2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz: Bless Those Fancy Germans

With coupes, convertibles, wagons and sedans dropping like flies, today’s automotive landscape is a boring sea of trucks and SUVs. Making matters worse is the fact that about 80 percent of them are finished in white, grey or black. Where’s the fun in that?

Volkswagen deserves part of the blame, especially here in North America. The days of the Eos, Passat, Arteon and most Golf models are over. These cars have been replaced by the likes of the Taos, Tiguan, ID.4 and Atlas, which can hardly be described as bold or fancy. The all-new, all-electric ID. Buzz is the exception, though.

• Also: Volkswagen Releases Pricing for 2025 ID. Buzz in Canada
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A modern interpretation of the iconic Volkswagen Type 2 a.k.a. Bus or Microbus, this one-of-a-kind family hauler does exactly what the New Beetle did back in 1998—put a smile on people’s faces across all generations in an era of cookie-cutter automotive designs.

Made for North America

In the U.S. and Canada, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz comes exclusively in a three-row configuration, which is 250 mm longer than Europe’s two-row variant. Designers and engineers in Wolfsburg worked their German butts off to please North American drivers and their families with a stretched body style that still looks cool and fun.

Production of the long-wheelbase units began in mid-2024 in Hanover alongside many other MEB-based vehicles, one of which is the equally new ID.7 sedan that we’ve been promised but is being delayed for an unspecified period of time.

By the way, Volkswagen doesn’t ever want to put the “minivan” label on the ID. Buzz—and neither should we, apparently. The automaker probably aims to avoid bringing back memories of the short-lived Routan, a rebadged Chrysler van that was sold from 2009-2014. Remember that one? Few people do, and for good reason.

While the Atlas midsize SUV does a solid job of catering to large families, no VW offers as much interior space as the ID. Buzz. Consider this: it boasts more passenger room than the current Chrysler Pacifica despite being more than 200 mm shorter.

With seating for seven, a pair of power sliding doors and other features that you’d otherwise find in the aforementioned Pacifica—or a Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival or Toyota Sienna, for that matter—the ID. Buzz sure checks several minivan boxes. Of course, none of those competitors are battery-powered.

On the other hand, the ID. Buzz is awfully heavy at 2,820 kg, including 558 kg from the 91kWh battery alone. Despite achieving a remarkably low drag coefficient of 0.29, it averages 25-26 kWh/100 km, resulting in a maximum official range of just 377 km (or 372 km with 4Motion all-wheel drive). How disappointing. Volkswagen claims you could easily drive farther than that in ideal conditions, but will buyers be convinced?

The good news is that DC fast charging capability is rated at 200 kW, meaning the battery will charge from 10-80 percent in less than 30 minutes—in the best-case scenario, of course. Not only that, but all Canadian-spec models come standard with a heat pump, mitigating the effect of cold weather on range. In the U.S.? Nope.

The ID. Buzz Experience

Beyond the adorable exterior, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz greets passengers with refreshing interior colour themes including Cognac, Dune and Moonlight. Contrasting panels and stitching combine with wood and aluminum inserts—not to mention Easter eggs like those tiny smiley faces—to make the cabin that much more attractive and fun.

Drivers sit roughly six inches higher than in the Atlas and enjoy incredible visibility all around. Getting in and out requires a bit of stretching, mind you—more so if you stand barely five feet tall. Don’t worry, ergonomics inside the ID. Buzz are otherwise fantastic. Access to the second- and third-row seats is a breeze, and there’s plenty of space available no matter where you end up. The second-row seats fold down in a flash, while those behind are just as effortless to manipulate.

When the third-row seats are folded down, an available shelf creates a flat, continuous cargo floor. Dual folding storage pockets fit neatly underneath. Alternatively, you can remove the seats (around 20 kg apiece) and free up space for bulkier items. When it comes to cargo versatility, arguably nothing matches the ID. Buzz.

Up front, the dashboard is magnificently arranged, with a 12.9-inch touchscreen in the middle that proves very user-friendly and cutting-edge. Because the 2025 ID. Buzz will launch in Canada as a fully loaded 1st Edition model, other goodies include a 13-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system with a subwoofer, head-up display, heated and ventilated seats with massage, as well as 30-colour ambient lighting.

The only two options to choose from are a two-tone exterior ($1,500) and a panoramic roof with electrochromic glass ($2,000). We bet the latter will be a big hit among customers. Oh, and let’s not forget about 4Motion all-wheel drive, with dual motors producing more power (335 hp) and livelier acceleration than the rear-wheel drive variant (282 hp). Given our harsh weather conditions, Volkswagen Canada expects approximately 90 percent of first-year sales to be AWD units.

The Buzz is Everywhere

The ID. Buzz is so unique, so cool that we had a hard time finding a quiet place to do a photoshoot. Wide-eyed pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers were drawn to it like a magnet, wanting to take a closer look, touch the vehicle, learn more about it and even take a seat in it. In our many years of testing and reviewing cars, only the smart fortwo and Ford Flex have generated that kind of, well, buzz.

On the road, the ID. Buzz is eager to please, too. Powerful, stable and easy to drive, it doesn’t let its unorthodox shape get in the way of delivering a good time. The giant greenhouse provides a killer view, while the general layout of the cabin makes you feel just like home. The only thing to beware of is the relatively long turning circle that makes navigating through sharp corners and tight spots a challenge.

As mentioned earlier, the ID. Buzz is one heavy van, and you can feel the negative effects of that weight on pothole-filled roads and railroad crossings, for instance. However, with a 3,239mm-long wheelbase, the ride still proves comfortable with no undesirable noises. Come winter, we’d recommend downsizing from 20- to 19-inch wheels in a bid to create a smoother ride, but that would obviously come at the expense of styling.

There’s been a lot of talk about the ID. Buzz settling for rear drum brakes. Truth be told, it doesn’t lack braking power. Besides, rear disc brakes on EVs tend to suffer from premature wear because they don’t get to work as much as on a conventionally powered vehicle. Drum brakes address this particular issue, reducing maintenance costs in the process without really compromising braking performance. On the flip side, with a standard Class II hitch receiver and 3,500lb max rating, towing with the ID. Buzz requires caution.

Will the Buzz Endure?

Deliveries of the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz begin in January and we fully expect the vehicle to enjoy plenty of success despite the 1st Edition costing a pretty penny. The RWD model starts at an all-in price of $80,622, while the 4Motion model retails from $86,122. Will nine customers out of ten actually opt for the more expensive, AWD-equipped ID. Buzz? We’re not so sure since it’s available exclusively with seating for six where captain’s chairs replace the more practical three-passenger bench seat in the second row. The company told us they’re exploring the possibility of adding more configurations like they currently do in the U.S.

Speaking of which, we should see a five-seat ID. Buzz as early as 2026 along with more affordable models. The base price likely won’t drop below $70,000, however. The challenge for Volkswagen will be to maintain the buzz over time, ensuring it doesn’t fade away when the company runs out of early adopters.

If you ask us, the ID. Buzz is well positioned to revive the entire minivan segment, which frankly has been on the back burner for a long time. And if it does, would Volkswagen acknowledge the feat? Remember, they don’t want people to call the ID. Buzz a minivan.