Volkswagen ID. Buzz 2023 Review – International

How much does the Volkswagen ID. Buzz cost?

After many false starts and more than two decades since it first teased a reborn Kombi at the 2001 Detroit motor show, VW has finally reinvented the microbus with the battery-electric 2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

Officially revealed in March last year, the ID. Buzz will remain offshore for another 12 months or so before it eventually lands Down Under in the final quarter of 2024, with production for our market recently brought forward to now start in the third quarter.

As such, Volkswagen Australia has not provided even indicative pricing for the ID. Buzz. So, to give us an idea of a ballpark figure, in right-hand drive markets like the UK the range-topping ID. Buzz like the one we’ll get costs £63,715 – which equates to an eye-watering $121,000!

That’s a lot of cash for something with a delivery van silhouette, until you witness the battery-electric VW van in the flesh... Then it’s hard not to view its design as anything less than a triumph, carefully not straying too far into the retro realms while remaining relevant and futuristic.

There is a long-wheelbase, seven-seater version also heading our way – and could be here in time to launch alongside the five-seater late next year. (The most likely scenario is that it’ll turn up a bit later on.)

The people-carrying Buzz EV will be unique in class, but buyers favouring practicalities over coolness might weigh it up against the Mercedes-Benz EQV (from $157,450 plus ORCs) and LDV MIFA 9 (from $104,000 plus ORCs), or large family SUVs such as the Kia EV9 (from $95,000 est plus ORCs).

Once it lands, we expect the ID. Buzz options list to be limited to premium paint, a retractable tow bar and larger 21-inch alloy wheels.

The 2+1 front bench seat found in the ID. Buzz Cargo delivery van isn’t available in the modern-era microbus, leaving it a five- or seven-seater model only.

What equipment comes with the Volkswagen ID. Buzz?

Standard equipment on the premium-spec 2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro sold in Europe includes large 20-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights (with automatic high beam), a power tailgate, keyless entry/start and dual-zone climate control air-conditioning.

There’s ambient interior lighting, satellite navigation, a nine-speaker sound system, multi-function steering wheel (with faux leather trim) and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

The ID. Buzz will be backed by Volkswagen’s standard five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty in Australia, while its battery pack will be covered under a separate eight-year/160,000km warranty.

It’s too early for local service pricing, but in Europe it’s recommended the ID. Buzz receives routine maintenance every two years or 30,000km.

How safe is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz?

The 2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz comes under the maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating handed down last year.

The VW bus scored 92 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant safety and a pretty average 60 per cent for vulnerable road user protection.

It managed 90 per cent in the ‘safety assist’ department, helped by a large collection of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) on board.

These include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keep assist, auto parking, blind spot monitoring (including an exit warning), adaptive cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring and driver fatigue detection.

There’s also a proactive occupant protection system dubbed Pre-Crash Assist, plus eight airbags, a 360-degree surround-view camera and front and rear parking sensors.

What technology does the Volkswagen ID. Buzz feature?

The 2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz features a 5.3-inch digital instrument panel but does without the head-up display offered on other ID models.

In the high-spec ID. Buzz slated for Australia, there’s also a 12-inch central infotainment system (lower-grade models come with a 10-inch display) that runs VW’s latest software and is less glitchy than early ID.3 models that introduced it.

Unlike the ID.3 hatch and the soon-to-be-updated ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs, the infotainment hardware on the ID. Buzz does without backlit haptic sliders for oft-used climate and audio controls.

This means it will be trickier to use at night, although an upgrade is anticipated in Europe before Australian-bound cars enter production.

Other tech inclusions extend to four USB-C charging ports, natural voice control, a wireless smartphone charger and App Connect which allows media to be directly streamed through Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink.

Future over-the-air (OTA) updates will continue to improve the infotainment system over time by adding new features and improving functionality, but might carry an extra cost or subscription.

What powers the Volkswagen ID. Buzz?

The 2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz is currently only available with a single rear-mounted electric motor that produces 150kW/310Nm and is fed by a 77kWh lithium-ion battery.

With that amount of power, the EV can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a claimed 10.2 seconds, topping out at 145km/h.

Those figures aren’t really good enough, considering the ID. Buzz’s projected six-figure price tag. But a fix is underway.

Following the unveiling of the long-wheelbase ID. Buzz, Volkswagen has revealed that its battery-electric van will be available with its all-new APP 550 rear-axle drive unit that produces 210kW/560Nm.

Combined with a larger and heavier 91kWh battery, the higher-output VW bus can launch from 0-100km/h in a far more reasonable 7.9sec, on its way to a limited 160km/h top speed.

Better still, a fast ID. Buzz GTX is also on the way that will feature a 250kW dual-motor powertrain and reach 100km/h in 6.4sec.

Both new powertrains are expected to be adopted in Australia, but with no firm word on the launch line-up yet, we’ll have to wait and see whether the ID. Buzz gets the much-needed extra muscle from the outset.

When it comes to topping up the 77kWh battery, Volkswagen says the ID. Buzz can be fast-charged from 5-80 per cent within 30 minutes at a maximum charging rate of 170kW.

Use an 11kW AC wallbox and Volkswagen says a full charge (0-100 per cent) takes 7.5 hours.

How far can the Volkswagen ID. Buzz go on a charge?

VW says the 2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz will travel up to 423km on a single charge, based on the WLTP test method.

That’s not bad considering the people-mover’s blocky looks, and only 67km less than the considerably more rakish Volkswagen ID.5 GTX we’ve also recently driven in Europe ahead of its mid-2024 Aussie launch.

What is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz like to drive?

If you’re familiar with the van-with-windows genre, then the 2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz needs to be experienced to be believed.

Quite frankly, it’s the best van-based people-mover I’ve ever driven, although that doesn’t really say much considering most can be a little agricultural.

The ID. Buzz is different. It’s near-silent and energetic off the line, at least until 70-80km/h – when acceleration subsides rapidly. There’s clearly more performance needed from the 150kW/310Nm single electric motor, which has the vehicle’s 2471kg kerb weight to deal with.

Adding to the impressive refinement, there’s not a creak or rattle to be heard and the twin sliding doors are silent once closed. The quietness continues with the ID. Buzz isolating occupants from both road and tyre roar, although up front there is some wind noise generated from the exterior mirrors.

We love the elevated cab-forward driving position and commanding view of the road ahead.

Instead of being based on a ladder-frame chassis like traditional commercial vehicles, the ID. Buzz sits on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB architecture and gets a five-link rear suspension and a MacPherson strut front-end.

The set-up enhances the car’s agility and ride quality, and aside from some weird oscillations noted on the highway, the ID. Buzz settles down on country roads and offers fine levels of comfort.

Body control is decent, too, for this class, while around town the electric MPV is surprisingly nimble, offering a turning circle akin to a Golf hatchback.

Like all Volkswagen ID models, the driver can’t vary the level of brake regeneration. Instead, you can select ‘B’ using the gear shifter, which ramps up the amount of energy clawed back, but it’s a long way off being a one-pedal driving mode.

One of its biggest deficiencies is the fact that the ID. Buzz can only tow up to 1000kg (braked), which isn’t impressive considering even the ID.5 GTX mid-size SUV can haul 1400kg.

What’s more, payload is restricted to a maximum 529kg, which means owners will have to be careful what they carry.

Five adults and their luggage for an overseas flight could easily exceed that amount, for example.

What is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz like inside?

The sense of fun with the 2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz is reflected inside.

We’d even go as far as to say that the reborn Kombi has the best and most interesting cabin of any new ID model.

VW offers a range of vibrant colour schemes that emphasise the feeling of light and airy space. Better still, the materials used are mostly sustainable and avoid leather.

Some of the materials don’t reflect the fine attention to detail when it comes to quality – we especially dislike the sharp plastic ridge at the top of the door cards – but, overall, the ID. Buzz cabin is fun and a breath of fresh air.

Thoughtful touches include the ‘Buzz Box’ that can be removed from between the driver and front passenger to aid access to the rear seats. Shame VW hasn’t added swivelling front seats or other family-friendly touches to improve the versatility of the cabin.

Like most modern Volkswagen Group models, one of the biggest drawbacks of the ID. Buzz is some of the tech used. We’re talking here about the touch-capacitive steering wheel controls and the frankly annoying infotainment system that is far too fiddly and lacks backlit sliders for the volume and temperature control.

That said, both a steering wheel with physical buttons and an all-new larger 12.9-inch infotainment system with illuminated sliders is on the way and should be introduced as part of a 2024 or 2025 model year update.

Considering its size, you’d expect generous space inside the ID. Buzz and the VW bus doesn’t disappoint. Room in all directions is impressive in the second row, where air vents and a climate control panel are also provided.

Boot space in the five-seater ID. Buzz is huge, with the German brand claiming there’s up to 1121 litres available with all seats in place. With the seats folded down, this increases to 2205L.

The rear bench cannot be removed, but does recline and slide fore/aft to accommodate large loads or maximise legroom.

ISOFIX child seat attachment points are located at the rear outboard seating positions.

Instead of a frunk, there’s an access panel up front that allows owners to top up the washer bottle.

Should I buy a Volkswagen ID. Buzz?

For all its flaws, it’s hard not to fall for the many charms of the 2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

It looks wonderful, offers loads of space within its classy cabin and automatically rises to the top of the van-with-windows class for its drive.

The problem is it isn’t quite as clever as you would hope and the payload alone will limit its usefulness for most families or outdoor adventure types.

That’s a crying shame, but one we hope will be fixed by the long-wheelbase, three-row version of the ID. Buzz that should also become available Down Under with a bigger battery, more power and added practicality – all with no sacrifice in the looks department.

We think the longer ID. Buzz could be the perfect vehicle for those with active lifestyles, who are ready to embrace an electric vehicle.

But the short-wheelbase, five-seater model with the 150kW e-motor driven here could prove to be a tough sell.

2023 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro at a glance:
Price: $100,000 est (plus on-road costs)
Available: Late 2024
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 150kW/310Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 77kWh lithium-ion
Range: 423km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 20.5kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP 2022)

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