After all the hype, after all the “buzz”, the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz is finally here. This is the all-electric reincarnation of the VW Bus from the 1950’s. So does this new car capture the magic of its predecessor?
Performance
Motors – The 2025 ID.Buzz is available with a single motor or a dual-motor layout. The single motor version powers the rear wheels and it produces 282 hp & 413 lb-ft of torque (210 kW & 560 Nm). The dual-motor version creates a 4Motion AWD system and produces 335 hp (250 kW) with the same torque. The VW ID.Buzz is not a light EV with a curb weight of 2,840 kg (6,261 lbs). But thanks to the instant torque of the electric motors, Volkswagen says that it can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds. Top speed is limited at 160 km/h (99 mph) which is more than fine for a vehicle like this. The minivan has a few basic drive modes to choose from including Sport, Normal & Eco. Sports sharpens the accelerator response and stiffens the steering in addition to providing a bit more regenerative braking. Normal is the default drive mode and Eco reduces the top speed (unless you push past the kickdown), reduces the A/C usage and provides a slower accelerator response.
Battery, Charging, & Range – The 2025 VW ID.Buzz has a 91 kWh battery pack mounted in the floor. It provides up to 377 km (234 miles) of driving range in the single motor version of the ID.Buzz. If you opt for the dual-motor version, you’re not going to be paying a huge penalty in driving range. It is rated for up to 372 km (231 miles) of range. Though the driving range between the two different versions is not large, the overall amount is not the best for long road trips. This is what the ID.Buzz will probably be used for. In a city however, the driving range is Ok.
Recharging the battery can be done at a rate of up to 200 kW. VW says that a charge from 10% to 80% at 200 kW will take around 26 minutes. From an 11 kW level 2 charger, 0% to 100% will take about 9 hours.
Braking – The VW ID.Buzz does not have a one-pedal mode. However, when the drive selector is in the “B” position, it provides a fairly strong regen force, enough to bring the minivan to almost a stop. For the last 10 km/h or so, the driver has to step on the brake pedal. In the normal “D” mode, there’s very little regen force felt when lifting your foot off the accelerator pedal. Speaking of which, the brake pedal has a fair bit of travel but it is easy to modulate for smooth stops.
Handling – With the heavy battery pack mounted in the floor, the ID-Buzz has a low center of gravity which helps it feel stable and planted through turns. But don’t expect this to be a light and nimble feeling EV because it is not. The steering is light and vague and the suspension allows for a decent amount of body roll when taking tight curves at speed.
When driving the ID.Buzz for the first time, it can feel a bit odd. This is because the seating position is so far away from the windshield. But after a few trips, you get used to the windshield being so far away.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz rides well over most uneven road surfaces. Sharp bumps are smoothed over by the suspension but bigger bumps are really felt in the ID.Buzz.
Interior Space – This is where the ID.Buzz really shines. Though this EV does not have the 23 windows of the old VW Bus, the cabin still feels airy thanks to the large windshield, large panoramic moonroof, and large side windows. As per usual, front occupants have plenty of space with loads of legroom and headroom for my 6’4” stature. My one complaint with the front seats is that the center armrest is at a different height than the one on the door panel. However, there is another armrest that can fold down on the left side of the driver’s seat which is at the same height as the one in the center. But once you open the door, this left armrest gets in the way of entering or exiting the car. So you’ll always have to raise it out of the way.
In the 2nd row, the ID.Buzz is available with bench seating or captain’s chairs for 6 or 7 total occupants. This demo vehicle had the captain’s chairs which provide plenty of space as well. I had no issues with legroom as the seats can slide forwards or backwards and can recline. But just like the front, the center armrest is at a different height as the one on the door and there’s no additional armrest to fold down in this 2nd row. Also, the windows in the power sliding doors are tiny. Other minivans have fully opening 2nd row windows so why does the VW ID.Buzz have a cruise ship port hole?
Getting into the 3rd row is easy. There’s a lever on top of the 2nd row seats which lifts and slides them forward. The 3rd row also provides plenty of space for tall adults. The 3rd row seats can slide and can recline, albeit not as much as the 2nd row. Additionally, the 3rd row can be removed entirely for more cargo space.
Behind the 3rd row, the ID.Buzz has 526 L (18.5 cu-ft) of cargo space. There’s also the “Flexboard” which is essentially a shelf that divides the cargo area behind the 3rd row seats. With the 3rd row folded, there’s 2,138 L (75.5 cu-ft) of cargo space and with the 2nd row seats folded along with the 3rd row removed, the ID.Buzz has 4,120 L (145.5 cu-ft) of cargo space.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – Like almost every other electric vehicle, the ID.Buzz has a quiet cabin. There’s no noise from the electric motors, there’s barely any wind noise on highways, and there’s a little bit of road noise from the tires at highway speeds. However, it’s not overly intrusive.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz is not an inexpensive EV, at least not right now. In Canada, it is currently only available in the First Edition trim which is almost a fully loaded trim. This means that it starts at $77,495 CAD for the single motor version and $82,995 CAD for the dual-motor version. In the US, there are more trim options with the Pro S starting at $59,995 USD and the First Edition 4Motion costing $69,995 USD.
Gadgets – In Canada, the only option that can be added to the 2025 ID.Buzz is the electronically dimmable panoramic glass roof. This moonroof does not open but with the swipe of your finger, it can switch from being clear to opaque. This is the same technology that is found in the BMW iX.
Other convenience features in the ID.Buzz include leatherette upholstery, heated front & 2nd row seats, ventilated front seats with a massage function (though the massage is not the best), 3-zone climate control, power hands-free liftgate, power sliding doors which can also be operated via key fob or at the kick of your foot under the side sills, there’s also a head-up display, a Harmon Kardon audio system with 13 speakers, surround view cameras but the resolution is not HD, there’s front and rear parking sensors along with a semi-automated parking assist system, and it has a 30-colour ambient lighting system.
The infotainment system is displayed on a 12.9” touchscreen. The graphics look crisp and clear but the menu structure takes a bit of getting used to if you’ve never experienced a VW infotainment system before. Of course, this system supports Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, both of which are wirelessly connected. Annoyingly, the climate controls are embedded into this touchscreen with the temperature function, and radio volume, being capacitive touch controls at the bottom of the screen. These controls allow you to swipe or tap to raise or lower each function.
Interior Design – With its spacious interior, the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz has a few places to store smaller items. Each door has a few pockets for water bottles or miscellaneous items, there’s a small pocket next to the driver’s left knee, there’s another one by their right knee which doubles as the wireless phone charging pad, the front cup holders drop down from the bottom of the center dashboard, there’s a large bin above the glove box, and then there’s the center console.
VW calls this the “Buzz box” which has a storage bin on top, and two smaller ones that open from the front & back. The dividers in the top one also double as a bottle opener and an ice scraper. Additionally, this Buzz box can be removed and placed between the 2nd row or the 3rd row.
Otherwise, the actual design of the ID.Buzz’s interior is minimalist. There’s barely any physical buttons anywhere, apart from the three used to open & close the rear doors & tailgate, and there’s just a small 5.3” screen for the driver instrumentation. The pedals have quirky “play” & “pause” symbols on them and the P, R, N, D selector is on the right steering column stalk.
Exterior Design – Apart from the Cybertruck, no other vehicle on the road has as much presence as the 2025 VW ID.Buzz. During the few days I had with this car, almost everyone that saw it took pictures of it, gawked at it, or stopped me to ask about it. It looks like nothing else on the road today but it still is recognizable as the VW Bus was back in the day. The VW logo in the front is illuminated and it has the mesh design across the bumper that is in line with VW’s current design trend. The side exterior mirrors are a bit on the small side and, as mentioned earlier, the 2nd row windows are small. The rear is probably the most modern design piece of the ID.Buzz with its LED tail lights that extend from one side to the other.
Safety – The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz is equipped just like almost every other EV when it comes to safety & driver aids. From forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking to lane assist to automatic high beams. It’s all included, at least in the First Edition for the Canadian market.
Warranty – The 2025 VW ID.Buzz is covered by a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle warranty and an 8 year / 160,000 km battery warranty so long as it still has 70% remaining capacity. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For information on U.S.A. warranty, click here.
Conclusion – There are two ways to look at the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz. On one hand, it’s a fairly spacious electric minivan that essentially has its market all to itself. But it’s not the best minivan out there as the Chrysler Pacifica & Toyota Sienna for example, are more versatile and better long trip vehicles. On the other hand, this is a niche vehicle. There’s nothing else on the road like it. I think it captures the charm of the classic VW Bus and it will make you stand out amongst the droves of Tesla Cybertrucks.
Thank you to OpenRoad Volkswagen Burnaby for providing the vehicle. www.OpenRoadVW.ca
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz Gallery
