The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz has generated a mixture of reactions, with not all of them being favorable. It took a number of years to achieve the market after being revealed as an idea in 2017. The anticipated vary for 2025 is a modest 234 EPA-estimated miles (377 kilometers) at greatest. Moreover, whereas it sports activities retro styling, its beginning value of $59,995 within the U.S. is much from the affordability of the basic Sort 2. By the point you add choices like dual-motor all-wheel drive, the associated fee can strategy $70,000.
Nevertheless, maybe probably the most helpful side of a car can’t be quantified solely by its specs. After spending a weekend with the ID. Buzz, I discovered myself surprisingly charmed by it, regardless of its shortcomings.
One nice shock was its better-than-expected quick charging efficiency, even within the frigid circumstances of upstate New York.
Over the weekend, my colleague Chris Perkins from Motor1 visited, driving his loaned Cherry Pink and Metro Silver Metallic ID. Buzz for a photograph shoot associated to a characteristic he’s writing, which I stay up for studying.
Chris drove the Professional S Plus mannequin, which sits in the midst of the ID. Buzz lineup. This model has a single-motor rear-wheel-drive setup and is able to attaining the utmost vary of 234 miles with its 91 kilowatt-hour (gross) battery. The overall price for this mannequin was $66,040 earlier than further charges, with the only added choice being a two-tone paint job priced at $995. Whereas it is a vital quantity for a car that doesn’t shine when it comes to vary, my first expertise driving the ID. Buzz on U.S. roads left me feeling a lot the identical as I did after my first encounter with it in Germany final yr: this electrical van has an simple appeal.
In actual fact, it might be one of the crucial charming new autos presently obtainable, no matter whether or not they’re electrical or not. Its vivid dual-tone shade schemes, distinctive measurement and form, spacious three-row inside, and general consolation make the ID. Buzz stand out amongst three-row autos within the U.S. market. Whereas the Kia EV9 is spectacular and arguably performs higher when it comes to specification and value for household use, the ID. Buzz merely exudes character, difficult the frequent notion that electrical autos lack persona.
In fact, appeal has its limits. Here is how the ID. Buzz carried out throughout our temporary testing over the weekend.
The winter circumstances within the Catskills had been fairly extreme, marking one of many colder winters many locations within the U.S. have skilled lately. Common snowfall started round Thanksgiving, with freezing temperatures persevering with to be the norm. Such circumstances are helpful for testing EV efficiency within the winter.
Chris launched into his journey from New York Metropolis on Saturday morning, beginning with a cost degree of 79%, which translated to an estimated vary of 211 miles (340 km). After driving for 129 miles—primarily on the freeway at a mean velocity of 49 mph—he arrived at my place with simply 5% cost remaining, indicating roughly 9 miles (14 km) of vary left. As anticipated, the ID. Buzz was exhibiting a number of low-battery warning lights by the point he arrived.
Chris promptly plugged the ID. Buzz into my residence charger, and we took one other automotive to seize some lunch.
The climate performed a vital position throughout his drive. Whereas it was about 35°F (1.6°C) within the metropolis, the temperature dropped considerably as he headed into the mountains, reaching round 19°F (-7°C) at my home. His effectivity in the course of the drive was round 2.1 miles per kWh.
| 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz | Professional S Plus, Single-Motor RWD |
|---|---|
| Value | $66,040 (excl. charges) |
| Vary | 234 miles |
| Effectivity (Winter) | 2.1 mi/kWh |
| DC Quick-Charging | 10%-80% in 26 min |
This degree of effectivity aligns with what I’ve skilled with my EV6, which typically sees comparable numbers in winter circumstances. In hotter climate, I sometimes see about double that effectivity. Reflecting on a earlier lengthy drive in a Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV, which has a comparable vary, I additionally skilled an in depth name with the low-battery warning gentle. If Chris had charged to 100% in comparable circumstances, we may estimate a winter vary of about 144 miles (231 km).
It’s essential to do not forget that this isn’t a extremely scientific take a look at and doesn’t conform to plain range-testing strategies. As an alternative, it represents an everyday drive beneath typical circumstances, contributing to the understanding that EVs can lose some vary in winter months, one thing drivers might want to accommodate.
In terms of charging, my earlier experiences with the Volkswagen ID.4 led me to categorize its charging velocity as common—neither the quickest nor the slowest. The ID.4 can cost at a most of 175 kW, and through one occasion in nice summer time circumstances, it added 120 miles of vary in simply quarter-hour on a 150 kW quick charger.
The ID. Buzz sometimes has higher charging capabilities, with its 91-kWh battery rated for as much as 200 kW. Volkswagen claims a charging velocity for growing cost from 10% to 80% of roughly 26 minutes. We wished to gauge how effectively it will carry out beneath winter circumstances.
After our lunch, we returned to the ID. Buzz, which had 8% cost left and an estimated 15 miles (24 km) of vary. Initially, there was a short challenge with connection earlier than the van started charging easily. The battery preconditioned mechanically after inputting the charger’s location into the navigation system.
It shortly ramped as much as 151 kW, peaking at 194 kW inside a minute. The ID. Buzz then maintained a steady cost velocity round 200 kW, indicating an estimated time of 25 minutes to achieve 80%. In simply 13 minutes, we achieved a 52% cost.
After working some errands for about 18 minutes, we reached a cost of 63%, with speeds dropping to 155 kW. Had we continued charging, we probably would have reached the 80% mark throughout the anticipated timeframe, yielding round 153 miles of vary.
Total, that charging expertise was fairly favorable. Whereas some autos could exceed charging speeds of 200 kW at present, many don’t. Attaining these speeds within the ID. Buzz was a formidable final result, efficiently passing the “How shortly are you able to get again on the street?” take a look at, whereas retaining the associated fee beneath that of a typical gasoline fill-up.
As for my general impressions: I am trying ahead to conducting longer assessments with the ID. Buzz. Whereas it’s actually on the pricier aspect and may gain advantage from improved vary, its cold-weather efficiency and charging effectivity had been spectacular. Moreover, the ID. Buzz is a singular and gratifying car, and I respect its existence within the automotive panorama.
Given the minor value distinction, I’d lean towards choosing the dual-motor model for enhanced energy and winter stability, which solely barely reduces the vary to 231 miles (371 km). I hope to get my palms on one quickly. For now, the ID. Buzz is exceeding our preliminary expectations.
