Reimagining the Traditional Microbus
Surfers and hippies over the a long time have been related to a mid-last century Volkswagen microbus, sometimes with surfboards on high or flowers painted on the edges, chugging alongside within the sluggish lane. Collectors love the 1960 and 1970-era buses as they’re a romantic remembrance for those who grew up with them.
Whereas the classic Volkswagen bus (1950-1979) continues to be massively fashionable and funding (see stats on the finish of the story), Volkswagen has thrown the microbus world right into a tizzy over the discharge of the all-new, all-electric 2025 ID Buzz.
The retro look with a boxy-but-aerodynamic design has twin sliding aspect doorways, a laid again windshield and an upright hands-free energy tail gate. Out there in eight two-tone paint choices of Sweet White over both Energetic Orange, Pomelo Yellow, Mahi Inexperienced, Cabana Blue, Blue Charcoal, Metro Silver or Indium Gray, or Metro Silver over Cherry Pink, are joined by three strong colour choices of Sweet White, Metro Silver or Deep Black Pearl.
The ID Buzz, constructed on the identical platform because the ID4, was first launched in Europe in two-row passenger and a cargo configurations, however the USA can be getting the three-row model, with an extra 10 inches of wheelbase, that comes both with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, a bigger battery and longer all-electric driving vary. The technical specs for the 2025 ID Buzz are on the finish of the story.
Silent and Easy
Volkswagen introduced North American automotive journalists to San Francisco for the primary drives of the 2025 ID Buzz 1st Version, which is the totally optioned trim. Beginning in China Basin close to Oracle Park, house to the San Francisco Giants, we headed to Lombard Road to snake down the famously named “Crookedest Road within the World.” As soon as this nice visible was documented, off we went to Fort Mason on the foot of north finish of the Golden Gate Bridge, then over Mt. Tamalpias to Stinson Seaside in Marin County.
The drive from the mountain to the seashore featured tight, twisting corners, good to get a really feel for the ID Buzz. The dealing with was nimble and the tight turning radius shocked us. My driving associate and I had been within the rear wheel drive ID Buzz and by no means felt even the trace of tire slippage, physique roll or any lack of management. The 282 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque had been loads to maneuver the 5,968-pound seven-passenger bus.
The anti-lock brakes had been greater than as much as the duty, together with the regenerative braking, to maintain management by way of some critical esses. We had been driving a bit extra aggressively than a household would on a weekend outing, and might report the digital stability management and the staggered all-season tires—235/50/20 on the entrance and 265/45/20 on the rear–gave confidence on any highway we threw at it.
Resulting from time restraints, we didn’t drive the all-wheel drive model. Clear Fleet Report can have the ID Buzz AWD for every week, within the subsequent few months, for a extra in-depth take a look at the driving, efficiency and all-electric driving vary.
Retro. Iconic. Reincarnated. Nostalgic.
The ID Buzz hints strongly on the traditional microbus design, which was essential for it to be immediately acknowledged as a Volkswagen bus. The boxy form has quick entrance and rear overhangs, and at 16.5 ft lengthy, 6.5 ft huge and 6.3 inches tall, was simple to maneuver in visitors and operating in-town errands.
The graceful, down-sloping entrance finish options an illuminated spherical outsized “VW” brand with a lighted strip connecting the LED headlights. The decrease fascia has diamond-shaped, horizontal air openings which might be reminiscent to giant a cheese grater. Many EVs have a entrance trunk (frunk), however the small flip-up door on the entrance of the ID Buzz solely gives entry so as to add fluids for the windshield and brakes.
The graceful slab sides with twin energy sliding doorways (that embody an influence sliding in-set window for the second row passengers) result in the rear D-Pillar the place three fake vents harken again to the scoops on the sooner air cooled busses. Slick aerodynamic 20-inch wheels look sharp and assist contribute to the low 0.29 coefficient of drag. The rear energy tailgate has a big “VW” brand badge and the one place “ID.BUZZ” is discovered on the bus. If planning on pulling something there’s a retractable trailer hitch rated, with the optionally available brake package deal, at 2,600 kilos for the RWD and three,500 kilos for the AWD.
Inside. All Fashionable.
Stepping inside, the ethereal and fashionable inside is obtainable in three colour combos—Copper, Dune and Moonlight. Giant home windows and the panoramic glass roof, measuring 67.4 inches lengthy and 40.8 inches huge, has electrochromic tinting that with the swipe of a finger goes from clear to opaque. Even with the glass roof and the tinted second and third row home windows, the big cabin was brilliant.
The driving force and passenger seats, with folding armrests on each side of every seat, get 12-way energy, air flow, therapeutic massage, warmth and reminiscence, whereas the outboard second-row seats are heated. All seats are coated in perforated leatherette. For enjoyable, Volkswagen has positioned ID Buzz Easter Eggs all through the cabin, and the brake pedal has a Pause icon whereas the accelerator pedal a Play icon, similar to what’s discovered on a pc or different fashionable devise.
Area is beneficiant for as much as seven passengers and their gear. The seven seat set-up, customary on the RWD ID Buzz, has a second-row bench that folds 60:40, reclines 16 levels and slides 7.9 inches. It additionally strikes 4 inches with the flip of a deal with to permit for simpler entry to the third-row seats, which could be eliminated. Captain’s chairs with seating for six are customary on the AWD mannequin. The leg and head room in both configuration are glorious, even for six+ footers.
The second and third-row seats fold flat and, when the Flexboard is in-place on the far rear, it makes for a large sleeping space for 2 adults, or two adults and a child, or for 2 adults and a canine. There are two detachable storage bins (“Buzz Bins”) and recessed storage areas underneath the Flexboard. In different phrases, the 2025 ID Buzz is prepared for round city errands or an city tenting journey.
Expertise
The ID Buzz has three screens—a head-up show, a configurable 5.3 inch car data display screen and a 12.9-inch infotainment display screen. The usual wi-fi app join, wi-fi telephone charging, a 110V outlet, 12V charger and eight USB-C ports all through the cabin, together with within the doorways, will preserve everybody related and powered-up.
Steering wheel buttons can management the haptic infotainment display screen. In an try and be further fashionable and to make for a glossy and uncluttered sprint, there aren’t any bodily buttons on the ID Buzz besides for 3 that management the sliding aspect doorways.
Consolation is aided by the 3-zone local weather system, heated exterior mirrors, heated steering wheel and the heated washer nozzles.
There are three ID Buzz trims—Professional S, Professional S Plus and the one we drove, 1st Version. The improve Harmon-Kardon 14-speaker audio system was simple to program and function. In such a big car with an uncommon quantity of glass (normally the bane of sound engineers!) it sounded fairly good. After all everybody driving within the second and third rows in all probability can be sporting head telephones listening to their very own gadgets, so for the entrance occupants the sound high quality was effectively balanced with ample bass, treble and mid-range settings.
Security
The ID Buzz comes with IQ.Drive, which incorporates superior driver help methods (ADAS) equivalent to ahead collision warning and autonomous emergency braking with entrance pedestrian detection, lively aspect help blind spot monitor, rear visitors alert, lane help, adaptive cruise management w/Cease & Go, Journey Help and Emergency Help.
Pricing and Availability
The 2025 Volkswagen ID Buzz will go on-sale in all 50 states in mid-November 2024. Volkswagen just isn’t taking pre-orders, so contact your native vendor sooner-rather-than-later to schedule a check drive once they arrive.
That is the pricing for the three trim ranges of Professional S, Professional S Plus and the first Version. Word: The $1,550 vacation spot cost is included in all costs.
Professional S (RWD solely) $61,545
Professional S Plus
RWD $65,045
AWD $69,545
1st Version
RWD $67,045
AWD $71,545
Observations: 2025 Volkswagen ID Buzz
The cool issue, vibes and aura the ID Buzz emits had been apparent, in a short time. Folks wished to know what we had been driving, wished to speak about it and have a look inside. The 60+ age group had been probably the most excited because it gave them flash backs to their youth. After just a few quick miles, my driving associate and I bought it, too.
Volkswagen doesn’t intend on importing giant numbers of the ID Buzz from Hanover, Germany, the place it’s assembled. Whereas it ought to promote effectively in the USA and Canada, it is going to be thought-about a distinct segment car that pulls consideration to the Volkswagen model. Count on to see many within the states the place EVs are already fashionable, which incorporates the seashore cities on Pacific Coast Freeway in California.
Ryan Gavin, senior product planner for the ID Buzz and ID 7, instructed us “The ID Buzz will deliver enthusiasm to Volkswagen. The significance of the ID Buzz can be it being the halo car for Volkswagen, bringing folks into dealerships.” He went on to say: “It’s a new class for Volkswagen that can be introducing and re-introducing folks to the model.”
This new class idea is an attention-grabbing distinction as it’s the solely all-electric van available on the market. The twin energy sliding aspect doorways and seating for as much as seven, with glorious entry and egress and the spectacular cargo versatility solely add to the checklist. Volkswagen additionally mentioned the AWD mannequin will make up 60% of all ID Buzz gross sales, which signifies consumers are in search of added dealing with and mild-off-road functionality.
If our quick time behind the wheel is any indication, Volkswagen is true on track of what the ID Buzz will do for them.
The three rows supply area to unfold out and haul cargo, however the shorter wheelbase, two-row model offered in Europe could be a pleasant choice for American drivers that don’t want the additional area for a household or desire a panel van for his or her enterprise.
The ID Buzz will discover its glad place on the freeway, heading to the mountains for a ski weekend, cruising the coast in quest of waves or simply rolling for in-town errands. The 0-60 instances are respectable, making it able to merging with freeway visitors and hauling folks and their gear.
As Volkswagen mentioned, the ID Buzz was designed to “deliver extra smiles per mile than every other automobile!” As we used to say within the Sixties…Groovy, Child!
Make sure that to opt-in to the Clear Fleet Report e-newsletter (high proper of web page) to be notified of all new tales and car critiques, together with a extra in-depth assessment after we’ve got pushed the ID Buzz for every week or extra.
Story by John Faulkner. Photographs by John Faulkner and Volkswagen.
2025 Volkswagen ID Buzz Specs
Rear-Wheel Drive
– Single, rear-mounted motor
– 282 horsepower (hp) and 413 pound-feet (lb.-ft.) of torque
– 91 kWh most/86 kWh usable lithium-ion battery
– 11 kW onboard charger
– 0 – 60 mph: 6.9 seconds
– Driving Vary: 234 miles
All-Wheel Drive
– Twin motors
– 335 hp and 99 lb.-ft. of torque entrance/413 lb.-ft. rear
– 91 kWh most/86 kWh usable lithium-ion battery
– 11 kW onboard charger
– 0 – 60 mph: 6.0 seconds
– Driving Vary: 231 miles
Charging
The ID Buzz makes use of a 400-volt system that may cost at a most of 200 kW. There are three is charging choices by way of a plug-in port with these approximate cost instances.
120V (Degree 1) – Further 2 miles of cost per hour, or about 80 hours to full cost
240V (Degree 2) – 7.5 hours for 10% – 100%
480V DC Quick Charging – half-hour or much less for 10% – 80%
Further charging can be by way of regenerative braking that converts kinetic vitality into electrical energy when braking or coasting. Driving round city, caught in stop-and-go rush hour freeway visitors or coasting down hills will recharge the battery.
Traditional Volkswagen Valuations
As of October 2024, Hagerty, an insurance coverage and valuation firm specializing in traditional and collectible automobiles, reported this about these generations of unique Volkswagen microbuses.
Valuation & Demographic Knowledge (Hagerty Automotive intelligence)
• 1950-1967 Volkswagen Sort 2 Transporter, common situation 2, worth is up 72% up to now 5 years to $131,600. This contains the Deluxe 15-window and Samba 23-window vans.
• 1968-1979 Volkswagen Sort 2 Transporter, common situation 2, worth is up 79% up to now 5 years to $42,600. This era contains each the Kombi and Campmobile.
Disclosure:
Clear Fleet Report is loaned free check autos from automakers to guage, usually for every week at a time. Our highway assessments are based mostly on this one-week drive of a brand new car. Due to this we don’t deal with points equivalent to long-term reliability or complete value of possession. As well as, we are sometimes invited to producer occasions highlighting new autos or expertise. As a part of these occasions we could also be provided free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our greatest to current our unvarnished evaluations of autos and information irrespective of those inducements.
Our focus is on autos that provide one of the best gas financial system of their class, which leads us to emphasise electrical automobiles, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and different environment friendly powertrains. We additionally characteristic these environment friendly gas-powered autos which might be among the many high mpg autos of their class. As well as, we purpose to supply critiques and information on superior expertise and the choice gas car market. We welcome any suggestions from car house owners and are devoted to offering a discussion board for different viewpoints. Please tell us your views at [email protected].
