Price and market launch: The ID.Buzz can be ordered from May 2022
According to VW, the first units are to be delivered in Europe as early as September 2022, and it can be ordered from May. The prices for the ID.Buzz should start at around 55,000 euros for the base. At the market launch, it will probably be a bit more expensive, because initially VW wants to offer the higher “Pro” equipment with a 204 hp drive. The “Pure” basis with an entry-level battery will be added later.
Appearance and dimensions: ID.Buzz wants to be close to the original Bulli
Two-tone paintwork, large window areas and short overhangs as a tribute to the T1.
The pattern on the front apron consists of air intakes that become smaller towards the outside LED headlights are connected by a light bar – both are reminiscent of the other ID series. Even the largest representative is only available with matrix LED technology at an additional cost. The light signature at the rear seems to be adapted to the current VW car models. This is mainly due to the shape of the taillights: instead of being high as before, they are very flat and wide and also connected to each other by an LED strip. Since the third generation, the rear lights were designed vertically.
Wheelbase in line with the current Multivan, despite the shorter exterior length
Looking at the dimensions, the electric bus is shorter and lower than a current T7; nevertheless, the wheelbase remains roughly the same. However, the width of the bus is increasing, measuring eight centimeters more than the Multivan.
Dimensions at a glance
• Length: 4712mm
• Width: 1985mm
• Height: 1937-1938 mm (depending on equipment)
• Wheelbase: 2988mm
• Trunk in the ID.Buzz: 1121-2205 litres
• Loading volume in the ID.Buzz Cargo: 3.9 m³
Interior: generous space in the electric Bulli
The ID.Buzz wants to be a real Bulli, which is why the entrance is pleasantly high. The short snout suggests a manageable distance from the driver’s seat to the end of the vehicle – unfortunately, this impression is not true when trying the seat. Due to the bulky dashboard, the bus is less easy to assess from the front. Who through that to that T1 If you were hoping for the cab-over-handle feel based on the design, you will be a bit disappointed here. Otherwise, the ergonomics of the cockpit are already familiar from other vehicles in the ID family. The ID.Buzz also has the current multifunction steering wheel with touch surfaces.
Lots of shelves and USB-C connections: The VW ID.Buzz combines commercial vehicle virtues with modern functions.
Behind it is the small digital instrument cluster, with the gear selector moving to the steering column. The up to 12-inch infotainment screen docks flush with the dashboard, which makes operation somewhat difficult for the driver. VW relies on a fresh interior for the electric bus, which, however, still contains a lot of hard plastic. Nice details are intended to distract from this: there are small VW bus pictograms distributed all over the vehicle, which actually give the buzz a fresh breeze.
Rear: The second row of seats is close to the first
In the second row, the space with a short wheelbase is very reminiscent of a minivan. The legs have plenty of room for the first row of seats. The right bus feeling doesn’t really come up, however, as the row of seats would have to be placed much further back. But the lavishly dimensioned trunk scores points in everyday life. The two electric sliding doors greatly facilitate access to the rear and show that the passenger version of the ID.Buzz was designed for urban environments with little space to get in and out.
Summary by Andreas Huber: Visually, nothing in the interior is reminiscent of the ancestors of the ID.Buzz. The electric bus is also modern and different from its predecessors when it comes to the interior concept and seating position. The overview has fallen by the wayside, and VW still uses a lot of hard plastic for the Bulli.
Versions: Also available as a “Cargo” transporter version right from the start
The electric transporter version ID.Buzz Cargo comes standard with three seats and 3.9 m³ of cargo space.
Two Euro pallets fit into the loading space. The permissible total weight is three tons, the maximum payload is 650 kilos. The wooden floor is equipped with lashing eyes for load securing, lashing rails in the side walls are also available on request. The ID.Buzz Cargo is equipped as standard with a sliding door on the passenger side and a normal tailgate; a second sliding door and the wing door for the rear cost extra.
A Camper ID.California has already been announced
VW ID.Buzz (2022): Bulli – Test – Bus – Premiere – Electric
In the E-Bulli over the Reeperbahn
Technology and range: initially with 150 kW and rear-wheel drive
At the market launch, there is only a 77 kWh battery. A smaller power storage unit for the entry-level model will follow later.
Features: Thanks to other cars, the electric bus recognizes the lane
Prototype driving report: 500 kilometers in the camouflaged ID.Buzz
Suitable for long distances: The ID.Buzz should be able to travel 400 to 450 kilometers with the 77 kWh battery. In practice it should be less km.
The chassis is consistent
The electric Bulli has no adjustable chassis, he doesn’t need that either, the Wolfsburg-based company has it so coherently bus Voted. It floats gently over the asphalt, the steering offers perfect feedback. Overall, it doesn’t give you the feeling of sitting in a chunk that weighs well over two tons.
At the first charging stop near Kolding, there were still 250 kilometers on the clock and 17 percent electricity in the tank. After 29 minutes, the Bulli had charged to 80 percent, sometimes with 156 kW, and later even with 170 kW at the second charging stop. That’s pretty fast for a car that doesn’t have 800-volt technology on board! VW promises: from 5 to 80 percent always under 30 minutes.
Technical data of the VW ID.Buzz
• Power: 150 kW (204 hp)
• Max. torque: 310 Nm
• Drive: rear wheel drive
• Top speed: 145 km/h (electronically limited)
• Battery capacity: 82 kWh gross (77 kWh net)
