The ID. Buzz is the all-new van from Volkswagen. It pays homage to the original VW microbus which was an icon of the 1960s. Like the original, the ID. Buzz has the same VW logo and V-shaped hood. But everything else is thoroughly modern. This VW bus is all-electric, is longer and wider, has a premium cabin, and comes with the latest tech. Drawbacks are a relatively high starting price and a shorter range than many rivals.
Base Price: $65,495
As Tested: $67,045
Horsepower: 282
Mileage: 90 MPGe city/75 MPGe highway/83 MPGe combined
The ID.Buzz is definitely a head turner. Everywhere I drove it, people wanted to talk to me about it. Boomers would tell me about the groovy Volkswagen buses they grew up with during the era of love and peace, while younger folks recognized it from TV shows and movies.
The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz comes in three trims: Pro S, Pro S Plus and 1st Edition. Starting prices are $59,995, $63,495 and $65,495. All come standard with a rear-axle mounted single electric motor and rear-wheel drive. The Pro S Plus and 1st Edition trims are available with front-and-rear-axle-mounted electric motors and Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive, with starting prices of $67,995 and $69,995. All of the starting prices are higher than most other minivans and three-row crossovers.
There’s room for seven people with a bench seat in the second row, and six with captain’s chairs. The bench seat is standard on rear-wheel drive models. Captain’s chairs are available on rear-wheel drive Pro S Plus models and standard on all 4Motion models.
Like most minivans and three-row crossovers, driving the ID.Buzz is not going to give you an adrenalin rush. While acceleration is respectable, there’s not a jolt of power off the line that some EVs deliver. But the ID.Buzz is easy to handle and has more than enough oomph for everyday driving situations, whether driving around town or cruising on the highway. The ID.Buzz even has enough power when loaded up with people and gear and you’re driving on an uphill section of highway. Steering and braking are responsive. There’s some body roll when cornering but it’s not excessive. The suspension is on the firm side but not jarring. While the ID.Buzz doesn’t have true one-pedal driving, the vehicle will slow when you take your foot off the accelerator. All in all, this all-electric VW is easy to maneuver and handles well for a vehicle that weighs more than 6,000 pounds.
The models with one electric motor, 91-kWh battery, and rear-wheel drive have a total output of 282 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, and a range of 234 miles. The models with dual electric motors, 91-kWh battery, and all-wheel drive have a total output of 335 horses and 512 pound-feet, and a range of 231 miles. While more than 200 miles is enough for most drivers, a growing number of EVs have ranges upwards of 300 miles or more.
EPA ratings are good for an EV minivan or SUV. The single-motor ID.Buzz gets 90 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) city, 75 MPGe highway and 83 MPGe combined. The dual-motor models get 87 MPGe city, 74 MPGe highway and 80 MPGe combined.
Charging is relatively quick. VW says the 91-kWh battery can be charged at a rate of up to 200 kW at DC fast-charging stations, allowing for 10 to 80 percent charging in about 26 minutes. With a Level 2 charger (240-volt outlet), 25-35 miles of range are added per hour of charging, meaning it can take about nine hours to completely charge a drained battery.
The cavernous cabin has an open and airy feel. Most materials are nice, including standard synthetic leather seats, but there are some hard plastics which you don’t expect in a vehicle with a higher price point. Seats in the first two rows are comfortable and supportive, with plentiful leg- and headroom. Even the third row is roomy enough for average-size adults. A large infotainment system is on the dash.
Standard features include remote start, proximity keyless entry, rearview camera, auto-dimming rearview mirror, three-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, ventilated front seats, massaging front seats, heated steering wheel, heated second-row outboard seats, Buzz Box removable center console, 5.3-inch driver information display, infotainment system with 12.9-inch touchscreen, navigation, nine-speaker audio system, satellite radio, HD Radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, eight USB-C ports, voice recognition, wireless device charging, Wi-Fi hot spot, 110-volt household-style power outlet, ambient LED interior lighting, rain-sensing windshield wipers and adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams.
Available features include a surround-view camera system, head-up display, 13-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, hands-free sliding rear doors, and a panoramic smart glass roof which can change from transparent to opaque with the swipe of a finger.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, Travel Assist (Volkswagen’s semi- autonomous driving system that combines adaptive cruise control with lane assist to provide steering assistance, braking and acceleration support), traffic-sign recognition, pedestrian and cyclist detection, reverse collision warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, park assist, and vehicle exit warning.
The infotainment system looks great with its large 12.9-inch touchscreen. Graphics are crisp and modern, and the system responds quickly to inputs. But it’s not particularly user-friendly. There are many menus and submenus, and the haptic touch controls can be annoying to use. Some good old-fashioned physical controls would be nice.
Cargo space is great with 18.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.5 cubes behind the second row and 145.5 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. If you need more space, the third row can be removed. There are optional storage shelves and two fabric drawers, which are a good place to stash smaller items. A hands-free power liftgate is available.
Each ID.Buzz comes with a Buzz Box, a removable center console that provides storage on top and two compartments below, with unique dividers that can be used as a bottle opener and ice scraper.
The good:
Cool retro vibes
Easy handling
Plenty of power for all kinds of driving scenarios
Comfortable, roomy cabin
Lots of space for passengers and cargo
Many standard and available features and tech
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Relatively quick charging times
The not-so-good:
Range is less than some rivals
Costs more than many other minivans and three-row crossovers
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $65,495. The destination fee is $1,550, bringing the grand total to $67,045.
Bottom line:
The all-new Volkswagen ID.Buzz is a fun and funky family hauler. This all-electric van will turn heads with its retro design that resembles the original VW microbus. It’s easy to maneuver with enough power for just about every driving situation, comes with many standard and available features, and the cavernous cabin has plenty of room for passengers and cargo. Where the ID.Buzz falls short is in its relatively expensive price and its range. Otherwise, it’s a cool alternative to a minivan or three-row crossover.
