What is it?
The original Volkswagen Microbus is easily one of the most iconic vehicles in automotive history. Paying homage to that original classic, Volkswagen is coming to market with its spiritual successor, the all-new ID. Buzz. This fully electric “bus” features a look that honors the original but brings a thoroughly modern design and advanced high-tech features in an incredibly versatile new vehicle.

Honors the Original
“The zero-direct emission ID. Buzz is the spiritual reincarnation of the Microbus, reimagined for our electric future,” said President and CEO of Volkswagen of America Pablo Di Si. “It is practical, sustainable, and packaged in an unmistakably fun way that is classic Volkswagen. With its launch, the Bus will once again become our brand hero in America,” Di Si enthused.

From Concept to Production
Volkswagen began the long journey to the ID. Buzz with a concept debut at the 2001 Detroit Auto Show. This tribute to the original bus was slated to reach production but never left the concept phase. Ten years later, VW introduced the Bulli concept at the Geneva Motor Show, and this one featured an electric powertrain. Then, in 2016, the German company showed the Budd-e concept at CES, stepping closer to a production model.

ID. Buzz Concept
We got our first look at the ID. Buzz at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show when VW revealed the ID. Buzz Concept. This electric people mover carried styling cues that we can see today in the production model; however, advanced features like the fully autonomous mode with 180-degree swiveling front seats aren’t quite here yet. Later in the year, at the Pebble Beach Concours, Volkswagen announced plans to put the ID. Buzz into production, due to arrive in 2022. It’s a little late, but it stayed very close to the original concept, so we’ll give them a pass.

Model Lineup
Volkswagen is offering the ID. Buzz in three trim levels: Pro S, Pro S Plus, and First Edition. The Pro S comes with rear-wheel drive only, while the higher trims also have the option of a dual-motor all-wheel drive system. Prices will start at $59,995, not including the $1,550 destination charge.

What I Drove
Volkswagen invited me to San Francisco (and covered my travel, lodging, and food) to experience the new ID. Buzz firsthand. I was provided with a 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S Plus with 4MOTION all-wheel drive. The Pro S Plus comes very well equipped, so the only extra option on my test vehicle was the eye-catching Energetic Orange/Candy White two-tone exterior paint. This vehicle’s total MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) was $70,540, including the destination charge.

Microbus Styling Cues
While the new ID. Buzz is considerably larger than the original Microbus, it carries many of the styling cues that clearly tie it back to the original. The large VW logo up front, along with the V-shaped two-tone paint scheme on the hood, gives the ID. Buzz that distinctive bus style, while the stylish LED headlights and running lights, along with the light bar that connects the lights, add a modern flair. The vertical windshield is positioned at the very front of the vehicle – again, like the original. Finally, the lower front fascia curves up, giving the ID. Buzz a happy face.

Rear Engine Vents
The original Microbus had its engine in the rear with vents to provide airflow. The new ID. Buzz also has a rear motor, but as it is electric, there’s no need for the same air flow. Instead, VW designers added three simulated vents on each side, just for fun.

Rear View
The rear hatch of the ID. Buzz is flat like the original VW Bus, but the new version is much wider and features stylish LED tail lights. A horizontal light strip that spans the width of the rear and connects the taillights gives the appearance of even more width. The ID. Buzz is clearly identified (for anyone who might not recognize it) with another very large VW logo and the large print ID. BUZZ in white.

Electric Power
Powering the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a single rear motor or dual electric motors for full-time all-wheel drive. The single-motor variant puts out 282 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, while the dual-motor setup delivers 335 horsepower with an additional 99 lb-ft of torque from the front motor. With the more powerful dual-motor powertrain, the ID. Buzz will reach 60 mph in about six seconds – plenty quick for a minivan (although VW does not call it a minivan). Like the ID.4 and other upcoming models of VW’s family of electric vehicles, the ID. Buzz is built on the company’s MEB modular electric drive platform. This new platform is designed to be flexible so that it can underpin a variety of vehicle types yet still be scalable for mass production.

Range and Charging
All versions of the ID. Buzz comes with a 91-kWh lithium-ion battery, which equates to an estimated range of 234 miles with the single motor and 231 miles on the dual-motor versions. That’s a bit less than competitors like the three-row Kia EV9, but it’s still adequate for a daily driver. The EPA rates the 2WD ID. Buzz at 90 MPGe city / 75 MPGe hwy / 83 MPGe combined. Figures drop to 87/74/80, respectively, for the dual motor version. VW says the battery can charge at 200 kW from a DC fast charger, achieving 80 percent charge in less than 30 minutes.

Inner Space
It may have traces of retro styling on the outside but inside the VW ID. Buzz is thoroughly modern. The wide dashboard has a clean, multi-tiered look, highlighted by the 12.9-inch infotainment display at the center and a 5.3-inch digital driver’s display. A convenient shelf is located in front of the passenger seat, with a convenient wireless phone charger in a slot to the right of the steering wheel. The dashboard doesn’t quite go to the base of the windshield – there’s a gap that is likely to collect dirt, and it will be tough to clean.

Infotainment
With the latest Volkswagen infotainment system, the ID. Buzz is almost completely devoid of physical buttons and knobs. While this does make for a nice, clean design, the haptic slide controllers for volume and temperature settings at the bottom of the infotainment screen are challenging to use, especially while driving. That said, the infotainment screen is large and easy to navigate, with clear icons and intuitive menus. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connect wirelessly, and I had no problems connecting with either operating system.

Center Console
A feature we first saw in the Detroit Show concept vehicle is the center console, which is adjustable or removable. This unique console features convenient storage compartments on top, while below, there’s a rear-facing drawer large enough to carry a tablet or laptop. The entire console can be easily moved to reside between or behind the second row, or it can be removed altogether.

USBs Everywhere
The ID. Buzz comes with eight USB ports located throughout the cabin, including two each in the second and third rows. I especially like the USB-C port in the passenger door with a handy shelf, which is ideal for keeping the front passenger’s phone charged.

Front Seats
The big bucket seats up front look good with ID. emblazoned on the seat back and contrasting stitching. Seats offer good support and are quite comfortable, even after spending the day behind the wheel, and they sit up high for a commanding view of the road. Instead of using the center console and doors as armrests, the seats have folding armrests on both sides. While this makes the seat more comfortable while driving, the left armrest blocks the door when you try to exit, which can get annoying after you constantly forget to move it.

Second Row
Passengers in the second row will enjoy copious legroom and headroom, and there’s plenty of space to spread out with the dual captain’s chairs. The large power-sliding doors make access to the rear seats a breeze with an easy, low step-in height. Seats smoothly slide forward for easy access to the third row.

Third row
In many three-row vehicles – minivans or SUVs – the third row is a bit of a penalty box reserved for small children. That’s not the case with the ID. Buzz. With more than 42 inches of legroom, the third row is more spacious than the second row and is one of the roomiest third rows in the industry. With lots of windows and available panoramic sunroof, there’s no sense of claustrophobia in the far back seat.

Cargo Space
The cargo room is somewhat limited when all three rows are in use, but its 18.6 cubic feet of space is still adequate for a few small bags. Bags sit on a shelf with two convenient pull-out bins below to keep items secure and out of sight. Folding the third row increases space dramatically to 75.5 cubic feet. The third-row seats can also be removed for added flexibility.

Lombard Street Photo Op
About 15 years ago, Volkswagen enthusiast Peter Alau led a collection of classic microbuses down the famed Lombard Street in San Francisco, CA. VW recreated the image with our group of journalists driving the new ID. Buzz down the same winding road. Not only was this a terrific way of paying homage to the original VW bus, but it was also a big hit with crowds at the bottom of the hill.

It Looks Big
While the ID. Buzz looks larger; it is about 10 inches shorter in length than a Toyota Sienna and not nearly as wide as the Toyota. But the ID. Buzz is considerably taller and seems to dwarf any minivan parked next to it. This makes for a roomier cabin, but there was some concern that the tall VW would feel top-heavy – but that wasn’t the case.

On the Road
Driving at five mph down a winding road doesn’t tell you much about how a vehicle drives, so we headed out through town toward the Golden Gate Bridge. With its excellent visibility and relatively small footprint, the ID. Buzz is easy to drive around town, even in heavy traffic. With quick acceleration from stop lights or around slower vehicles, the big van (bus) worked quite well as a city vehicle.

Heading North
We took the ID. Buzz across the Golden Gate Bridge and headed north of the city. The Volkswagen gets up to highway speed quickly and smoothly and cruises along at 70 mph with a confident ride. The adaptive cruise control with lane centering works very well, and it would easily take away some of the driving stress on a long road trip.

Decent Handling
Heading into the winding back roads as we continued north on Highway 1, the ID. Buzz handled itself quite well. It is tall, but the low center of gravity, thanks to the batteries in the floor, helps to keep the VW planted, even when pushed in the corners. However, the ID. Buzz weighs about three tons, so it isn’t going to drive like a sports car – eventually, physics will win. That said, it was a pleasure to spend the day behind the wheel.

Rating: 9.0
While VW doesn’t call the new ID. Buzz a minivan – it has dual sliding doors and a spacious three-row cabin – all hallmarks of a minivan. With its unique style inside and out, impressive interior space, especially in the third row, and efficient and powerful electric drivetrain, the ID. Buzz is perhaps one of the best people movers available. While the controls can be somewhat frustrating to use, and the range is less than some of its competitors, we think Volkswagen has a hit with the ID. Buzz. It is indeed as cool as it looks.