The Volkswagen ID. Buzz has been one of the most anticipated vehicles in recent years, promising to revive the spirit of the iconic Microbus for the electric age. Like many, I harbored a strong sense of nostalgia and excitement for this modern interpretation of a classic. Even without personal ties to the original hippie-era Microbus, its appeal was undeniable. It represented rational, functional design imbued with a unique character, usefulness, and a certain joyful rebelliousness. Every encounter with the original Bus, whether driving or riding, has been a positive memory, a source of smiles. Perhaps expecting any new car to recapture that magic is setting the bar too high. And yet, with the ID. Buzz, Volkswagen has indeed resurrected the spirit of the Bus, and while there’s much to appreciate, a critical flaw leaves me deeply frustrated.
It feels necessary to preface any discussion of the ID. Buzz with a recap of its prolonged journey to market. This vehicle has experienced one of the most drawn-out launches in automotive history. My own experience with the ID. Buzz began back in 2022 with a drive of the European short-wheelbase version. In 2023, I witnessed the unveiling of the US-market long-wheelbase model. Finally, last October, I had the opportunity to drive the long-wheelbase ID. Buzz once again. Volkswagen consistently hosts impressive launch events, which is appreciated, but the two-year build-up to the actual release of this car has been substantial.
Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz launch event video frame with play button.
In reality, the anticipation stretches back even further, approximately 24 years, to Volkswagen’s initial concept for a reborn Microbus in 2001.
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Alt text: Volkswagen Buzz concept car from 2001, showcasing retro-futuristic design.
Recently, I finally had the chance to spend a full week with the ID. Buzz. Knowing this opportunity had arrived, one crucial test immediately came to mind, something I hadn’t been able to do during the various press events: a proper road trip. This meant hours of highway driving, away from the curated routes and support of Volkswagen’s event staff. I needed to experience the ID. Buzz in real-world highway conditions and assess its performance.
The Road Trip Test: Unveiling the ID. Buzz’s True Character
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Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz in orange and white two-tone paint driving on a highway, showcasing its retro van design.
This road trip was essential to validate suspicions that had been forming during my previous encounters with the Buzz. It’s a vehicle brimming with potential, almost achieving greatness, but the decision to make it a purely battery-electric vehicle appears to be a significant impediment. This concern stems not from the vehicle’s weaknesses, but from its inherent strengths. The ID. Buzz boasts exceptional packaging, resulting in a surprisingly spacious interior within its streamlined, boxy silhouette. Each row, including the often-cramped third row, offers ample legroom, headroom, and overall space.
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Alt text: Interior view of Volkswagen ID Buzz showcasing spacious second and third row seating in a bright, airy cabin.
Luggage space is commendable even with all seats in use. Folding down the middle row and removing the rear seats transforms the cargo area into a cavernous hold. The ID. Buzz is fundamentally designed for road trips. And so, a road trip I undertook.
It wasn’t an epic cross-country journey, but a respectable drive from central North Carolina to the charming, Spanish moss-draped city of Savannah, Georgia. A drive of approximately five hours, or so it should be. It was a relatively light road trip, with just two occupants and minimal luggage. The Buzz, of course, is capable of handling far more.
The Core Issue: City Range in a Road Trip Body
But here lies the central issue: the ID. Buzz, a vehicle perfectly suited for road trips, is burdened with a range that feels more appropriate for city driving.
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Alt text: Front three-quarter view of Volkswagen ID Buzz parked at a charging station, highlighting its electric vehicle nature.
The official EPA-estimated range for the rear-wheel-drive version I tested is 234 miles. However, this figure represents a combined cycle and doesn’t accurately reflect real-world highway range, especially in less-than-ideal conditions. During my test, in generally cold weather requiring heater use, with the battery charged to 90% (upped from the default 80%), and driving at typical highway speeds of 65 to 75 mph, I consistently achieved only 170 to 190 miles of range, often less. The navigation system proactively directs you to charging stations well before reaching critically low battery levels.
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Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz dashboard display showing battery charge level and estimated remaining range.
Realistically, this translates to mandatory charging stops every 150 to 160 miles, roughly every two hours. This frequency is simply insufficient for comfortable road tripping. And the charging process itself is far from the quick and convenient refueling experience of a gasoline car.
This isn’t a flaw inherent to the ID. Buzz itself, but the vehicle is nonetheless constrained by the current state of the charging network in the United States. Furthermore, in the context of road trips, the often-touted benefit of home charging for EVs becomes less relevant. For daily commutes, with a Level 2 charger at home, the shortcomings of public charging infrastructure are less impactful.
However, on a road trip, the charging infrastructure becomes paramount.
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Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz charging at a public charging station located near shipping containers, illustrating typical charging environment.
Road trips necessitate utilizing the fastest chargers available, as slower chargers can impose lengthy delays, potentially stretching into overnight waits. Upon returning from my trip, attempting to find a local charger resulted in a charger delivering only 15 miles of range per hour. Starting from a 20% charge, a full charge would have required eight hours or more.
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Fast chargers do exist, including some surprisingly branded as Mercedes-Benz chargers.
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Alt text: Mercedes Benz branded fast charging station being used by a Volkswagen ID Buzz, highlighting charger network inconsistencies.
Despite the Mercedes branding and lack of nearby Benz vehicles, it functioned as a standard ChargePoint charger. Most charging stops during my trip involved roughly half-hour sessions, often behind a Walmart, frequently adjacent to stacks of shipping containers. The charging experience is far from glamorous, and it’s not inexpensive. The average cost per charge for the Buzz ranged from $40 to $45, requiring at least two charges for the round trip, and potentially an additional charge in between. This cost was comparable to, or even exceeded, the fuel expense for a gasoline-powered vehicle for the same journey.
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Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz driver plugging in the charging cable at an Electrify America charging station, focusing on the charging process.
Charging, frankly, is a significant drawback of the EV experience. While EVs offer numerous advantages, the charging process is certainly not one of them. Charger reliability can also be an issue. Encountering a malfunctioning charger, akin to a crashed computer, is a frustrating reality.
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Alt text: Close-up of a public EV charging station screen displaying an error message, illustrating charging infrastructure reliability issues.
The forthcoming Tesla Supercharger adapter for CCS vehicles may improve the situation, but it still won’t bridge the gap in convenience and ease of refueling compared to gasoline, which remains the benchmark, whether entirely fair or not.
Source of Frustration: Squandered Potential
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Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz parked in a scenic overlook, emphasizing its road trip potential hampered by charging limitations.
This leads to the fundamental question: what is the true purpose of the ID. Buzz in its current form? The platform is undeniably well-suited for local delivery vehicles in its cargo configuration. It excels in that role. However, the passenger ID. Buzz is inherently designed, both physically and conceptually, as a road trip vehicle. It should embody the spirit of freedom, enabling exploration and adventure with passengers and cargo.
And it’s crucial to remember the price point of around $60,000. This is not an inexpensive vehicle.
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Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz interior with dark motif, highlighting comfortable and spacious cabin designed for passengers.
The ID. Buzz excels in many areas. The darker interior motif of my test vehicle, while not my preferred aesthetic compared to the brighter, more colorful options, was nonetheless roomy and exceptionally comfortable. The multi-zone climate control performed admirably, the audio system delivered impressive sound quality, and the cabin is conducive to enjoyable journeys for up to seven occupants.
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Alt text: Rear view of Volkswagen ID Buzz interior showing spacious seating and cargo area, emphasizing passenger and luggage capacity.
However, a significant portion of those journeys will inevitably be spent stationary, parked at charging stations, often in uninspiring locations.
The ID. Buzz possesses numerous positive attributes. It’s a pleasure to drive. The acceleration is surprisingly brisk, especially when considering the original VW Bus as a benchmark. Highway driving is smooth and stable, the low center of gravity from the battery pack contributes to excellent roadholding, and the handling is remarkably agile for a vehicle of its size and shape. The brakes are also highly effective, a feature I can personally attest to after a near-miss with a deer, which could have been much worse with less capable brakes.
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Alt text: Front view of Volkswagen ID Buzz in two-tone paint, emphasizing its distinctive and appealing retro design.
Visually, the ID. Buzz is striking. The two-tone paint scheme is undeniably impactful, contributing significantly to its retro charm. It stands out from the homogenous vehicle landscape, attracting attention and smiles. It’s a minivan that manages to be genuinely cool, a remarkable achievement by Volkswagen.
It’s fast, spacious, practical, stylish, and comfortable – it has almost everything. Except, its usability is fundamentally compromised. It’s perfectly adequate for urban and suburban driving, but its inherent design and spirit call for open roads and long journeys, where it falls short due to its range limitations.
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Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz driving on a winding road, showcasing its driving dynamics and suitability for scenic routes, despite range limitations.
This near-perfection, marred by a critical flaw, is profoundly frustrating. It’s akin to cloning Leonardo DaVinci, perfectly replicating his appearance and voice, only to discover he’s incapable of painting or drawing. Impressive, yet fundamentally incomplete.
A Path to Redemption: The Range Extender Solution
What intensifies the frustration is the realization that this issue is potentially solvable. If the ID. Buzz were offered as a hybrid or with a range extender, it would be transformative. A range-extended ID. Buzz, perhaps utilizing a system similar to what VW is implementing in the new Scout, would elevate it to an exceptional vehicle.
And such a solution appears feasible. Consider this:
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Alt text: Conceptual illustration of a range extender engine placement in a Volkswagen ID Buzz, suggesting a hybrid powertrain solution.
Reducing the battery pack size slightly could free up space to accommodate a combustion engine, perhaps a horizontally opposed flat engine or an inline engine laid flat. The fuel tank could be positioned at the front – a layout that seems strangely familiar.
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Alt text: Cutaway diagram of a classic Volkswagen Bus, highlighting the rear engine and overall vehicle layout, for comparison with potential hybrid ID Buzz.
Indeed.
The concept of a range-extended ID. Buzz is compelling, especially given Volkswagen’s commitment to range-extended EVs with the Scout. A range-extended Buzz would function ideally as an all-electric vehicle for daily use, while possessing the long-range capability for road trips, eliminating range anxiety.
However, this is not the current reality. Partly due to the lingering repercussions of Dieselgate, the ID. Buzz is a remarkably appealing vehicle constrained by external factors and circumstances. Adopting a range-extended EV/hybrid configuration would resolve these limitations. In its present form, the ID. Buzz evokes a sense of sadness.
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Alt text: Volkswagen ID Buzz parked at sunset, symbolizing unfulfilled potential and the author’s disappointment.
Sadness not for what it is, but for what it almost could be. Volkswagen needs to critically re-evaluate the Buzz and complete its development in the right direction. They possess all the necessary elements; they simply need to assemble them correctly. They are so close to achieving something truly special, and I genuinely hope they realize its full potential.
