It’s fair to say that this electric vehicle (EV) has got the motoring fraternity ‘buzzing’ (It had to be done. Sorry.) as it has started to win awards. One leading UK car magazine has voted it their car of the year for 2023; expect others to follow suit.
Since the arrival of the now ubiquitous sport utility vehicle (SUV) the otherwise very practical and comfortable people carrier style of car has gone out of fashion. Some car makers have even dropped such models from their catalogue. The VW ID Buzz helps to fill that gap, but this time it’s electric. It’s available in a cargo version too, although most buyers will see it as an ideal urban car, but one that can range further when required. What’s more, the Buzz has earned a maximum Five Star safety rating from the Euro NCAP organisation.
On The Outside
Reminiscent in some ways of the good old VW Camper van so favoured by the surfing community these days, extremely short bodywork overhangs deliver the maximum utilisation of space on a minimal vehicle footprint, splitting the bodywork design into an upper and lower level, and the iconic front with its V-shaped bonnet between charismatic headlights. The whole is surprisingly aerodynamic, one of the crucial tenets of EV design, to squeeze out those extra electrical miles.
LEDs make a full appearance and matrix headlights are optional. There’s a raft of safety features as standard, including Collision evasion avoidance and lane-crossing, Driver Alert Front Assist Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring plus proactive occupant protection system in conjunction with Front Assist and not forgetting Lane Assist lane-keeping and dynamic Road Sign Display. This is a safe car, ideal for families.
On The Inside
ID. Buzz drivers and passengers can rediscover that MPV people-carrying experience in an interior conceived as an open space. The vehicle layout has a very logical and intuitive interior plus a multifaceted and variable utilisation of space. Both the ID. Buzz vehicles do indeed offer an exceptionally large amount of space based on a compact vehicle footprint.
In the lounge-like, friendly ambience of the MPV version five people have ample room for travelling and lots of space for their luggage (up to 1,121 litres of capacity). Driver and front-seat passenger sit on individual seats equipped as standard on the inside with adjustable armrests. In the back is a three-person bench seat, which can be folded down completely or split 40:60. The rear bench seat can also be moved backwards or forwards. The MPV is fitted as standard with two side sliding doors. If the second row of seats is folded down, the load capacity increases to up to 2,205 litres. In due course a six- and seven-seat configuration and an extended wheelbase will also follow.
In the Cargo variant, three seats up front (alternatively two) and a fixed partition separating off the 3.9 m3 cargo space are distinctive features of the configuration of the ID. Buzz Cargo. The zero-emission van can carry two euro pallets in the back.
Forget leather, all synthetic materials are used inside. The elevated seat position of the driver and front-seat passenger makes for a clear view out and the instrument panel in the ID. Buzz also sits very high up. All indicators are digital and are on an ergonomically ideal line of sight. The ‘Digital Cockpit’ in front of the driver consists of a large display (5.3 inches across diagonally). Positioned centrally in the middle of the dashboard is the infotainment system with a large 10” touchscreen or, optionally, the ‘Discover Pro’ navigation system has a 12-inch screen.
There’s the Volkswagen ‘We Connect’ and ‘We Connect Plus’ systems, plus smartphone integration and digital radio. For the ID. Buzz Cargo ‘App Connect’ and DAB+ will be available as options. Both the ‘Digital Cockpit’ and infotainment system are connected with the instrument panel only at the bottom. As a result the infotainment system's display has the optical feel of a tablet in landscape format floating freely in the air.
On The Road
Both ID. Buzz versions come with a high-voltage lithium-ion battery providing a net energy content of 77kWh (gross 82kWh). With its twelve modules, the battery system supplies a 150kW electric motor, which is integrated in the rear axle, which it also drives.
Expect the performance to be nippy, as is the case with most electric cars but don’t expect raw power as such; this is a people carrier. The top speed is electronically limited to 90 miles per hour (145 km/h). The ID. Buzz is a very agile vehicle. The electric motor builds up, we learn, to its maximum torque of 310Nm from a standing start aided by a low centre of gravity.
At DC quick-charging stations both versions of the ID. Buzz take on energy at power levels of up to 170 kW; the battery can thus be charged up from five to eighty per cent in about 30 minutes. Range is expected to be around 250 miles on a single charge but, as ever, this will be adjusted for prevailing conditions and load. Nevertheless, most daily needs should be covered and charging facilities are growing around the globe.
We here at MHH International believe this an urban family car that can meet the requirements of the modern eco-world. Get in touch to find out more about this great MPV and other models in the Volkswagen ID range.
