Volkswagen ID.Buzz Review: A modern-day Mystery Machine

This is not our first run-in with the ID.Buzz, the spiritual successor to the classic Volkswagen camper van. No, we drove this car at the end of last year on its international launch in Copenhagen, and back then, we were super-impressed by it. Now, however, we've had a chance to spend a bit more time with it in the UK, so does the car cope with everyday life as well as we thought it would? In short, yes.
As a reminder, this five-seat pure electric car sits on the same MEB platform that underpins all of VW's other electric offerings, and comes with a 201bhp electric motor powering the rear wheels. It has a 77kWh lithium-ion battery pack that gives it an official WLTP range of 260 miles, and prices start at around the £59,000 mark.
In this CarGurus UK video review, Vicky Parrott is reminded about what she liked so much about the ID.Buzz the first time around, and in the process, she assesses the car in a variety of areas, such as practicality, quality, technology, affordability, and of course, what it's like to drive.
Written review: www.cargurus.co.uk/research/V...
Pros
Fantastic styling
Good to drive
Beautifully finished interior
Cons
Hugely expensive
Charging cables cost extra
You’ll have to wait for the campervan version
The CarGurus verdict
The Volkswagen ID Buzz is a brilliant EV, and an even better lifestyle van or MPV. It could be improved with more reasonable option prices, and more logical volume and climate controls. The longer-range, seven-seat model and the ‘proper’ Campervan that many are waiting for will be really welcome additions to the range, too.
Even so, for the space and versatility the ID Buzz offers, as well as the style kudos and tech features, it really is hard to argue against. Yes, a Tesla Model Y will go further to a charge, a Hyundai Ioniq 5 is more affordable, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E is much more fun to drive. But the ID Buzz is unique in what it offers, and the balance of common-sense, versatility and incredible coolness is unmatched by anything else.
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▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
00:00 - Introducing the VW ID. Buzz
03:12 - Practicality
03:40 - Rear seats and optional extras
05:22 - Front Seats and infotainment
08:12 - Driving the VW ID. Buzz
10:22 - Verdict
11:04 - Wrap up
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#cargurusuk #idbuzz #vwidbuzz

[@haz525]

I still can't get over how much it costs. It's good but there are better vehicles for the money

[@hondamonkeyboy]

60 grand but you have to pay extra for an armrest?

[@toyotaprius79]

There's neither a front bench 1+2, nor a 3rd row option.

[@niels5194]

@@toyotaprius79 There will be a long-wheelbase version later this year with 6 and 7 seat configurations.

[@Kelveron]

Honestly I don't get the hype about the ID Buzz. Yes, its styling might appeal to some people, but that is a subjective thing anyway. But it is not exceptional in any of the ride/handling, build quality, interior space, range, performance, efficiency categories, plus it has the horrid VW all touchscreen ergonomics and is very expensive! So, what is the big deal about this car?

[@keelay1977]

Quite thorough testing of the stops on the sliding door. Yikes.

[@cannygrowabeard]

Excellent work again from Vicky and the CarGurus UK team.

[@MrDutchboy75]

Nice review but forgot to mention that the passengers can’t open the windows at all in the back.

[@51StPi]

Also the interior layout is very uninspired compared to a series 1 Espace,

[@jonathanw844]

Yah I thought the same

[@markymarkreviews]

Excellent review as always. Needed a 100kWh battery at this price. Every review I have seen is typically with 1 driver! This is meant to be loaded up with people and surfboards or luggage etc. The range will be terrible in winter used like that. The original utilitarian VW Camper was designed to take people everywhere (very slowly and noisily) easily. . This one..not so much.

[@toyotaprius79]

This Buzz needs a minimum 50kWh at a competitive price for most, if it were the same or below the ID.3. That sounds like a night mare to you, but Citroën and Peugeot have something just like it and that is popular with families and taxicabs. But with a potential 12 seat configuration. But see, if you don't remember the ranges of the old VW buses, if you don't remember how far air cooled engines can be pushed, then you don't also know what EV driving is like and could be like. Small range EVs (I'm talking 70-150 mile) can do the big day trip, if not needing an overnight stay. Small range EVs can splash and dash on DC fast chargers no problem in every day driving when the driver knows what they need for the day. There's just been so few examples of them, and fewer with the battery cooling capabilities to make charging reliably fast - and even fewer if we think of the limited variety available if they were only sold in the US, Europe, Japan, China, etc

[@lise1255]

Obviously it's a MPV, what else would it be ? - and that's a really good thing !

[@Truthbomb918]

It only has 5 seats

[@richard6946]

Yup, it has all the amazing good looks of an MPV with none of the benefits to carry more than 5 😅

[@lise1255]

@@Truthbomb918 A MPV does not have to be a "mini bus" to be a multi purpose vehicle. Besides that, they are actually produced in a 7 seating version too.

[@Truthbomb918]

@@lise1255 yes they are and those extra seats will make the cost even higher

[@anthonystevens8683]

Another great balanced overview Vicky. The god points and those could do better ones. Although the style is close to spot on the price and the specs combined with the general experience let it down for me. Don't get me wrong, I love the style but that starting price for the poverty spec is just too much and even the higher spec version still requires the driver to use touch controls for items that really ned to be direct access. This isn't just a pop at VW but the way that the market is moving. This move to total touch access is a safety concern for me as the driver has to direct senses to somewhere other than the road ahead. Anyway a great overview and many thanks for sharing.

[@timmurphy5541]

There are a lot of expensive cars out there I'd never buy including all the Teslas simply because it doesn't make financial sense for me. This is a great vehicle though - would love it - and perhaps in 10 years I'll be able to get an old one.

[@global_nomad.]

we might have to wait for a Skoda or Seat (not a sporty Cupra) version that fixes all the things VW has forgotten how to think about. Just had two weeks in a dull holiday rental t-cross with some haptic climate controls which are awful...at least the steering had real buttons..

[@robertshears8385]

Like all new VW electric vehicles, it could and should get better to own, the stick on vents on the C pillar could be made into vents, haptic switches and non illuminated slider controls apparently will be changed in the future, is there room for a spare wheel in the back?

[@Ashish-no1ck]

Really like vans and the space they provide. Miss them particularly Mini Vans presently.

[@chosenArchitec]

3:40 the rattle of the sliding doors lol I'm surprised the grab handles weren't optional ;D

[@sandrahildebrand4475]

Like Your stuff the most

[@martynlaverick3405]

I love the car but I can't help but think car makers have lost the plot when it comes to reality and what is affordable. £60k is a huge amount of money well out the price range for most people.

[@Truthbomb918]

Drove one, love the outside look, hate absolutely everything else about it. It's so expensive and yet feels so cheap. They cheaped out on the windscreen wipers even, the stalk is now gone and instead front and back are now awkward to use and shoves into the headlight stalk. The arm rest and the padding on the door where ur elbow goes has no little padding to make it uncomfortable because u end up resting on the hard plastic understand. All in all this is typical of modern vw. Basically it's just a good looking van with very little seats. It has all the flaws of the entire id range, awful infotainment, climate controls, haptic buttons and small useless drivers display and adds more to that. The infotainment screen is not angled toward the driver, flaws just go on and on and it's not efficient either. I know a vw dealer and he admitted they expect to not even sell one of these

[@theta2170]

Problem is, that's EVs in general right now. Too much of the value of the car is the battery, so they have to cheap out everywhere else. Otherwise the price is just crazy. Other manufacturers give you best of both worlds and look at their prices...the Polestar 3 is £80k, the new Volvo EX90 starts at about £90k. Something's gotta give.

[@pc2555]

​@@theta2170 solution: stop trying to make evs the 'new standard' and stick with gas and diesel vehicles. Leave evs as fun luxury cars for the rich which is all they are now anyway. It's amazing to me how both governments and automakers are trying to push ev production for the average citizen so hard for the environment when in reality it's no better than a gas or diesel and maybe even worse depending on how you look at it.

[@theta2170]

@@pc2555 You're wrong in so many ways. Do some research and stop getting all your facts from the Daily Mail.

[@pc2555]

@@theta2170 well the issue is I have done research and use common sense. I know a good deal about the downsides of evs and I think they are awful and just a straight up inferior product to internal combustion. I'm curious though enlighten me as to the benefits of evs and why they are 'the future'.

[@Flyingtwiglet]

I reluctantly cancelled my 1st Gen Buzz order. At £64k it just seemed £10k overpriced when compared to EV6/MY and cars about to hit the market. If I had a young family I'd would definitely have it, but for my intended use of the occasional bikes in the back, IKEA or dump run it was an expensive luxury. Another reviewer slating the Infotainment which they all seem to have to do. As a 1 year owner of an ID3 with v3.0 software, its fine. It's not perfect, but the best in any car I've had. It's odd that other manufacturers with sh*t software don't get it mentioned so much. Also the big deal about the unlit heating and volume sliders - who constantly changes the heat? just leave it at 20 and the volume control is on the wheel or the big slider is below the screen and easy to find. It's a bit like saying "the gear knob/indicator stalks are unlit, what a fail" No, you know where they are once you have been in the car a few times. Finally, I'd like to see a Buzz review where they demonstrate the V2L capability. Apart from the publicity material and video's claiming the capability, I've not actually seen it in action. 2-way CCS are non existent and this doesn't seem to have a socket or adapter for the charge port like an MG or EV6/Ionic5. I have excess solar at home already (March) so being able to use a car as power storage is an attractive option.

[@simono4991]

I can see the appeal but damn that’s a lot of money for a big ID3. That’s Discovery money, for example, for someone who wants loads of practicality and some ‘adventure’ potential, and that’s a lot more car.

[@gkelly34]

Saw one on the road and stopped me in my tracks! Well done VW

[@pigeonpoo1823]

Everything about this is spectacular, both the good and the awful. So, if you want a massively shouty and awesome looking thing, get the one that's writing cheques it's body can cash..... The Ranger Raptor! I mean, you are cross shopping those two, aren't you???????? 60k, 5 seats, beach trips

[@sevesellors2831]

Great review Vicky, hoping future EVs are cheaper for us mortals. Which is your favourite EV ?

[@bp19870]

I want one, but my wallet doesn’t.

[@wayfaringcookie8142]

60k? Ok.

[@davidmarshall5596]

You would to have more money than sense to spend £60k on something like this ! Bloody hell I'm thinking the automobile industry has list the plot the way things are going in these crazy crazy times 😳

[@mzmm4186]

Those dash cupholders are so low to the ground, definitely unusable during driving, and for such a massive unit to just rotate into the console when not in use, feels like they could've positioned the cupholders higher and make some extra room for a bin or a second cubby beneath. 21" wheels on a non-sports car, yikes. Surely they could've done with some18"s?

[@wayneheyes904]

1) way way way to expensive won’t sell 2) white interior a no 3) UNREALISTIC real world range

[@stevezodiac491]

If the battery loses 10 % capacity in 2 years like 'battery life' channel's ID3 on the same platform, you won't think it is good then ?

[@anthonypagano6384]

It rivals a Mercedes Benz EQV and Citroen Berlingo and ford Tourneo connect and BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and Volkswagen Touran and Vauxhall combo and Peugeot Rifter and Peugeot traveller and Volkswagen caddy and Vauxhall Vivaro and Citroen spacetourer and Volkswagen multivan and ford tourneo custom and Mercedes Benz v Class

[@MercOne]

I'm waiting on a new Beetle. No way VW is going to let it go now that they can scale an EV platform anyway they want.

[@kloppskalli]

I`d always wear white gloves in that car ... I can imagine how filthy that white interior must look after a couple of years ...

[@StevenHaggis]

Wow the 536th review of the ID Buzz. It only came out about 6 months ago!!!

[@crismam1531]

The sound of a 65K plastic interior....

[@KurniadiPrathomo-sp5zd]

I wonder does it still worth to be called a "VOLKSwagen" with that price tag 🤔

[@Fiwek23452]

You can. Buy an bmw i4 gran coupe for the price of this🤦‍♂️

[@toyotaprius79]

It's too expensive for its own good. VW should not have chased this market. It should not be "range rover like". If the Buzz was less poshy, less like the 'NewBeetle' and more like the Caddy, that would've made it the better EV.

[@lesbrown3475]

Wtf does wlt mean

[@Harrythehun]

The concept was great, the actual Buzz is crappy. Almost everything great is gone. Was in line to buy one but cancelled when I saw what pile of garbage they would deliver.

[@sevensixtysteve8662]

I think the bottom line with this car is that you would have to be prepared to pay a huge amount of money for a look - objectively it seems average at best in other areas. The poor software, range, interior design, quality and lack of imagination on the internal layout seems unforgivable at this price point. It needs more range to cope with being loaded up, it needs more interior flexibility to cope with families that would potentially want one, and it needs to sort out the software and ergonomics so its at least competitive, not 5 years behind. Mind you, poor performance and ergonomics didn't stop the original selling so maybe VW have been truer to their heritage with the Buzz than we give them credit for !

[@crismam1531]

looks nothing like the old camper vans.. just looks more like a faclifted electrified Transporter

[@Lazarusart]

It's a Very Expensive German VAN !!! With a nightmare white interior !! Useless 😂 why have all the car reviewers been TOLD by VW to call this a car, it's NOT !

[@nigelbrett5703]

There is no but. It is a ridiculously priced basic van way beyond most people’s budget and destined only as a toy for the rich. I’m sure not all car reviewers get paid large salaries so please get real and call it as it is when reviewing these play vehicles at exorbitant prices.

[@benkelly948]

I don't get all the anti ev comments, daily mail reading dopes I supose. But £60k+ for this is well over the top. VW have always been very tight with extras and they seem to have over priced this by around 50%. Maybe £40k and they'll sell them. I need a van for work and have vowed not to give any more money to the fossil fuel industry but no way I can afford this.

[@jayb2617]

way over priced, and as public charging is expensive and a 200 mile range you would be buying a lot of hassle and even more expense, just to go and use it for what was designed for..... driving

[@Backwardlooking]

The purpose of such a vehicle is to go to scenic places and inevitably these will be far from any existing recharging points . Moreover it’s cost like most E.V.’s places it beyond the reach of most households. Far from being Hitler’s idea of a “People’s Car’ ( Strange that name hasn’t been Cancelled as it would have been in the Woke Anglo-Saxon World) it is unapologetically a Luxury Car!.

[@nigelbrett5703]

Pushing £70,000 for a decent spec! This is an absolute joke and reviewers should call it out as such.

[@jukeboxjohnnie]

Until the non changable batteries die in 10-15 years time then you can tow it to the scrapyard. it can never be a classic vehicle

[@gap9992]

I love it but ....... the spec you want is min £70k. No removable rear seats means it's no more practical than an estate car.

[@chriswright4252]

I’m not a fan and it’s way too expensive…..

[@newbeginnings8566]

Overpriced tat... Pot smoking, crusty surfers need not apply..

[@robtt997]

All it needs is a diesel engine 😊

[@stefan2796]

Way too expensive!!!

[@-DC-]

Ridiculous Price Terrible Range Cheap Interior.

[@SteveM-ly7oy]

Haha OMG you would have to be insane, and obviously many people are. 60000 sterling, plus extras, for a vehicle that does 260 miles max. Plus the waiting time when it's charging, provided you can find a charger and assuming it works. I will buy an electric car one day. If some government forces me to do so.

[@drxym]

No excuse for how much it costs. It's like VW sent it out to die.

[@BenzinioB]

Pretty nice actually... but still shitty electric that does not worth the money!

[@neilaitken1690]

absolutely pointless , why cant journalists review these fully loaded like they will be 90% of the time 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@moonshine3333]

Style over substance.

[@gileshalliwell3591]

The model Y has a much better range, more equipment and costs way less for the standard range and no charging anxiety… Other than looks this has nothing going for it and then there’s the infotainment system… oh dear!

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

It doesn’t matter how good it looks. a) electric b) expensive

[@tochukwuezinwa2122]

Stop comparing this with SUVs or Tesla, this is just an overpriced van from VW

[@NBMBC40]

Over priced, bad basic spec and it sounded really cheep and plastic when you were opening cubbies and who puts white interior in an MPV aimed at family use typical VW. The biggest downside it's a plant killing electic vehicle. Get a kombi van or Citroen Berlingo EV and save £25k plus.

[@benkelly948]

what's a plant killing ev?

[@shaunm9928]

Great review Vicky - A beautiful machine but at around 60K think like a lot of vehicles nowadays just out of reach for most people. Have always changed my car ever 3 years but huge inreases in cost of living means a longer term ownership in the distant future🥲

[@CarGurusUK]

Thanks for sharing