2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz: Assessment, Costs, and Specs | The Every day Drive

Textual content by Tom Appel

2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Professional S Plus 4Motion

Specs

Class: Minivan

Nation of Manufacture: Germany

Shade:Energetic Orange

Miles pushed: 173

Battery capability: 86 kWh

EPA-estimate MPGe: 87 metropolis/74 hwy/80 mixed

EPA-estimated driving vary: 231 miles

Shopper Information vary estimate (preferrred circumstances): 275+ miles

Cost Port Location: Rear passenger-side fender

Snow Efficiency: N/A

Base value (2024): $67,995 (not together with $1550 vacation spot cost)

Choices on take a look at car: 2-tone paint ($995)

Worth as examined: $70,540

Professionals and Cons

The nice: Temper-improving design, roomy and cozy cabin, enjoyable to drive

The great: Nice outward visibility, inside quietness

The not so good: Restricted battery vary, disappointing cargo area aft of Third-row seatbacks

Assessment

Relying on while you first grew to become conscious of Volkswagen’s intentions to supply a Microbus-revival minivan, it’s attainable you’ve been ready for this attention-grabbing household hauler for fairly some time.

Microbus Idea Automobiles

Volkswagen first confirmed a retro minivan on the 2001 Detroit Auto Present, greater than 20 years in the past. Although the Bulli Idea was not an electrical car (EV), it was each trendy trying and fairly devoted to VW’s design heritage.

The German maker once more teased model followers, this time with the ID. Buzz Idea, additionally revealed in Detroit, this time in 2017. The “Buzz” was meant to be an electrical car from the beginning, however its arrival within the U.S. as a manufacturing mannequin was delayed by numerous obstacles, together with company infighting over which variations of the van have been finest fitted to the U.S. market. (Solely the long-wheelbase model of the ID. Buzz is exported to the U.S., whereas European prospects even have entry to a considerably tidier, less-expensive model of the van.)

Given the electrical van’s retro-fun design, and common celebration perspective, it got here as no shock that customers, lovers, and members of the media, known as loudly for manufacturing of the ID. Buzz, and, after all, availability within the U.S.

Gradual Gross sales

However American automobile customers could be unpredictable, and regardless of the joy previous the ID. Buzz retail launch late final 12 months, gross sales in 2025 have been disappointing. By the primary three quarters of ’25, VW has bought fewer than 5000 examples of its electrical minivan. Throughout the identical interval, Toyota put greater than 75,000 Sienna minivans in American garages.

Remembering the New Beetle

Notice that Volkswagen has loved nostalgia-based mannequin success earlier than. The German maker efficiently peddled greater than one million New Beatles within the U.S. between 1998 and 2010, and a pair hundred thousand extra dubbed merely “Beetle” after that. This even though the New Beetle had virtually nothing in widespread with the unique VW Kind 1, besides its scarab-like silhouette.

ID Buzz Gross sales Limitations

There are a number of elements working in opposition to the ID. Buzz acceptance nonetheless, and we’ll tackle every of those:

• It’s electrical
• It’s costly
• It’s shy on cargo area
• Its battery vary is disappointing

However, within the van’s protection, it is usually a pleasure to drive.

Halo Automobile

In a dialog with this writer on a current episode of the Shopper Information Automobile Stuff Podcast, Volkswagen Head of Communications (since retired) Mark Gillies defined that the ID. Buzz was by no means meant to be a quantity vendor, however as a substitute a boutique mannequin meant to function a halo product for the model. You’ll be able to hearken to that dialog right here.

In that dialog, Gillies famous that regardless of the Buzz’s early gradual gross sales, the maker has no plan to supply a gasoline or gasoline/electrical hybrid variations of the van. The ID. Buzz was designed to be an electrical car.

Costs and Trim Ranges

For 2025, the ID Buzz is obtainable in three trim ranges:

• Professional S ($61,545)
• Professional S Plus ($65,045)
• 1^st Version ($68,040)

We count on the 1^st Version mannequin to vanish for 2026, possible to get replaced by a special-edition trim degree of some kind.

Engines

Professional S fashions characteristic a single rear-axle motor rated at 282 horsepower, and are EPA estimated to journey 234 miles on a single cost. Professional S Plus and 1^st Version Buzz variants characteristic entrance and rear motors (and are thus AWD) rated at a mixed 335 horsepower, and journey 234 miles on a full cost. All fashions draw energy from a typical 86-kWh battery.

Normal Gear

All three fashions come effectively geared up with a full complement of security gear and worthwhile equipment. Professional S Plus and 1^st Version additionally embrace head-up instrumentation, Harman Kardon-brand premium audio, overhead-view digital camera, and a nifty cargo-area storage system, amongst different options.

Shade Availability

Sadly–including to the impression that that the van is pricey–one of many ID. Buzz’s signature traits, it’s enjoyable colour palette, is restricted on base fashions. Professional S customers have solely two 2-tone decisions, blue and white, and crimson and grey. And, as seen above, stepping as much as the following trim degree provides $4000 to the underside line, PLUS the price of the 2-tone paint choice ($995).

Take a look at Automobile

Shopper Information just lately spent per week behind the wheel of a 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz in Professional S Plus trim that includes the perky Energetic Orange and Sweet White 2-tone paint scheme. All advised, together with vacation spot cost, our take a look at van got here to $70,540.

As famous above, we’re eager to handle what we imagine are the obstacles to market acceptance of VW’s plucky minivan, and share our ideas on the matter. First, the electrical factor…

It’s Electrical

With U.S. EV market share working about eight p.c of complete new-vehicle gross sales, any electrical automobile or crossover is hampered by its enchantment being restricted to only a fraction of the American car-shopping public.

That mentioned, VW clearly believed that the ID. Buzz’s enjoyable design, spunky perspective, and, finally, actual practicality, would assist clear that market hurdle. And, to some extent, being the one electrical product within the minivan section could possibly be seen as a gross sales asset.

And whereas minivan prospects could usually be a realistic—and cost-conscious—bunch of automobile customers, and unlikely to experiment with plug-in energy, there may be a lot in regards to the ID. Buzz being electrical that makes it a superb minivan.

Merely, the ID. Buzz is the quickest, quietest, most rewarding to drive van minivan. Along with its EV attributes, the Buzz can be fast dealing with, easy using, and incorporates a recent tackle automotive inside design. The ID Buzz is the type of car that sells itself on the take a look at drive.

It’s Costly

Sure it’s. Whereas the surprisingly nice and succesful 2025 Kia Carnival boasts a beginning value simply over $38,000, the ID Buzz kicks in at a sobering $61,545. Clearly, Volkswagen believes that the Buzz’s joyful demeanor and funky styling command a value premium, however we doubt most minivan customers are ready to increase the quantity of their month-to-month funds by 50 p.c or extra for the sake of somewhat additional enjoyable.

Certainly, the enchantment of the ID. Buzz is prone to sporty- and luxury-car customers searching for new high-profile trip. To such customers, the Buzz’s actual utility could show to be an asset, except mentioned of us regard practicality as demerit.

It’s shy on cargo area

The ID Buzz boasts all types of passenger room, and can make six grownup passengers very pleased, even on lengthy journeys. Nonetheless, VW’s electrical van is in need of area aft of the three^rd row. What the van can not do, is transport six individuals on an extended journey, and all of their baggage. For five- and 6-person households with road-trip trip aspirations, this lack of cargo-area area is probably going a deal breaker. And that’s a disgrace, as a result of the van is a lot enjoyable to journey in. For inside dimensions in comparison with different minivans, click on right here.

Its battery vary is disappointing

Frankly, we had hoped for better vary from the ID Buzz’s comparatively giant battery. And, throughout a interval of pleasant Chicago-summer climate we loved a lot better-than-advertised vary. However finally, vacationers and weekend-getaway varieties will discover the German EV’s vary an inconvenience.

Now, positioned into principally native “soccer-mom” service, the ID. Buzz will shine, serving up all of the utility a busy household would possibly want, plus low-cost and handy house charging. That mentioned, we expect the Buzz would promote appreciably higher have been the vary estimate nearer to 300 miles, even at present costs.

Worth

Whereas the ID Buzz’s worth to conventional minivan prospects is blunted by its excessive value and restricted vary, the van is in any other case an absolute delight to drive and be seen in. We admire the intense, ethereal, and cozy cabin, in addition to the short acceleration and sporty dealing with.

Have been it not for the value and vary, we’d title the ID. Buzz to our annual Greatest Purchase listing. Frankly, we envy anybody who could make this rolling pleasure machine part of their every day lives. It’s an excellent van, and it makes onlookers smile. That’s one thing few crossovers can do.

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2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Footage

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