Volkswagen designers and engineers recreated the iconic “Bulli” and made it fitting for our modern E-Times. Their ID.Buzz is a indeed a car which brings at least the aura and panache of the original VW bus, and is adding even more character to it. It underlines the stylistic hallmarks of the original, and has masterfully translated it to steal the hearts of many of us. But not only that: this ID.Buzz now also brings along the well proven VW E-technology. We drove it for you, just read further…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Cool functionality…

The ID.Buzz has character indeed, and the two tone paintwork of our test car even accentuated its early heritage. The cool character of its predecessor goes even further. Indeed, the original “Bulli” was very functional in its interior, and VW designers have somehow continued this approach in the interior of the Buzz.

Everything is functional, the “less is more” philosophy is applied in every detail.

The instrumentation is wonderfully simple, and even the size of the central touchscreen is also kept within reasonable limits. The instruments and screens are put on a wooden finished large dashboard panel, which is set in a large matte aluminum band, running horizontally across the whole width under the windshield.

This certainly looks stylish, but also brings lot of reflections on bright sunlit days, so be sure to wear your sunglasses when you are behind the wheel. A lot has been said about the practical functionality of the “haptic” controls of VW’s ID generation, and indeed it takes a delicate hand to use them with success. But soon, one gets the hang of it.

The finish of the bodywork and interior is of the usual very high VW standards, the upholstery of the seats, certainly in the front, is also quite appealing. There is less padding on the plastic panels in the interior, certainly also in line with the “practicality first” philosophy of the original icon, but then we must not forget that this is a car commanding a price tag of around 75.000 Euros. But we personally think that very few users/buyers would have any objections here, as indeed the unique character of its original icon is preserved and this is what the lovers of the ID.Buzz want to experience and feel.

In terms of connectivity driver and passengers cannot complain. Of course one has DAB+ radio, Apple Play and Android Auto, and enough USB slots for passengers fore and aft. The navigation system with online functions and Live Traffic helps the E-driver wonderfully. It calculates also when and where to recharge the batteries. It will also recalculate them continuously in function of driving style and traffic conditions.

Driving

The ID.Buzz has the power, 150 kW of it and not less than 310 Nm of torque, but it has also the weight: 2,4 tons of it. Not that the Buzz is a slow car, far from it: it will accelerate with zest from 0 to 100 km/h in merely 10,2 seconds, and has powerful intermediate accelerations. But it does not invite you to use all this power. It rather suggests a more relaxed driving style, and this is indeed where this ID.Buzz excels. The gear lever can be turned either in “D” or in “B” position, and in the latter it will regenerate the kinetic energy when you lift the throttle. We used it actually all the time, and soon one learns to adopt fully “one pedal” driving with this setting. On motorways and higher cruising speeds, wind resistance of this ID.Buzz takes its toll, and wind and road noise are rather prominent. This will let you intuitively cruise at legal speeds of 120 km or thereabouts, and even slightly lower. The ID. Buzz has by the way an electronically limited top speed of 145 km/h. This makes absolute sense, as kW consumption rises markedly above these legal cruising speeds. Driving with some restraint, we averaged a test consumption in the neigbourhood of 19-20 kW/100 km, and this is very creditable indeed. A driving range around 450 km is achievable indeed.

The ID.Buzz is very stable, with a rather firm, but not uncomfortable suspension. Steering is precise, cornering/handling indeed being very predictable, with a tendency towards understeering. For the moment, the ID.Buzz cannot be had with adaptable suspension, but then the standard setting strikes a very good compromise for most.

Brakes are also OK, and the transition between engine braking and “pure” proper braking is very well balanced. One might be surprised that the Buzz has drum brakes at the rear, but then the electric engine sitting at the rear assists the drum brakes with its regeneration somewhat, so that even under more sporting driving no fading or diminishing efficiency occurs.

What we liked very much was the very small turning circle of merely 10,9 meters, which makes the Buzz a very nice car to drive in urban traffic.

Practical

When it comes to charging, the ID.Buzz has a 77 kW battery, and can be charged with the AC Type 2 plug or the DC type CCS unit. AC charging on a 11 kW wallbox takes some 8 hours, with DC charging one can go clearly much faster. The ID is fit for charging up to not less than 180 kW. So after a short break for a coffee or light meal one is on the road again, with the batteries up to about 80 pct charged…

The ID.Buzz has of course a (very) strong point: it is roomy. Fore and aft, the driver and his passengers have ample head- and legroom, one has to be taller than 2,15 meters to brush the front seats or the roof.

The boot space is also cavernous. Up to the cover, the boot space is 1.160 liters. When you stow things further until the roof, it is 1.760 liters. When you fold everything down, one has a massive 2.835 liters at its disposal.

There is no “Frunk” in front, so be careful that you have your charging cables stowed elsewhere when you load your Buzz fully, and consider also that avoid (parking) situations where you cannot open the rear lid, and cannot reach the cables…

We also liked the armrests on the front seats. Be sure to order the armrests on both sides of the seat, as the armrest in the door is set too high to achieve a comfortable position.

There is a large bin between the front seats, where you can also charge your smartphone, and of course there is storage space for large 1,5 and 1 litre bottles in the doors.

Conclusion

We were very much charmed by this ID.Buzz, and we truly liked it. Indeed, it invites you to take your everyday driving with a “Zen” and restful mindset. Listening to the excellent audio system, looking at the world around you with a smile. The other road users are doing the same by the way when they encounter you. Such is the sympathy of this ID.Buzz. It is also remarkably frugal when you drive it responsibly, to the joy and delight of everyone who drives with you. They find comfort and lots of room…

Add to all this the absolutely timeless character of this ID.Buzz. Its shapes and contours have instant “classic” status, and this will be a desirable car for so many across the years. So keep and cherish it as a family treasure, you will hear a never ending “buzz” of joy from young and old across the generations…

Hans Knol ten Bensel