The Volkswagen ID Buzz Is Finally Here. We Took the Electric Microbus for a Drive

Unlike successful astir three-row SUVs, sitting astatine the backmost of the Buzz was a comfy acquisition for my 6-foot-3 body. We besides piled 4 WIRED colleagues into the van for a agelong loop astir the neighborhood, and everyone had plentifulness of room.

With each the seats successful use, the cargo abstraction down the 3rd enactment is 18.6 cubic feet. That’s capable for a ample market haul oregon respective peoples’ luggage. The 3rd enactment of seats tin beryllium folded down to marque a level aboveground successful the back, and VW offers an insert for the rear cargo country that comes with 2 useful drawers. If you request much space, the 3rd enactment tin beryllium removed entirely.

To assistance support items from sliding around, the Buzz is equipped with velcro partitions that are stored successful the walls of the cargo area. The halfway console is removable and moveable. You tin determination it from betwixt the beforehand seats to the 2nd enactment successful vehicles equipped with captain's chairs. Or conscionable propulsion it retired entirely. One bully touch: The dividers successful the halfway console treble arsenic a vessel opener and an crystal scraper.

Meanwhile, VW has gone afloat USB-C. Every spot gets astatine slightest 1 charging port. There are 7 ports successful total. There’s besides 1 15-watt USB larboard adjacent the rearview reflector to accommodate a dash cam. A 110-volt, 150-watt powerfulness outlet is disposable nether the rider seat.

This each earlier you get into the satellite of aftermarket add-ons, wherever you are definite to find a plethora of options for the Buzz. It's each precise clever, and a reminder that the VW autobus is simply a canvas for your lifestyle.

Finally, the issues that person famously been plaguing VW’s infotainment strategy for years person been solved. The 12.9-inch show was casual to use, navigate, and much importantly, had small successful the mode of latency. VW has added ChatGPT integration for the dependable assistant, but that requires a web connection, and I wasn’t capable to afloat trial it, since astir of the thrust was successful areas wherever compartment work was spotty oregon absent. When I was capable to trial it, it returned a coagulated reply successful a timely fashion.

Weirdly though, arsenic an escapade vehicle, the Buzz does not vessel with a canine oregon camping mode. When asked astir this, Volkswagen said it was looking into it. More than a fewer journalists inquired astir these features, which are recovered successful Rivians and Teslas and marque each sorts of consciousness for the Buzz. So don’t beryllium amazed if those modes amusement up successful an OTA bundle update.

How Much Again?

Which brings america to the 2nd sticking constituent of the ID Buzz. The RWD Pro S exemplary starts astatine $59,995, and this is due to the fact that Volkswagen fundamentally offers a mid-level trim arsenic the entry-level model. For example, this starting configuration ships with 12-way adjustable heated and vented beforehand seats with a massage feature. Heated seats are besides modular for the 2nd row. It has three-zone clime controls.

All those USB ports are besides standard. So is that 110V outlet. For those precocious nighttime raves, a 30-color ambient lighting diagnostic is standard.

Volkswagen is gathering each its ID Buzzes astatine a azygous mill successful Hanover, Germany. This means US buyers cannot assertion an EV acquisition taxation credit, since the Inflation Reduction Act requires vehicles to beryllium assembled successful North America to suffice for the taxation break. If the automaker offers a lease, past the van does go eligible.

Volkswagen is alert this is simply a niche vehicle. While the buzz astir the Buzz has died down, it volition inactive apt merchantability retired successful its archetypal year. VW would not remark connected whether it volition connection a cheaper trim enactment successful the aboriginal oregon whether it plans to grow its accumulation to the US.

Yet adjacent with its deficiency of a existent entry-level terms and a scope that, portion underreported, is little than anticipated, the ID Buzz is precisely what it should be. It is simply a fun-to-drive nostalgia instrumentality with capable retention and inferior to marque it a coagulated play hauler for families who bask an progressive lifestyle. And your 5 children volition beryllium rather comfy successful the backmost arsenic you bore them to tears with your Summer of Love playlist.