in motion on a winding road, demonstrating its surprisingly good handling and driving dynamics for a van, despite its boxy shape.
Visually, it’s also appealing. The two-tone paint scheme undeniably contributes to its charm, and it works effectively. It stands out from the homogenous vehicle landscape, drawing admiring glances and smiles. It’s undeniably a cool minivan, a feat Volkswagen has successfully achieved.
It’s fast, spacious, practical, stylish, and comfortable – virtually everything one could desire. Except for its fundamental limitation: its restricted usability for its intended purpose. It’s perfectly adequate for urban driving, but that misses the point. This is a vehicle designed for road trips, and it falls short of truly delivering on that promise due to its EV range limitations.
Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz parked at a scenic overlook, symbolizing its road trip aspirations, juxtaposed with the practical challenges of EV range and charging.
The frustration is akin to discovering a cloned Leonardo DaVinci, possessing his appearance and voice, only to find he is incapable of painting or drawing. It’s DaVinci, yet fundamentally unable to perform his defining skill.
A Potential Solution
The most frustrating aspect is that this issue is potentially solvable. If the ID. Buzz were offered as a hybrid or with a range extender, it would fundamentally transform the vehicle. An ID. Buzz equipped with a range extender, similar to what Volkswagen plans for the new Scout, would become an exceptional machine.
And such a solution appears feasible. Consider this:
Alt text: Conceptual diagram of a range-extended Volkswagen ID Buzz, suggesting the integration of a combustion engine for increased driving range and reduced charging dependency.
By slightly reducing the battery pack size, a combustion engine could be integrated into the freed-up space – perhaps a flat inline engine or a horizontally-opposed engine. The fuel tank could be positioned at the front – a configuration that might seem familiar.
Alt text: Cutaway diagram of a classic Volkswagen Bus, illustrating the rear engine and front fuel tank layout, hinting at a potential hybrid configuration for the ID Buzz.
Indeed, the classic VW Bus layout offers a conceptual blueprint.
A range-extended ID. Buzz could function as an all-electric vehicle for daily use, while offering the long-range capability of a gasoline car for road trips. However, this is not the current reality. Partly due to the lingering shadow of Dieselgate, the ID. Buzz remains a remarkable vehicle hindered by external factors and circumstances. Adopting a range-extended EV/hybrid powertrain would resolve these critical issues. In its current form, the ID. Buzz evokes a sense of sadness – a lament for what could have been and what almost is. Volkswagen needs to critically reassess the Buzz and complete its development, in the right direction. They possess all the necessary components; they simply need to assemble them correctly. The potential is immense, and the desire for its success is genuine.
Alt text: Rear view of the Volkswagen ID Buzz with its taillights illuminated, symbolizing its almost-realized potential and the need for further development to overcome its limitations.
