Our Rides: What’s The Buzz All About?

Eight years ago, Volkswagen rolled out a concept that got a lot of attention, followed by a slew of questions on whether they would build it or not. If so, how will it be propelled? And will the cute design end up in production as it was presented?

The “cute” design that showed up in Detroit back in 2017 was a tribute to one of the icons of the German automaker’s history — the Microbus.

The happy forerunner of today’s minivans was brought here in the early 1950s. They became symbols of the counterculture in the 1960s and into the 1970s. You could get one as a camper with a pop-up roof. In all, it brought smiles to the faces of its owners, their passengers — and hitchhikers too.

The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz retains the happy essence of the old Microbus. Compared to the concept, most of the design ideas were retained. Yet, something completely different was underneath its cute and happy skin.

We were wondering what all the buzz is about for this new minivan. Pun intended.

The ID. Buzz is the second Volkswagen built on the MEB platform for the American market. It is fully electric, drawing power from a battery pack underneath the cabin. Yes, we have our first fully electric minivan. Simply put, this is the right vehicle for environmentally conscious Rainbow Families.

You can choose between a single-motor version with the drive unit in the rear of the ID. Buzz — just like an old Microbus — or go with a dual motor setup with the 4Motion all-wheel drive system. Each axle gets a drive unit, with both motors drawing energy from a 91-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Our tester was equipped with the 4Motion driveline.

In terms of energy use, the Environmental Protection Agency rated our Pro S Plus 4Motion tester with a range of 231 miles on a full battery. To recoup energy from 10% to 80% state of charge, recharging should take 26 minutes from a DC Fast Charger at 200 kilowatts. It is also compatible with Level 2 chargers at a rate of 16 miles per hour of energy returned. Or, you can simply plug it into a 110-120-volt household outlet at a rate of two miles per hour of returned energy.

While we understand how the ID. Buzz works, what is truly in front of us is a “retro-futuristic” design that melds the past with current design trends — the “cute” and “happy” part of this minivan. The past comes from its shape and a few details on its exterior. The two-tone paint job is from the past, as are the trim pieces that look like vents towards the rear of the roofline. The “vents” symbolize the air intakes of the air-cooled engines of the past. Even the front glass area is shaped to resemble the old Microbus from the 1950s.

Everything else about this exterior is modern: LED lighting front and back, big 20-inch wheels with all-season tires, dual sliding side doors with a small power-adjustable sliding glass panel each, a large lower grille on the front fascia, and to top it all off, a liftgate that opens right at the bumper. While it looks like the past, it is as functional as every minivan sold presently.

The interior of the ID. Buzz is also very modern. The driver is greeted by a digital instrument cluster that is attached to the steering column. Because the driver sits far back from the edge of the large windshield, a heads-up display is added to help retain attention on the road. The shifter is on the column and activates through a knob at the end of it. Other controls are elsewhere in front of the driver, using mostly haptic touch.

The space up front can be augmented by moving the center console. It can also be removed if you want it to. Stowage is abundant all around the front part of the cabin, which helps keep you organized on the road.

Dominating the center of the dashboard of the ID. Buzz is a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen. This screen is the hub for not just the audio system and climate control but also has screens for most of the vehicle’s functions. It is not the easiest system to navigate, as it may take a few screens and functions to do exactly what you are asking your ID. Buzz to do.

The touchscreen works well with your smartphone through wireless connectivity. Wireless charging is also available, along with a multitude of USB-C ports throughout the cabin. Harman Kardon offers 14 speakers of beautiful noise on our Pro S Plus tester.

To match the paint job on the outside of our ID. Buzz — orange and white — is one of three interior themes available on this electric minivan. Volkswagen calls it “Dune.” It is a combination of creamy white leatherette and orange accents. It is definitely light and airy — especially with the gray woven floormats on all three rows.

Seven people ride comfortably on the ID. Buzz. This seating configuration is standard on single-motor models. However, the second row on 4Motion models swaps out the second row, a three-seat bench, for two individual captain’s chairs. If you wish to have all seven seats to go along with your dual-motor ID. Buzz, that is available as an option.

The good news is that adults can sit comfortably across all three rows. The second-row seats are adjustable, with a massive amount of rake available. Access to the third row is as easy as pushing the button on the outboard side of the second-row seatbacks. They slide so far forward for easy access to the far-back seats.

When it came to cargo management in the ID. Buzz, Volkswagen got creative. It starts with a parcel shelf with two collapsable bins behind the third-row seats. Using the bins will make shopping a much more manageable task. Remove the parcel shelf and the bins, and then you can remove the third-row seats by rolling them out. Don’t worry — they’re easy to replace by rolling them back into place.

Overall, the driving experience was fine. The ride is firm overall. This might be a bit of a challenge on road surfaces that are not as smooth as you wish. It handles very well for a vehicle that tips the scales at about 6,200 pounds. The battery pack takes up 1,250 pounds of that weight, yet it serves a purpose: keeping the center of gravity low for this electric minivan.

Maneuverability is just fine with solid steering action. Braking was also fine, with good pedal feel and solid stops in every situation we experienced.

The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz is available in three trim levels — Pro S, Pro S Plus and a 1st Edition model. Pricing starts at $59,995. This Pro S Plus 4Motion tester came with a sticker price of $70,540.

The long-awaited 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a cute electric minivan that will turn heads and start conversations. It is quite buzzworthy, indeed. Perhaps you might want to give it a considerable look if you and your Rainbow Family want a new ride.