VW ID. Buzz is the Final Auntiemobile

Writing as a proud auntie who has had three or extra children to tow round at a time, to not point out the added adults who belong to stated kiddos, I’m all the time trying to find a car that may accommodate everybody whereas making me really feel “cool.” EVs and Hybrid automobiles are my desire. I additionally need the children to love driving in it. Since I’ve dreamed of an electrical model of the basic VW Bus for a very long time I used to be excited to lastly see the VW ID. Buzz premiere.

My time with the Buzz was hosted by VW however all opinions and pictures on this publish, except famous, are my very own. VW didn’t pay me for this assessment or any point out of the EV.

However does the all-electric 2025 ID. Buzz dwell as much as the hype? Does it really feel enjoyable to drive? Is it practical to my life-style? I had so many questions once I had the respect of being invited to a check drive in San Francisco with Volkswagen USA.

My first second with the Buzz was once I walked as much as a line of them parked close to San Francisco’s Lombard Avenue. I knew I’d quickly get to drive a “Pomelo Yellow” Buzz and I used to be instantly giddy. It immediately felt enjoyable simply to have a look at. I felt my fingers itching to get behind the wheel.

Lombard Avenue with the VW ID. Buzz

Step one in our check drive was recreating this iconic San Francisco second the place VW buses all drove in a line down Lombard Avenue. It’s essentially the most curvy, winding street within the metropolis. And possibly within the nation? The neighborhood was prepped effectively upfront and police escorted us. And that made for one unbelievable expertise being a part of automotive historical past within the making.

One factor I used to be anxious about was braking. With the extraordinary grade that Lombard Avenue has and the gravity that exerts on automobiles, I questioned how the Buzz would deal with it. I knew I’d should brake rather a lot. And I’d should drive slowly. The Buzz dealt with all of it with ease. And I used to be by no means wired within the second of recreating that drive. We received to cease for some pictures and movies as we had been all parked on the road and it felt like the massive deal it was. In case you’re already into Volkswagen and have been for a very long time, I believe you will discover – like I did – that the Buzz fulfills most or all of these heat emotions you’re on the lookout for. It was like coming residence once I sat within the cockpit of the Buzz, regardless of it being model new to me.

Driving the Buzz round Larger San Francisco

San Francisco could be a troublesome metropolis to navigate for any driver. Once you’re in a new-to-you bigger car, the stress amps up much more. Hills with steep grades, very slender lanes, and intense intersections felt simpler than I anticipated within the Buzz. Steering was exact, the turning radius is tight, and every time I wanted that oomph that’s required to stand up a steep hill or meet up with the individual in entrance of you in a motorcade – the motor gave me the torque I wanted. After which some! I additionally appreciated that my field of regard felt extensive open and I didn’t discover blind spots or areas with less-than-ideal visibility.

Response from individuals we met as we drove round city

Mike and I drove our Buzz throughout San Francisco, then north of the bridge into Marin and previous Muir Woods. We stopped rather a lot for pictures and to shoot video footage. All over the place we stopped individuals approached us with smiles and questions. Passengers and drivers in classic VW buses waved or pulled over to speak. We even had a police officer pause in his shift in order that he may ask us questions and take just a few pictures of the Buzz. The smile on his face was electrical. *pun supposed* I believe we talked to, or gestured with, over 100 individuals. Everybody was excited! It made me much more excited. It was essentially the most optimistic and enjoyable day I’d had in a very long time and I used to be fired up!

How many individuals does the VW ID. Buzz seat?

There are a minimum of two seating configurations out there. And that is designed as a three-row car. One configuration includes a second row with two captains chairs and seats 7 individuals. The second includes a bench seat for the second row and seats 8 individuals. An enormous benefit is the added legroom within the Buzz. Due to the longer wheelbase and VW’s engineering prowess, nobody within the car ought to complain of cramped legs. It’s an industry-leading quantity for each passenger.

So what’s it like for a mother or dad to drive?

My check drive associate was fellow LA resident Mike Hazard. He’s a dad and a automobile reviewer for Kelley Blue E-book. His video assessment of the car is dynamite when you’re on the lookout for that in-depth, family-based perspective. And he spends loads of time addressing issues like automobile seats that these mothers studying this will wish to know.

I additionally noticed my pal Scotty Reiss throughout this check drive occasion. Scotty is the founding father of “A Women Information to Vehicles” and her assessment claims the VW ID. Buzz means no extra boring household automobiles. I could also be a bit biased, however I do agree!

This paragraph from Scotty’s assessment stood out, “It’s enjoyable to drive as a lot for the ability beneath the hood as for the intelligent options, all at a worth that gained’t make you nauseous, although fairly a stretch from the $2,500 that the 1967 mannequin value (which might be $23,000 in 2024 {dollars}).”

VW ID. Buzz is greater than a household van, it’s an Journey cell

For aunties like me, and anybody who seeks journey, the ID. Buzz can also be a really perfect alternative. It’s constructed with flexibility and geared in the direction of road-tripping or vanlife. And it’ll get even higher when VW launches equipment. Nonetheless, they aren’t able to say which equipment will probably be provided. I’d like to see cute curtains, a kitchen setup, a rooftop tent, possibly a sleeping bag system, or a roof field. Maybe even a partnership with manufacturers like Yakima? We will see.

Listed here are a number of the particulars that I liked that assist utilizing the Buzz as an journey cell:

• All rows of seating behind the driving force can fold flat or very almost flat. [I couldn’t test the Captain’s chairs, only the bench seat.]
• Buzz Field detachable heart console with drawers. It additionally has moveable placeholders to vary the scale of the areas on prime to suit your belongings. One among them turns into a bottle opener, one other an ice scraper!
• Flexboard cargo system within the trunk, which has drawers that slide out, within the Professional S Plus and 1st Version fashions.
• Retailers and USB-C ports for all of the gadgets and home equipment you want when adventuring. Situated throughout so if all rows are full, there ought to be sufficient for every passenger. The official quantity from VW is 7. It felt like extra! LOL! Additionally, there are Retailers within the trunk and beneath the passenger seat in entrance. There’s even a USB-C port for a splash cam close to the highest of the windshield.
• The plentiful inside room that would simply match a mattress.
• Stargazing by means of the Electrochromic panoramic sensible glass roof out there on the Professional S Plus and 1st Version fashions.
• Volkswagen Automobile-Web with Wi-Fi so you may take your work on the street when you’re a digital nomad.
• Thigh extension on the entrance seats so that you’re further comfy on lengthy drives. To not point out lumbar therapeutic massage, warmth, and air flow are all customary.
• 30-color ambient lighting! Simply add a disco ball and the campground occasion is at your van.

What I liked

• It will not be THE outdated bus we love. [If you want that, get one and have it electrified like Ewan MacGregor did his VW Bug.] Nevertheless it has a feel and appear that performs homage to the basic bus, with the creature comforts of a contemporary EV.
• It drives smaller than it feels prefer it ought to, given how roomy it feels inside within the cockpit.
• Head-up show within the windshield.
• Pop-out cupholder within the entrance. When it folds up there’s greater than sufficient room for a big purse in that area.
• Accessible inside colours, Dune [white] and Copper [camel brown] known as to me. I’d be hard-pressed to decide on between them.
• Cute face on the entrance of the Buzz with the lighted VW brand badge and the headlights that seem like eyes.
• The quantity of legroom!
• Options like wi-fi charging and therapeutic massage seats are STANDARD!
• The quantity of air vents and the three local weather zones guarantee all passengers really feel comfy.
• Method lighting that flashes whenever you stroll up with a key.
• Tremendous easy power-sliding doorways could be opened by waving your foot beneath the sill.
• Energy liftgate that opens with a kick beneath the rear bumper.
• Design particulars like an imprinted Buzz on seats and paneling.
• Longer doorways present higher entry to the third row than different minivans I’ve pushed.
• Regenerative braking which replenishes the ability as you drive in B Mode.
• Greater than respectable torque. It felt fast and responsive.
• A low heart of gravity helps to offset the EV’s top so it feels secure even on winding roads. That is as a result of battery pack beneath the ground between the wheels.
• In order for you every part packed into the Buzz and also you need it “prime of the road,” you’re nonetheless coming in at about $70K. Different comparable automobiles with the identical stage of options value extra.

What I Didn’t LOVE

• The difficulty with retaining the ability on whereas nobody is within the driver’s seat. [Scotty covers this well in her review.]
• The trunk space Flexboard system is anchored in place and subsequently isn’t simply movable or can’t be moved.

• No under-floor space for storing as a result of battery packs.
• The home windows within the sliding rear door don’t go down. BUT! The lovable sq. window reduce into these home windows opens and is ideal for sticking your head out to benefit from the breeze. Or permitting your canine to get some air.

• The one place within the car that could possibly be a bit problematic for visibility when driving is the rear window. It’s smaller than I believed it ought to be given how giant the field of regard as a driver is in the remainder of the Buzz.
• The display between the driving force and entrance passenger appears to be powered by a extra “busy” system than earlier VW fashions I’ve pushed in the previous couple of years [and the one in the ID. 4]. Which means extra stuff and extra icons “junking up” the display so it will probably take some getting used to it whereas driving. Nonetheless, whenever you activate Apple CarPlay, that’s as easy and as lovely as all the time. I didn’t have the suitable telephone to check Android Auto so I can’t handle that.

Let’s discuss value

I believe it is a well-priced car for VW followers like me. However I’ve already seen pushback within the {industry} on what it comes out to cost-wise. I’ll allow you to choose for your self. Listed here are the numbers I used to be given on the time of my check drive [mid-Oct 2024]:

*This might change. Seek the advice of your VW seller for precise pricing.*

Whereas the VW ID. Buzz worth may prime out at virtually $70K, that is what a la carte extras will value:

• Panoramic sunroof: $1,495
• That candy two-tone paint that was on each mannequin I check drove and which is in all of those pictures I took: $995
• 4Motion, which is what they name All Wheel Drive, features a second motor within the entrance and provides $4,500
• AWD offers you Captains Chairs customary however they value $695 in order for you them on RWD fashions

And eventually…

Why do I believe the VW ID. Buzz is the final word Auntiemobile? As a result of I felt cool whereas driving it. But it may nonetheless match all of the individuals I’d must drive round once I’m with household. And it will nonetheless rework into my best journey cell on the weekends once I wish to head out for a solo or couple’s street journey with my associate.