My Thoughts Exactly: 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz

We have been teased so mercifully for its eventual arrival. Even to the point where disbelief have overcome anticipation. 

So, here we are. After almost eight years, the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz has finally reared its retro-designed head onto the American market. The euphoria may have settled down. Reality has now settled in.  

The reality is that the ID. Buzz is what we expected it to be. A modern minivan powered by an electric drive system with a design that brings people back several decades. A design that is truly it’s saving grace. 

The ID. Buzz got its co-sign by comedian Gabriel Iglesias. “Fluffy” has a collection of Type 2 microbuses and now has an ID. Buzz to compliment it. Our co-sign comes from people we know – past and present – with their own Type 2. Mostly Westfalia campers – the ones with the pop-up roof and everything you need to get off the grid. You can throw in some people with Vanagons (the third-generation Type 2) and Eurovans (fourth-generation passenger van for North America) in the mix. 

This modern “microbus” cannot be ignored. It is a unique offering in a market that has hemmed and hawed over battery-electric vehicles. The question remains on whether it is viable here in this country. 

The design alone tells the story. Pointed fingers, smiling faces, curious onlookers, and conversations were invited by the happy exterior design. Perhaps it’s the two-tone white/orange paint job. Maybe because it has a Type 2 vibe. Volkswagen made this design a head-snapper. Sometimes with glee, others with derision.

Before we go on, I have to make sure that you’re reading this from a Minnesota perspective, as 100% of our testing is done in this state. If you live elsewhere, your experience will vary.

In Minnesota, you get a little sunshine to go with a recent snowstorm and sub-freezing temperatures. A warm cup of orange pekoe tea with milk on top. Let’s start with that visual. 

The front end will remind you of the old Type 2s. The big Volkswagen logo up front with LED headlamp units on each side above it. They’re linked by an LED light bar for optical effect. A lower grille allows for airflow to the front motor and battery pack. 

The side profile is a mix of modern and retro references. You now have two sliding doors compared to older vans. Each of them has a power sliding glass within the larger pane. Towards the rear, there are three trim pieces each emulating the vents once used for the air-cooled rear-engine Type 2s (and Vanagon). They’re just trim pieces now.

At the rear, you have a large liftgate that opens to the bumper. Retro fans might remember that the same opening stepped several inches from the bumper, because of the old horizontally opposed engines. A light bar and a large Volkswagen logo finish off the rear end styling. Our Pro S Plus tester wore 20-inch “dish” wheels with a black center cap. The best to describe the friendly looking ID. Buzz is “retro futurism.” That’s not a bad thing, either.

Then, you step inside. It is all modern from here. Not a bad thing from a long view, either. 

The first thing the driver will notice is that the ID. Buzz is “on” as soon as they sit down behind the wheel. A press of the brake pedal fires it up. To shift into drive or reverse, just twist the end of the right stalk…

You know, I do not recall ever seeing a Volkswagen with a column shift – ever. 

The digital instrument cluster is similar to the one on the ID. 4. It is informative with clear graphics. The cluster is attached to the steering wheel, which is adjustable together for the driver. On our Pro S Plus tester, we got a head-up display that us clear and colorful. You are also greeted with a mix of haptic and tactile controls throughout the cabin. 

In the middle is a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen. This houses many functions from audio to vehicle controls. The only thing is that sometimes it takes a few operations to get to where you need to be. It may also take a few more steps to accomplish one action. At least it has wireless smartphone mirroring through App-Connect, a wireless charger, and 14 Harmon Kardon speakers to make things more enjoyable. 

Stowage is plentiful and innovative. The center console can be moved – or removed – yet, it offers plenty of hidden stowage and functionality. A set of cupholders can be found in a openable cubby underneath the center stack. There are more fun and innovative solutions out back, as well. You can set up a parcel shelf with two collapsable bins behind the third-row seats. Pretty handy for groceries or loose smaller items for day trips. 

When you get your ID. Buzz with 4Motion, it comes with captain’s chairs for the second row. A full three-seat bench is standard on rear-drive models, yet available on 4Motion ones. In all, there is honest adult room across all three rows. Front and second-row seats are comfortable and supportive. Power adjustments are available up front, and the second row offers a lot of seat rake travel, as well. 

Access to the third row is an easy one-touch mechanism on top of the outboard second row seatbacks. It offers a long travel for easy adult access to the third row. If you need more cargo space, you can fully remove the third-row seats through a rolling mechanism. Don’t forget to remove the parcel shelf before you do. 

Breaking down cargo space, there is 16.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row. Once you remove the third-row seats, cargo space has been increased to 75.5 cubic feet of space. With the third-row seats removed and the second-row seats folded down, you can load up to 145.5 cubic feet of cargo. 

The interior theme of our tester is called “Dune.” It combines a light cream V-Tex leatherette palate with orange accents across the cabin. The woven-like floor mats are a nice touch. 

There are two electric drive units that make up the 4Motion driveline. Put them together and there is 335 horsepower and 512 pound-feet of torque available from your right foot. This system gets its energy from a 91-kilowatt-hour battery pack that can deliver around 231 miles of range on a full battery.

According to Volkswagen, charging from 10-80% takes 26 minutes on a 200-kilowatt DC Fast Charger. Overall, we observe lower ranges and ratings due to our colder weather in Minnesota during the time of this test. We recorded somewhere between 187-215 miles of range at 100% during our testing period. 

Performance-wise, the ID. Buzz does perform very, very well. Acceleration is superb, making use of the instant torque available for passing and acceleration. It is also a nice cruiser across town and on the highway. 

We found that the ride quality was firm. It is fine enough for passengers to not get jostled. Although, you might feel some feedback on uneven surfaces, such as expansion joints where the pavement is pretty “wavy.” Otherwise, find a great surface it will be rewarding. 

The ID. Buzz handles very well, thanks to its low center of gravity from the battery pack. There are times when the ID. Buzz does not feel like it weighs almost 6,200 pounds.

One of our challenges was with the 4Motion’s steering system. It did have a larger radius measuring at 42.7 feet. Yet, we found that it can do better than that. It all comes down to the steering response and action when maneuvering the ID. Buzz around. On-center feel is very good. What was a true winner in terms of driving dynamics were the brakes. In all, it turned in stops on normal, panic, and winter situations. Importantly, pedal feel was just right.

In its initial year, Volkswagen will offer three trim levels for the ID. Buzz, along with a. choice of a single motor or dual motor 4Motion driveline. Pricing starts from $59,995. This Pro S Plus 4Motion tester came with a sticker price of $70,540. 

Now that’s it’s here, is the 2025 ID. Buzz worth the wait? For the patient ones, it should be. They understand what they’ve signed up for with the size, design, electric drive and battery systems. It does a lot of things well – especially for families.

There will be pushbacks and debates. Mainly over range and price. Perhaps having a design that snap necks isn’t enough. There has to be more. Or, is it really enough for now?

Look, we have to give props to Volkswagen for delivering on a dream vehicle. A practical one with adult passenger space and battery-electric propulsion. And, on top of that, a neck snapper. 

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by Volkswagen of America

All photos by Randy Stern and George Torline