The Volkswagen ID.Buzz is a big deal. So big, in fact, that from 2023 onwards, June 2 has been declared as "International Volkswagen Bus Day" wherein the long wheelbase ID.Buzz also celebrated its world debut. Whether it's an event worth celebrating will depend on how much of a fan you are of the German automaker or the iconic Type 2 Bus that became the definitive "hippie van". If you're in the market for an electric vehicle (EV) that can carry the family and more, you can either wait for the upcoming wave of three-row electric SUVs from Kia and Hyundai, or buy a new Rivian R1S or Tesla Model X. However, while all of those three-row EVs are great, none of them carry the same heritage as the ID.Buzz, and so if you want one yourself, here's everything you need to know about the ID.Buzz.
You Can Get It In Any Length As Long As It's Long
Well, that header probably got you confused, huh? Well, what I'm trying to say is, you can only get the ID.Buzz in the long wheelbase version in North America, while those in Europe also get a standard wheelbase model. To my eyes, the long wheelbase ID.Buzz looks even better in its stretched form, as it bodes well with the retro-futuristic looks of this electric van. Speaking of its retro-futuristic looks, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz looks absolutely amazing. As mentioned, the stretched proportions of the North American model look really good, at least to my eyes. Along with its short overhangs, the ID.Buzz somehow has dynamic proportions that avoid the boring shape that vans are notorious for. The long-wheelbase ID.Buzz also comes with a couple of exclusives for North America, such as the illuminated VW logo, and the ID.Buzz's image color--Cabana Blue. Metro Silver and Indium Grey are the other exclusive colors for North America as well.
20-inch wheels are also going to be offered as standard, though we suspect smaller wheel options could be added in the future. It'll also certainly help range since bigger alloys tend to shorten the maximum range of EVs. The rear aero flicks in the D-pillar also help in improving aerodynamics apart from just paying homage to the original Type 2 Bus. Of course, as with most modern cars nowadays, the ID.Buzz will come with a full suite of advanced driver-assistance tech that includes the usual automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, and rear cross traffic alert, just to name a few. And then who has the energy to pull a sliding door or lift a tailgate nowadays, so expect these to be powered as well.
The ID.Buzz Is Retro Done Right
In general, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz is retro done right, because this is one of those few vans where you'd probably strain your neck due to how head-turning it is. Thankfully, that same retro-futuristic design is echoed through the cabin, which can feel like an echo chamber because of its sheer spaciousness. Just like the exterior, a two-tone interior color scheme can also be selected. White is the primary interior color, and this can be blended with other colors to contrast with the brightness of the white. The original Type 2 Bus is a fun car, so it's good to see Volkswagen also offering the ID.Buzz with fun features such as 30-color ambient lighting, a Harman Kardon sound system, and the largest sunroof ever fitted to a car made by the Volkswagen Group.
Drivers will be greeted with a 5.3-inch digital screen that sits on top of the steering column, while the 12.9-inch infotainment system is now running on a new, more responsive software from the ID.7. Unfortunately, the capacitive touch sliders for the climate and volume are still there, but at least they're now illuminated. At least physical controls are finally back in the steering, so here's to hoping that physical controls for the climate will return as well.
The North American ID.Buzz is a whole 10 inches longer than Europe's standard wheelbase model, and combined with the Volkswagen Group's MEB EV-dedicated architecture, engineers were able to unlock a ton of room inside this electric van. In fact, laying down all the rear seats enables you to create a space that's nearly as big as a double bed. We won't judge you with whatever you have in mind with that sheer amount of space. Speaking of seats, the North American ID.Buzz comes with three rows as standard, along with seat heating for even the second-row outer occupants. Whether you want a second-row bench or captain's chairs will be up to you and your family's needs. If your family also happens to be vegan, then they'll be glad to no that no animals were harmed in the making of its vegan-friendly leatherette upholstery.
More Power Than A Honda Civic Type R!
The longer body and thus, bigger 91 kWh (gross, not usable) battery means that Volkswagen was able to fit more powerful electric motors than the European version. The standard wheelbase model in single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) has 201 horsepower while the long wheelbase version has 282 horses and 406 pound-feet of torque. That's not all, because a dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) model will also be available, and it will produce "about" 330 horsepower--more than a Civic Type R. Unfortunately, when it comes to performance and range, that's still shrouded in mystery, but it must be noted that this tall electric van has a drag coefficient of just 0.29 Cd. Okay so a sedan like the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a lot better at 0.21, but the ID.Buzz's figure is good enough for what is essentially a more aerodynamic shoebox on wheels. This will probably help range, and we estimate it won't go past the 300-mile mark that the EPA will probably rate it.
Of course, if batteries haven't been announced, charging speeds and times are likewise still unknown. For us to have an idea of what to expect, we have to head over to Europe and see what the standard wheelbase ID.Buzz can achieve. Their version of the ID.Buzz has a smaller 82 kWh (gross, 77 kWh usable) battery, and assuming the ID.Buzz long wheelbase will have a similar architecture, expect DC charging of up to 170 kW, enabling a five to 80 percent charge in around 30 minutes.
Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
Unfortunately, if you want an ID.Buzz now, then you'll have to wait a lot longer. Sales of the ID.Buzz won't begin until 2024, and by then, it will already reach dealers as a 2025 model-year vehicle. While you can visit a Volkswagen dealer already to express your interest, waiting for more than a year after a vehicle has been revealed is still quite a long wait. Within that time period, newer and probably better rivals might have already been unveiled--stealing away any ground that the ID.Buzz would've gained if it were already on sale now.
For those living in Europe, the long wheelbase ID.Buzz will go on sale in early 2024 as a 2024 model year--way ahead of North American buyers. While a windowless cargo version has not yet been confirmed, it won't be surprising if the European market will get one as well.