2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz

It has been one of the most anticipated vehicle launches in recent history with the first concept version being shown back in 2017 at the Detroit Auto Show. Eight years later and the production version is now on the road and ready for the next generation of VW enthusiasts to make memories in. And despite several years going by, the production version still closely resembles the initial concept. For its launch year the Volkswagen ID.Buzz is available in five variants known as the Pro S, Pro S Plus, Pro S Plus with 4Motion, 1st Edition, and 1st Edition with 4Motion. The Pro S starts at $59,995 at the low end and the 1st Edition with 4Motion starts at $69,995 at the top end.

All Volkswagen ID.Buzz models are fully electric and are available with two powertrain options. The base powertrain is a rear-axle-mounted electric motor and a 91-kWh battery producing a combined 282 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. Also available are front- and rear-axle-mounted electric motors and a 91-kWh battery producing a combined 335 horsepower and 512 pound-feet of torque. Front wheel drive is standard, but VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive is also available. It gets an EPA-estimated range of 234 miles for RWD models and 231 miles for 4Motion models. VW claims it will charge from 10-80% in around 26 minutes when connected to a DC Fast Charging unit at up to 200kW. It’s currently the only all-electric van on sale with its closest all-electric competitor being the three-row Kia EV9. As for other minivan options, the Chrysler Pacifica offers a plug-in hybrid option, and the rest are the more traditional Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival, and Toyota Sienna. I spent time in an Energetic Orange ID.Buzz Pro S Plus 4Motion that checked in at $70,540 and here’s what stood out (besides the actual van)...

From the time I pulled out on the road in it until the time it went back in the garage, the ID.Buzz was turning heads and making people smile. No other press car has garnered so much attention since I’ve been reviewing cars. Everywhere I went people were pulling out phones to take pictures and videos of the ID.Buzz. It’s a nice blend of retro design cues that are fully modernized with details like the oversized VW logo that lights up at night. Other unique design elements include the iconic V-shaped hood, available two-tone paint scheme, and d-pillar mounted air vents. 

Up front, a slim LED light bar extends across from the LED projector headlights to the central VW emblem. Adaptive front lighting illuminates dark streets around every turn. The side profile pays homage to the original Microbus with its overall shape and split bodywork into upper and lower levels. Short overhangs help maximize space inside, while also giving it a strong presence. All models come with 20” aluminum-alloy wheels in a variety of finishes and styles.  And of course, every modern minivan wouldn’t be complete without dual power sliding doors. Around back, another horizontal light strip connects the LED taillights while also dividing the upper and lower sections of the van. The  LED lights on the ID.Buzz are unmistakable when lit up at night giving this van a very cool visual in the dark. Whether you’re into it or not, it’s hard not to appreciate the thoughtful design that Volkswagen created in the ID.Buzz. It’s appropriately modern with just the right touches of retro flare to honor the original. 

The ID.Buzz is best served in a bright two-tone color, just like the original in a whole rainbow of options depending on trim level or you can opt for a more subtle monotone choice. Two-tone options will either pair a Candy White top with Energetic Orange, Pomelo Yellow, Blue Charcoal, Mahi Green, Metro Silver, Cabana Blue or Indium Grey below; or a Metro Silver top with Cherry Red below. Three single-tone options will be offered as well: Metro Silver, Candy White, and Deep Black Pearl. 

Under the hood, the ID. Buzz is powered by a fully electric drivetrain. The base rear-axle-mounted electric motor and a 91-kWh battery generates 282 horsepower while the dual front and rear set-up models produce a combined 335 horsepower. The numbers are good, but keep in mind that the ID.Buzz also weighs around 6,000 pounds which is a lot of van to get moving. There’s plenty of pep in this van, but it doesn’t have the same off-the-line impact many other electric vehicles have. This one will get you from 0-60 MPH in around 6 to 6.7 seconds depending on the model which is pretty impressive and significantly faster than its minivan counterparts. It also has sufficient power at highway speeds for passing or merging with ease. The electric motor delivers a smooth and quiet ride with instant torque, making the vehicle feel responsive despite its size. It’s not built for high-speed thrills, but rather for a relaxed, smooth driving experience. 

The handling of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz is one of its most surprising aspects. Despite its van-like proportions, the ID. Buzz manages to offer a driving experience that feels nimble and agile, which is quite a feat for a vehicle of its size. The steering is light and responsive, making it surprisingly easy to maneuver in tight spaces or urban environments. The steering feels well-weighted, and although it’s not overly sporty, it strikes a good balance between comfort and responsiveness. The compact turning radius for a vehicle of this size is also noteworthy, much like the Volkswagen ID.4. It’s easy to park, even in narrower spots, and it handles tight corners and city streets with minimal effort. The driving experience feels much more agile than one might expect from a van.

It has a low and well-balanced center of gravity thanks to the battery pack that is mounted low in the floor, which helps to improve stability and reduce body roll during turns. The result is that the ID. Buzz feels more stable and secure. On highways or at higher speeds, it remains grounded and tracks straight with minimal steering input. It provides a controlled driving experience, which makes it feel solid and confident on longer stretches of road.The van absorbs bumps and rough patches in the road with ease, providing a refined and quiet ride. The suspension setup does a good job of isolating passengers from road imperfections. Even in inclement weather such as snow here in Chicago, the ID.Buzz 4Motion navigated the road conditions with ease. I had no issues with wheel spin or traction loss. It’s higher ride height made for great visibility on the road.  Overall ride quality of the ID. Buzz is comfortable and smooth making it a solid choice for a family vehicle. 

The 2025 ID.Buzz has an EPA-estimated range of 234 miles on a full charge for rear-wheel-drive models, with an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 90 MPGe in city driving; 75 MPGe on the highway; and 83 MPGe in combined city/highway driving. The EPA-estimated range for the ID. Buzz 4Motion models is 231 miles, with an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 87 MPGe in city driving; 74 MPGe in highway driving, and 80 MPGe in combined city/highway driving. Overall range is not great for a van that has a high probability of being used for longer trips, however, I was impressed with how accurate its range indicator was and how quickly it charged. VW says the battery can go from a 10% to 80% charge in 26 minutes using DC fast-charging at a rate of up to 200kW. I did experience pretty close to these figures during my time in it. It didn’t take long when plugged into a DC fast-charging unit to get back into a comfortable range of  70-80% while running into a store for a quick 20–30-minute trip. Even in colder temperatures, the ID.Buzz generally maintained its range figures although it did drop slightly when the van was full of passengers, the heat was cranking, and all heated seats were running.  While I would like to see this hit the 300-mile range, I do think the engineering behind it worked well and it is manageable, especially if you install an at-home charger.

Equally as inspiring as the exterior is the interior of the ID.Buzz which is designed to be both nostalgic and functional. Attention has been paid to every design detail—from the retro-inspired wood-optic dash to the whimsical Play and Pause pedals from the 2017 BUZZ concept to ID. Buzz easter eggs scattered throughout the vehicle. The dashboard showcases a fully digital instrument cluster as well as a semi-floating central display and is complemented by a 30-color ambient lighting system that adds a personalized ambiance to the space. 

The first thing most will notice when hopping inside is how spacious the cabin is. The flat floor design allows for maximum interior space and the large windows provide a lot of exterior light. It feels much bigger than it actually is and reminded me more of the older 90s conversion vans when I looked back from the drivers’ seat than a minivan. The design is also very contemporary and minimalist with most of the functions being controlled through the 12.9” central infotainment screen. There are different themed interiors that mix in exterior colors, faux-wood dash elements, seat trims, door inserts and more. VW also gives it plenty of practical storage solutions such as the shelf in front of the passenger, removable center console (Buzz Box), door pockets, and plenty of cup holders. 

The wide-open greenhouse can be further enhanced by an available electrochromic smart glass roof, which changes from clear to opaque with the swipe of a finger. Available in a package on Pro S Plus models, and standard on 1st Edition models, the sunroof is the largest of any in the Volkswagen family.

Drivers will face a 5.3” ID.Cockpit gauge cluster that is just like the one found in the ID.4. It is attached to the steering column and the display can be customized to your personal preference. A head-up display is standard on the Pro S Plus trim and floats information in the driver’s line of sight, including digital speed, navigation information, and driver assistance system info and warnings. Area View is also an available feature that uses the car’s four cameras to supplement the driver’s view of what is around the vehicle.  

Nearly everything is controlled through the 12.9” infotainment touchscreen that uses haptic touch for controls. It integrates wirelessly with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay seamlessly but takes some time to get used to. The haptic touch is not my favorite from a function point of view and VW’s operating system isn’t as clear as others. On my first day with the ID.Buzz, it took me longer than it should have to find the controls to turn on the windshield defrost on a cold Chicago morning. While it saves space and provides a ‘cleaner’ looking dash I have concerns that searching for controls could add to distracted driving more than it could help. Even controls on the doors utilize haptic touch sensors for the windows and locks, something that I struggled with repeatedly. Several times, my hand opened the back window unintentionally because of the touch sensor and then it was overly complicated to close.

The large touchscreen also utilizes illuminated touch sliders for volume and temperature, and climate controls are integrated in the bottom of the display. Other features include a wireless device charger, a Wi-Fi hotspot, eight USB-C ports, ambient lighting, 115-volt household power outlet, and an available 13-speaker Harman Kardon stereo system. Overall, the touchscreen display looks impressive with crisp high definition graphics but just isn’t intuitive. In time, I imagine owners would become familiar with the system and find it to be second nature.

Like most vans, the ID.Buzz offers seating for up to seven passengers when equipped with a second-row bench seat or six when it has second-row captain’s chairs. Synthetic leather upholstery heated and ventilated massaging front seats, power-adjustable front seats, heated second-row outboard seats and a heated steering wheel come standard. The front seats offer ample support for the back and thighs, with adjustable seat height, lumbar support, and a variety of adjustment options to find the right driving position. There is plenty of head, leg, and shoulder room all around up front and the heated seats warmed up quickly in the cold weather. 

The second and third-row seats were equally spacious and impressive. My test model had the captain’s chairs which allowed for easy access to the third row and a little more personal space for the second-row passengers. The seats slide forward or backward to accommodate passengers of various sizes or different kinds of cargo. Power sliding doors also make it easy to get in and out of the back of the ID.Buzz. The third row is no penalty box in this van either. It’s one of the most spacious third rows I’ve experienced with enough room to accommodate two adults.  Each of the seats also has access to USB-C ports and cup holders. For installing child safety seats, there are complete sets of LATCH connectors for all rear seats. It's a comfortable place to be regardless of your seat. Although keep in mind that the window openings for the second row are small square sliding windows, which is a nod to the old Microbus, but not a very big opening. 

The ID.Buzz has a decent amount of cargo room for a minivan, though it's not as much as some of its competitors. There are 18.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 75.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 145.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded down. Throughout the interior VW has done a nice job of utilizing space to provide nooks of storage. My test vehicle came with an insert in the rear cargo area that had two drawers underneath a shelf which made good use of the space. A hands-free power liftgate and hands-free sliding doors are also available to make access easy.

Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive advanced driver assistance technology is standard on all trims and works well. The system utilizes front and rear radar, a front camera and several ultrasound sensors to collect data from the surrounding area, enabling Travel Assist (semi-automated driving assistance); Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring); Active Side Assist (Blind Spot Monitor); Rear Traffic Alert; Adaptive Cruise Control Stop and Go; Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System); and Emergency Assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency).

The Travel Assist semi-automated driving worked well on the highway and maintained its position in the lane well. It will operate at speeds up to 95 mph and automatically adjusts the speed based on surrounding vehicles. In addition to IQ.DRIVE, the ID. Buzz has standard exit warning, park distance control, park assist plus with memory parking, road sign display, and high beam control for headlights.

The Volkswagen ID.Buzz channels the spirit of the original Microbus with a modern interpretation that grabs attention. Aesthetically I think VW nailed it with solid proportions, a bright color palette, stand out LED lighting, and an equally pleasing interior. The electric powertrain has sufficient power but could use more range to be a true road-tripping vehicle. Thankfully, it does charge quickly, and the gauges are accurate. The interior space is cavernous and welcoming, but the technology can be a bit overcomplicated for a van that was once as simple as they come. At the end of the day, this is a rad vehicle that will surely make a splash but will be a bit of an investment as $70k is a lot of money to pay for a minivan.

Test Vehicle: 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz ProS Plus 4Motion

Exterior Color: Energetic Orange & Candy White

Interior Color: Dune Interior with Leatherette

Options: Paint ($995)

MSRP as tested: $70,540 (With Delivery/Destination)

Pros: Retro Design, Spacious Interior, Smooth Ride, Advanced Tech, Cargo Space

Cons: Expensive Price, Minimal Range, Complicated Technology