2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz Road Test and Review

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Making a big splash this year is Volkswagen’s all-new ID.Buzz EV. Channeling the brand’s beloved Microbus from more than a half century ago, the new VW has all the makings of an icon. It’s also got the goods to be a segment buster. Will the new Volkswagen ID.Buzz save the minivan, sales of which have been in a long, slow decline in the United States? Sporting adorably cartoonish styling, a v-shaped pug-nose hood, and personal-pizza-sized VW logos front and rear as well as the requisite three-row seating and sliding side doors, the ID.Buzz makes the case that a minivan can be an aspirational purchase. Volkswagen estimates that the overwhelming majority of trade-ins will come from the pool of current SUV owners, not the minivan faithful. 

There are three well-equipped ID.Buzz models and two drivetrains at launch: the $59,995 Pro S rear-wheel drive (RWD), $63,495 Pro S Plus RWD, $67,995 Pro S Plus 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD), $65,495 1st Edition RWD, and $69,995 1st Edition 4Motion AWD. The destination VW charges to ship the ID.Buzz from its assembly plant in Germany to the local dealer adds another $1,550.

Those prices are a far cry from the entry-level Microbuses from the 1950s and 1960s, and significantly more dear than gas- or gas-hybrid-powered minivans available today, but in line with other three-row SUV EVs such as the Kia EV9.

Party Like It's 1969

This simulated flash mob gathering of Volkswagen’s reborn Microbus on San Francisco’s super-steep, zig-zag Lombard Street is an actual photo taken recently. The ID.Buzz’s fun side is amplified by its cheerful, playful palette of available exterior color combinations (11 total). There are eight two-tones, many in candy-colored, vibrant hues such as Mahi Green, Cabana Blue, Pomelo Yellow, Cherry Red, and Energetic Orange, as well as traditional white, black, charcoal, grey, and silver exterior colors. Interiors are lively, with “color worlds” dressed in Copper, Dune, or Moonlight.

Those mid-century Microbuses with maybe 50 horsepower would have struggled to ascend the hills adjacent to Lombard Street, but it was no challenge for the gaggle of ID.Buzzes assembling there. The single-motor RWD 2025 model sports 282 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. ID Buzz models equipped with 4Motion all-wheel drive increase total system output to 335 hp courtesy of an additional front-mounted motor with 107 hp and 99 lb-ft of torque. The propulsion energy source is a massive 91 kWh lithium-ion battery residing under the cabin floor.

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Nothin' But the Bus

The ID.Buzz’s styling may be whimsical, but its proportions and layout are as practical as they come. Nearly all of its overall length is available for passenger or cargo space. This van is easier to fit in the garage than full-size vans or SUVs. Even though it’s actually shorter nose-to-tail than a Honda Accord sedan and a whopping near 2.5 feet more abbreviated than a full-size Chevrolet Suburban SUV, the new ID.Buzz offers more overall cargo space and third row seat legroom than both the Honda Odyssey minivan and the aforementioned Chevrolet Suburban. A flat floor and a tall roof, in excess of 0.5 feet more lofty than that of a Honda Odyssey or Kia EV9, provide plenty of spread-out space. The Buzz’s one-box shape beats the minivan competition on space coming and going.

For most people, it’s an extra step to get into the cabin of the ID.Buzz, which isn’t quite as tall as a full-size pickup truck but definitely more elevated than your average minivan. The sliding side doors provide huge openings that are uncompromised in tight parking spaces and especially welcoming to kids, seniors, pets, as well as accommodating for bulky cargo. The side doors and rear lift back door are power-operated and on Pro S Plus and 1st Edition trims, offer hands-free operation with a foot wave under the Buzz.

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Open and Airy Cabin

The dash is modern-looking and attractive, with a bright and colorful 5.3-inch ID Cockpit driver display that moves up and down with the steering column adjustment and a larger 12.9-inch center display tackling infotainment and other control functions. The driver display conveys vehicle speed, gear selected, and EV-related data such as remaining vehicle range in miles as well as a percentage of usable propulsion battery capacity. Although the ID.Buzz’s estimated driving range is not leading edge at 231 miles for AWD models and 234 for RWD ones, its DC fast charging capability is impressive at up to 200 kilowatts (kW), offering the ability to charge from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 26 minutes. It’s not, however, as quick to charge as the Kia EV9, which can be juiced at up to 350 kW.

As with other modern Volkswagens, the ID.Buzz’s switchgear can be challenging to use with a steep learning curve for buyers more accustomed to the brand’s logical, tactile, and user-friendly knobs and buttons used in recent years. Particularly vexing are the tiny mirror control buttons and window controls on the driver’s door. VW uses three switches for four windows, and it can take several attempts to figure out how to operate the cool porthole windows in the sliding door glass.

Stash space is everywhere. On the dash, there’s a coin box, a sleeve-type wireless phone charger (a bit tight if it has a protective case) with USB-C ports, a flip down compartment with cup holders, a roomy shelf forward of the front passenger with a rubberized base, two-level storage in the inner door pockets, a roomy glovebox, and a center floor console with adjustable segment sections that can be removed and placed between the second-row seats on models with captain’s chairs.

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Ready for the Big Screen

Shown here with the standard navigation system enlarged to full screen status, the ID.Buzz’s 12.9-inch center screen is larger and more logically arranged than those used in the current VW Atlas or previous-year ID.4 models. At the bottom of the screen are illuminated sliders for easy climate control temperature and audio volume adjustment. However, if you get stuck behind a smelly diesel and want to switch to recirculating air mode, that requires tapping a tab labled “CLIMA,” which opens another screen with a greater number of climate control adjustments. Frequently used shortcut tabs are arrayed along the upper row of the screen, including a new home tab that accesses a screen showing all available functions, including vehicle settings.

The Pro S gets a 9-speaker FM/HD Radio audio system (but no AM band) with Pro S Plus, and 1st Edition models are upgraded to a rich-sounding 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium system. Both systems come with a 3-month trial of Sirius XM with 360L selectable genre service.

Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported wirelessly or via USB. Voice control can be used for functions such as selecting audio sources or navigation directions using a “Hey ID” or similar wakeup word. You can also use the voice control button on the steering wheel. However, I found that point-of-interest searches for lesser-known local businesses were more successful using the microphone screen tab with Google-based Android Auto. Additional USB-C ports are in the rearview mirror housing and front passenger door pocket.

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

VIP Front Seats

It’s a bit of a step up, but VW thoughtfully includes a recessed threshold step inboard of the first- and second-row doors. There are no cheap seats. Firm but comfortable, the front chairs offer the kind of support you’d expect in a German vehicle, and that includes the fold-down inboard armrests that have a top-quality, durable-goods feel. Even in the base ID.Buzz Pro S model, VW thoughtfully includes standard 12-way power-adjustable faux-leather covered front seats with heat and ventilation as well as lumbar massage, thigh extensions, and memory functions. The seating position is elevated for all occupants, providing a good view of the road and surrounding landscape. The standard leather-wrapped steering wheel feels grippy and is heated as well.

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Second-Row Bench or Captains Chairs

All Pro S and rear-drive models come standard with a seven-passenger configuration that includes a 60/40 split bench second-row seat that folds flat, has heated outboard seating positions, reclines, and slides forward to enable third-row access. Shown here is the ID.Buzz’s six-passenger configuration which substitutes individual second-row captains chairs on 4Motion-equipped Pro S Plus and 1st Edition models.

The captains chairs have slightly less bolstering than the front buckets, but they are still comfortable and supportive. Like the bench seat, they recline, slide fore and aft, are heated, and can be folded for greater cargo capacity. If you don’t need the seven-passenger capacity the second-row bench provides, the captains chairs are a great way to go and provide an alternative path to the third row. Both second-row seat types include LATCH child seat anchors with tethers. Second-row passengers also get a pair of USB-C charge ports.

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Limo-like Wayback Chairs

These wayback chairs are not penalty boxes as in all too many three-row mid-size SUVs. They’re easy to access even for full-grown adults, thanks to a tilt-and-slide mechanism on the second-row seats. The 50/50 split folding third-row chairs offer generous headroom and limousine-like legroom that tops some full-size SUVs. The seats slide fore and aft and recline individually. Third-row occupants get their own ventilation ducts and have access to their own pair of USB-C ports as well.

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Cargo Accepted Here

Minivans are typically cargo kings, and the ID.Buzz delivers in a big way. There’s 18.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, 75.5 aft of the second row, and a total of 145.5 cubic feet with the third-row seats unlatched and lifted out. With the second- and third-row seats folded down, there’s a huge flat surface for loading long cargo. Included with the Pro S Plus or 1st Edition models is a pair of removable storage boxes and this cargo area flexboard (shown here flipped up) with 300-pound capacity for tailgate celebrations and such.

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

All Abuzz on the Road

As with all electric vehicles, the ID.Buzz is silent and quick on the road, although there is some tire rumble over some road surfaces. Volkswagen hasn’t provided acceleration estimates, but both the rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive versions I tested easily managed sub-6-second sprints from rest to 60 mph as measured by my stopwatch. Electric vehicles tend to be heavy, and the ID. Buzz is no different with its big, 91 kWh lithium-ion propulsion battery tipping the scales at 1,200 lbs and the vehicle weight around 6,000 lbs. Still, the instant torque provided by the electric motor(s) makes for snappy performance in traffic. The ID Buzz carries its weight low in the chassis which tends to impart a stable feel on the road and calm ride motions. Steering is precise, though not feedback-rich or particularly quick, two things you wouldn’t expect from a minivan anyway.

Braking is powerful, but first you have to push through the regenerative braking at top of pedal that helps return electrons to the battery – and you may find yourself pushing the brake pedal harder than expected. So, to improve brake response, I like to use the “B” setting on the shifter which is one click past “D,” or Drive. In the B setting, regenerative braking is increased, slowing the ID Buzz the moment you lift the accelerator. The B setting doesn’t give true one-pedal driving, isn’t adjustable, and won’t bring the van to a complete stop, but it does get things slowed down sooner and in a more linear fashion.

Considering that the ID.Buzz is no sports car, grip is reasonably good with its high-capacity all-season 235/50 R20 front and 265/45R20 rear rubber. There is no spare tire. 4Motion works on-demand, powering just the rear wheels under most driving conditions, but bringing the front wheels into play if wheelspin is detected or if the Sport driving mode is selected. Towing capacity is 1,650 pounds or 2,600 (RWD) or 3,500 with a braked trailer. Pro S models feature a standard tow hitch that retracts out of sight when not in use. 

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Which ID.Buzz to Buy?

There are no bad choices here. Well-equipped “base” Pro S is no stripper and comes standard with an amazing list of desirable features. However, going with the Pro S means foregoing desirable features such as 4Motion all-wheel drive, a surround-view backup camera, a self-dimming panoramic glass roof, a heated windshield, the 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, second-row captain’s chairs, hands-free power sliding side doors and lift back, and a head-up display which are available in higher trims. So, I recommend the Pro S Plus, which checks nearly all of the ID.Buzz’s feature boxes.

AWD is a great add for buyers living in areas that can experience traction-challenging weather, but know that the maneuverability of non-AWD versions is superior due to a turning diameter that’s more than five feet tighter—so less back and fill when turning around or jockeying into a parking spot.

Know that all ID.Buzz models come standard with an extensive list of safety and advanced driver-assistance features. In addition to seven airbags, the Buzz brings adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping, lane centering, a backup camera, road-sign display, automatic high-beam control, park-distance warning, and more. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has yet to publish crash test results for the ID.Buzz, but the ID.4 SUV that’s built on the same VW MEB electric platform has achieved a top 5-star rating.

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz ・ Photo by Ron Sessions