Volkswagen ID. Buzz Review & Prices

The Volkswagen ID Buzz is one of the most recognisable electric cars on sale - and despite being a combination of a van and an MPV, neither of which are particularly au fait bodystyles with car buyers, it’s also one of the most desirable.

With styling inspired by the classic Volkswagen Microbus, the ID Buzz is proof that a chic and appealing electric car doesn’t have to be an SUV. It’s a bit like upcycling an old piece of furniture - taking an old concept and bringing it into the modern age, but retaining the style and character that made it popular in the first place.

As a large, premium electric car, the ID Buzz is a great - and family-friendly - alternative to SUVs such as the Tesla Model Y, Skoda Enyaq, Kia EV9 or Peugeot E-5008. It’s also a compelling fully-electric alternative to the fantastic Volkswagen Multivan.

Range Test: Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback v Genesis GV60 v Mercedes EQA v Nissan Ariya v Tesla Model Y v Volkswagen ID Buzz

The design is the primary reason for wanting an ID Buzz. It looks fantastic - it may be slab-sided and boxy, but the devil's in the detail. Glam alloy wheels, rounded edges, and a distinct styling line running around the middle which also serves to divide the great-looking (optional) two-tone paint finishes.

There are three distinct versions of the ID Buzz available, with five, six, or seven seats. The latter also gets a longer wheelbase and body, making it an alternative to proper electric people-carriers such as the Ford E-Tourneo Custom - but the shorter models are more nicely proportioned, and still offer a practical, square interior with a huge boot and sliding doors for easy access.

Speaking of the interior, it’s a little less eye-catching than the exterior - it uses the same components as Volkswagen’s other ID electric cars, which means a big touchscreen infotainment system and precious little in the way of physical switchgear. There are some nice nods to its van heritage, though, such as a useful sliding centre console and a multi-level boot floor.

Space for passengers is excellent, though the ID Buzz isn’t really a true MPV - the seats don’t fold or disappear quite as readily as they do in something like the smaller Volkswagen Touran.

It’s a very spec-dependent interior, too. On mid-range Style models, where you can get a light-coloured dashboard and fantastic colour-matched upholstery, it feels really airy and cheerful. On the range-topping GTX, despite the cavernous space on offer, the all-black finish makes it feel positively pokey.

There are three trim levels available for the ID Buzz and two choices of electric motor - the regular version or the higher-powered GTX. Even this supposed ‘sporty’ model isn’t much fun to drive, though - the big, heavy Buzz is at its best when it’s driven more gently. Do so, and you’ll find that it’s quite relaxing and comfortable, though those massive wheels can crash into potholes and over speed bumps.

The best version of the Buzz has a range of 292 miles, which is pretty good albeit not quite up to the best electric SUVs. But this really isn’t a car that you buy entirely with your head.

So if your heart has decided the ID Buzz is the car for you, check out our best Volkswagen ID Buzz deals, or get a great Volkswagen ID Buzz lease deal. You can see used ID Buzz models for sale, or find other used Volkswagens for sale. And remember that Carwow can even help you to sell your old car, when the time comes to move on.

The ID Buzz range starts at just under £60,000. You don’t have to pay very much extra for the different seating arrangements - the long-wheelbase, seven-seater version is just £510 more expensive than the short-wheelbase, five-seater model. You’ll pay around £4,000 extra for the more highly equipped Style version, and another £4,000 or so on top of that if you’d like the high-powered GTX model.

Those prices put it about in the middle of the pricier, but posher Kia EV9, and the more budget-leaning Peugeot E-5008.

Strap in, though, because the options list for the ID Buzz is expensive - and pricey. If you want the fantastic two-tone paint, it’ll cost you nearly £3,000. A heat pump (which really should be standard on a car this expensive) is a further £1,000, and if you want heated seats you need to add on an extra £2,000 seating package. It means that the ideal ID Buzz really does come in at more than £70,000.

The electric setup makes for peaceful and comfortable progression, but the rear-mounted motor isn’t the punchiest around

In town

There’s no hiding the fact the Buzz is a large car. Measuring almost five metres long and two metres wide, it’s almost as large as a Range Rover. But at no time does it feel like that, as the rear-wheel drive setup means the front wheels only need to turn. That means a turning circle of just 11.1m.

With larger windows all around, you have excellent visibility with the well-sized wing mirrors helping further. You can get cameras with it to help further when manoeuvring in and out of parking spaces or tight streets. Being sat high up also helps massively. 

As it’s based on the same platform as the Volkswagen ID3 and ID4, the Buzz feels comfortable enough over bumps and cracks at slower speeds. The noise of the bumps will work around the cabin a little, but it’s not enough to ruin the experience. 

And while you get a ‘B’ mode to engage higher levels of brake regeneration while you’re driving, unfortunately it’s never fully one pedal driving, meaning you’ll need to apply the brake to come to a stop. 

On the motorway

EVs can transfer a lot of noise from the outside when driving at higher speeds sometimes, but the Buzz manages to remain quiet apart from some flutter around the wing mirrors. The suspension and well-cushioned seats also mean it remains comfortable over longer journeys, with plenty of space for passengers to stretch out.

But as is the main flaw with electric cars on long journeys, the efficiency of the Buzz does suffer at higher speeds, meaning forward planning on trips further afield is definitely required, especially as the range isn’t up with the best EVs to start with.

Also getting up to speed can be a little sluggish. The rear-mounted motor does offer enough punch in town to get you going, but on a motorway it doesn’t get you up to speed with the same vigour.

You can get it with adaptive cruise control with distance control to take any strain out of long drives, while lane keep assist and brake assist are also included for further assistance. 

On a twisty road

With it being more of a van than anything else, don’t expect the sportiest driving experience. It does have a sport mode, but it doesn’t change the character of Buzz much. It’s got slightly sharper responsiveness and heavier steering, but it’s not that sporty really. 

Having batteries mounted under the floor, body lean is limited much more than you might think for a van, as the weight is mounted lower, reducing the centre of gravity. There’s also enough direction from the steering and it grips the road well, so making quicker progress isn’t too difficult.

Not as flexible as a proper MPV, but plenty of room to spare and a choice of three seating layouts

The front of the ID Buzz is very roomy indeed. There’s a totally flat floor and no fixed centre console, so you can easily step in from either side of the vehicle and slide across to your seat - that’s fantastic if you’re parked in a really tight spot, for example.

Storage solutions are ample. There are multi-level door bins, and slots on the dashboard to store smaller items, plus a hidden wireless charger that keeps your phone at hand but out of sight and temptation. Two cupholders fold down from the centre, while the sliding centre console has adaptable storage for more drinks or other small items.

The seats have tons of adjustment - exceptionally tall drivers will love the ID Buzz, as the driver’s seat goes so far back that even our 6’3 road tester couldn’t reach the pedals. It can feel a little disconcerting looking out, though - the windscreen is so far ahead that it feels a bit like you’re seeing through a tunnel.

Space in the back seats

There are three distinct layouts for the rear seats, each with their pros and cons. The five-seater version comes on the short-wheelbase Buzz, and gives you the biggest boot space behind it. The seats have loads of room, but they’re not particularly flexible - it’s just a regular bench seat like you get in a Golf. You don’t even get a fold-down centre armrest, though there are fold-out tables on the front seatbacks plus USB-C charging ports in the door pockets.

You can also get a six-seater layout on the short-wheelbase model. This has two captain’s chairs in the middle row, which are much more comfortable, and a further two seats in the rear. The third row is a little snug, but adults can still fit back there, and access is easy through the big sliding doors.

For maximum passenger space, you’ll want the long-wheelbase seven-seat model, with the same three-seat centre bench as the five-seater plus two extra rear seats. Do note, though, that if you’re parked up and charging, you can only get in one side - the charge port actually blocks the door on that side of the vehicle from opening, which is superbly annoying.

Boot space

You get a mammoth boot space in the ID Buzz no matter which version you go for. There’s a board that divides the load area, with drawer-style storage units underneath, ideal for charging cables, first aid kits or other items that you don’t use frequently. You can then use the surface on top of the board as a normal boot.

Fold the seats down and you get almost moving-van levels of practicality, but it’s still not quite as useful as something like a Ford Tourneo Custom with the seats removed, or even Volkswagen’s own Multivan. The seats can also be a bit awkward to fold down or move around - you get a slicker experience with a seven-seater SUV like the Peugeot E-5008.

The cute styling from the exterior continues to the cabin and is combined with lots of space, but the Volkswagen infotainment system issues from other models remain

Being one of the ID family, the styling of the Buzz’s cabin is very similar to Volkswagen’s ID3, 4 and 5. But by being a taller car, the Buzz has much more sense of space. With the large windows and high seating position paired to the optional two-tone interior to match the exterior colour, there’s a lot of light coming in – making for a great place to be. 

Although the standard cabin is an all-black finish, which works better with the Cargo van version, the two-tone interior comes with a wood effect finish across the dash to add extra character. Ambient lighting also helps add further character. 

As it’s a van though, there’s a lot of straight lines and open space as you head into the back, and the wide windows – that you can’t open – help give even more light in. 

Where all ID cars fall down, and the Buzz is certainly no exception, is the infotainment system. Since Volkswagen has introduced its latest technology, the reputation of the vehicles have taken a hit, and the laggy system is a serious down point here. It’s easier to connect your phone and use the Android Auto or Apple CarPlay you get as standard.

Also as standard you get a 10.0-inch display, but you can optionally select a larger 12.0-inch version if you want a bit more digital real estate on the dashboard. 

Many of you will be wanting to know if you can turn this into a campervan, and with the help of the optional load floor in the boot, you theoretically can make it into a flat sleeping area. But there isn’t a full-on camper model as yet.

With the ID Buzz, you get a 77kWh battery pack paired to the rear axle-mounted electric motor. That means a range of 258 miles on a single charge, although in our experience, the real-world range gives closer to 215 miles. To make stops at fast chargers easier, the Buzz will charge at up to 170kW on direct current, meaning it can go from 10-80% charge in just 30 minutes.

Being all electric, you don’t have to worry about emissions and additional road tax for now. From 2025 though, you will be needing to pay tax when driving an electric vehicle, so that’s something to bear in mind going forward with electric car ownership.

You want your family car to be secure, and the ID. Buzz is one of the safest cars you can buy. On Euro NCAP tests, the Buzz scored five stars thanks to impressive results in adult occupant and safety assists. The child occupant rating was also excellent, furthering the Buzz’s family safety credentials. 

The safety assist systems as standard include adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane assist and road sign display, while you can also get dynamic light assist with matrix LED headlights.

With the car only having arrived on roads in late 2022, it’s difficult to judge whether it’ll be reliable or not. In terms of warranty, you get three years/100,000 miles from new – with the battery warranty being eight years/100,000 miles. 

You can also get roadside assistance and servicing through Volkswagen, meaning you can keep all your bills in-house with it if you wish.