2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz
The wait is over. The most anticipated electric vehicle has finally arrived into showrooms.
The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz has been teased for years. It was seen as the revival of the iconic Type 2 Microbus from the 1950s. The modern take on the legendary “bus” is a fusion of the past with the present.
Getting it to America was a task. But, first, we have it here for us to tell you whether this new “bus” is worth the wait.
The design was inspired by the old Type 2 “microbus.” It was given several names over its decades, but the essence remains. The retro design was modernized with plenty of modern touches. One modern touch is the LED lightning signature up front combining main headlamp units with a light bar. The big Volkswagen logo is a throwback that you will instantly recognize from older models.
Yet, we forget that it is a minivan. It will fit in most garages with a lower roofline. The profile is unmistakably retro with its long roof and glass profile, along with two sliding rear doors. You may have a few trim pieces towards the rear that look like “vents.” That is a nod to when the old Type 2 was air cooled with its engine in the rear.
The rear end has a horizontal light bar with a large Volkswagen logo on the liftgate. Our Pro S Plus tester came with a two-tone paint job and a set of 20-inch “dish” wheels.
Stepping inside, you are greeted with a very modern cockpit. The digital instrument cluster is attached to the steering column, which is adjustable for height and rake. In the middle is a large 12.9-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. Most controls are haptic touch throughout the cabin. The transmission controller is on the right column – something rarely seen on any Volkswagen past and present.
The Pro S Plus 4Motion tester offers six seats with the second row’s captain’s chairs. Rear-drive models have a three-seat second-row as standard. The front seats offer a nice place to sit for miles and have plenty of power adjustments available. The V-Tex leatherette looked and felt nice in the “Dune” interior theme, which adds orange accents throughout the cabin. Second and third row room is generous for adults.
Behind the third row of seats, there is a stowage option that adds a shelf with two collapsable bins beneath it. Even without the bins, there is 16.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row. Those seats can be removed through a rolling mechanism. There is an underfloor storage on top of the varying cargo management options inside the ID. Buzz. Up to the second row, you have 75.5 cubic feet of space. With the third-row seats removed and the second-row seats folded down, you can load up to 145.5 cubic feet of cargo.
The 4Motion driveline provides the ID. Buzz a dual-motor set-up with an electric drive unit on each axle. Combined, this drive system puts down 335 horsepower and a total of 512 pound-feet of torque for both motors. This system gets its energy from a 91-kilowatt-hour battery pack that can deliver around 234 miles of range on a full battery. Charging from 10-80% takes 26 minutes on a 200-kilowatt DC Fast Charger.
Performance-wise, we like how the ID. Buzz 4Motion puts down power for passing. It does a fine job on highway cruising, as well as crosstown jaunts. The ride quality is firm, which means that you will feel some uneven on the road. Yet, it handles very well, thanks to its low center of gravity from the battery pack. There are times when the ID. Buzz does not feel like it weighs almost 6,200 pounds.
Steering-wise it is a good system. It turns quite well and offer a tight radius. On-center feel is very good. As for the brakes, they stop very well. Especially when turning stops in normal, panic, and winter situations. Pedal feel is just right.
The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz is offered in three trim levels, including a 1st Edition. Pricing starts from $59,995. Our Pro S Plus 4Motion tester came with a sticker price of $70,540.
This is the only battery-electric minivan in the market right now. The closest competitor to the ID. Buzz is the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid with its plug-in system. You could throw in the Toyota Sienna and Kia Carnival Hybrid as electrified rivals in the mix.
Volkswagen created a unique offering with the 2025 ID Buzz. A people carrier that harkens back to the good ol’ days of the Type 2. Did they bring back the magic of the past in this new electric van? We believe they did.
Credits: CarSoup Editors
