Stunning design and retro vibes attract non-stop attention everywhere it goes.
Ride comfort, space, and functionality deliver a good minivan experience, that’s when you overlook the flaws.
At $90K as tested, it underdelivers as an EV in range, efficiency, and refinement.

I’ve been waiting for over two decades for this van. Ever since Volkswagen showed the first Microbus concept back in 2001, and especially after the Buzz concept hit Detroit in 2017, I’ve been dreaming of driving this thing. So, here it is: the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz. The retro-futuristic electric van I couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel of… and yet, I’m torn.

Let me say it plainly: I absolutely love it. But I also kinda hate it.

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz | Photo: Matt St-Pierre

Looks That Stop Traffic—Literally

The design? Total hit. I’ve not driven a vehicle that gets this much attention in a long while. People honk, wave, flash thumbs-up, and even ask questions in traffic. The Cabana Blue two-tone paint (a $1,500 must-have) is a magnet for looks and smiles. The ID. Buzz has nailed the nostalgic vibe, and VW deserves full marks for that.

But all that charm fades a little once you look at the window sticker. The base model starts around $81,000. This fully loaded AWD tester with two-tone paint, glass roof ($2,000), and all the toys? Nearly $90,000. That’s $15,000 more than my own Kia EV9, which has more power, range, equipment, and refinement. Yes, the Buzz is cooler. But that price tag is a buzzkill.

A Cool Van, Not a Great EV

From the driver’s seat, the Buzz is quirky and fun. Visibility is spectacular, quite like sitting in a greenhouse, and there’s a ton of useful storage. The front seats are power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and even massage-equipped (a bit unnecessary, but fine). But then you touch the doors… and it’s cheap plastic galore. I wouldn’t accept this in a base Jetta, never mind a six-figure EV.

And while it rides well thanks to its multi-link rear suspension and has nicely sorted German handling, noise insulation is terrible. At 55 km/h, wind and tire noise are intrusive if Spotify isn’t blasting Golden by the KPop Demon Hunters. On the highway? It’s worse. This thing sounds unfinished, like VW forgot the soundproofing. Compared to the trio of electric SUVs we reviewed recently, the Buzz is buzzy.

Practicality with Caveats

As a minivan, the ID. Buzz is mostly excellent. The power sliding doors and tailgate are fantastic, and the second-row captain’s chairs (standard on AWD models) make access to the third row a breeze. The Buzz Box, a clever removable console, adds a dose of functionality. Space in the third row is genuinely adult-friendly, where legroom and headroom are top-notch.

But the third-row seats can’t fold into the floor because of the battery/rear motor layout, and they must be removed entirely to maximize space. Not ideal. Behind the third row, you only get 527 litres of cargo space, which is mediocre. My beloved Toyota Sienna provides over 900 litres of usable volume when the seats are in use. Behind the second row? A generous 2,138 litres, but again, that requires yanking the third row.

The glass panoramic roof is neat, going from opaque to clear with a swipe on the screen. Kids will love it. Adults might wonder if it was worth the $2K.

Infotainment and Controls

The 12.9-inch touchscreen is decent and familiar to anyone who’s driven the latest VW products. The menus are fairly easy to navigate, and you can customize favourites. But the haptic controls? Garbage. All of them. The sliders for volume and climate are inconsistent, and the steering wheel buttons are just as bad. Thankfully, VW has admitted that they were a mistake. They’ve implemented changes in the GTI already, and the same updates should be made across the board. I won’t go into the window controls as they are another catastrophe.

As a note, I appreciate the physical buttons to disable the side door controls. Parents know why that matters.

Range and Efficiency: Big Problems

Let’s talk power. The base ID. Buzz comes with a 282-hp rear motor. This AWD tester bumps it to 335 hp, and it scoots to 100 km/h in a respectable 6.4 seconds. The 91-kWh (gross) battery supports up to 200 kW DC fast charging. That’s decent.

But here’s where the party ends. Range for AWD models is officially 372 km. Real-world? I started with 100% charge and an indicated 450 km, but consumption has hovered around 25–26 kWh/100 km, and this while cruising city streets. That’s high. At that rate, the realistic range drops below 350 km, especially if you drive on the highway. Never mind in the dead of winter.

In Canada, AWD is non-negotiable. That makes the lower range even harder to swallow. And as for efficiency? It just isn’t competitive, especially at this price.

Final Thoughts

So, what is the ID. Buzz? It’s a really cool, really expensive retro van that makes you smile… right up until you try to justify buying one. It’s not refined enough. Not efficient enough. Not practical enough for $90,000.

But I still want one. I just wouldn’t actually buy it. I didn’t. Styling aside, the only thing the Buzz does better are the sliding side doors.

Maybe the facelifted version will fix the noise, controls, and efficiency. If VW can sort those things out and drop the price a bit, the Buzz might finally become the iconic semi-affordable family EV it was meant to be. What I would love to see is a bare-ish 4MOTION Buzz with power doors, CarPlay, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel for under $65,000, but that won’t happen.

Until then, it’s a rolling piece of art that’s more heart than head.

2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz

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