WHAT'S THE BUZZ? (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Volkswagen's most topical EV is the ID. Buzz People Carrier. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 42

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz trendily redefines what a large family MPV can be for the new EV era. Practicality is sacrificed on the altar of fashion but hey, this EV's fun but sensible, enviro-conscious but desirable. Which makes it very unusual indeed.

Backgroundword count: 198

With the ID. Buzz, one of motoring's most iconic models, the Volkswagen Bus, has finally been reinvented. The old Type 2 model it references, in production for a quarter of a century between 1950 and 1975, is still (after the Beetle) Volkswagen's second most recognisable vehicle, variously known as the 'Camper', the 'Bulli' and the 'Hippie van' but most commonly called the 'Microbus' or more usually, just the 'Bus'. The Wolfsburg maker's been promising to recreate it since the turn of the century, first with the 'Microbus concept' of 2001, then with the 'Bulli concept' of 2011, followed by the 'BUDD-e' of 2015 and most recently the 'ID. Buzz Cargo concept' in 2018. That's quite a gestation period, but Volkswagen's been waiting for the technology to properly recreate this vehicle for a new electrified era and needed to launch its ID. series of electric hatch models first. This ID. Buzz becomes the fourth of them, a trend-setting People Carrier that's quickly become the Internet's favourite MPV. Sold both in passenger-carrying MPV and commercial 'ID. Buzz Cargo' van forms, it's built in Hanover alongside the brand's more conventional Multivan MPV. And it's like no other model of its kind.

Driving Experienceword count: 311

Silent running was never a feature of the old chugging rear-engined, rear-driven Volkswagen Type 2 but of course the all-electric ID. Buzz is very different. Its powerplant, a 204PS electric motor borrowed from the ID.4, is still rear-mounted though, here developing far more grunt than drivers of the old 'Bus could ever dream about, 310Nm of it. Though if you regularly exercise all of that, you won't of course get anywhere near the 77kWh battery's quoted EV driving range of 258 miles. As usual with an electric vehicle, torque feels instant and drive comes via the usual EV fixed-ratio single-speed auto gearbox to the rear wheels (though twin motor 4WD versions are planned in future). And 62mph from rest occupies 10.2s, en route to the very modest top speed of 90mph - at last, something Type 2 owners of the Sixties will properly recognise. You sit commandingly, using a drive selector stalk on the right of the steering wheel. On the move, surprisingly, at least to some degree, the Buzz can deliver both comfort and a little sportiness. It feels like the premium product its price point demands, and in fact is one of the best-riding electric cars we've driven. Body roll is kept tight through corners, and the level of refinement is excellent, not just for the MPV class, but any class. We're not so impressed by the lack of brake energy recuperation options: there just an extra 'B' gear selector function to heighten energy harvesting off-throttle. But in every other way, the ID. Buzz is a revelation to drive. There's a tight 11-metres turning circle (a metre better than the Multivan), which along with the glassy cabin should make the Buzz feel very manoevreable in town. All the usual VW drive assist features are available - Matrix headlights, 'car2x' swarm informational technology and the 'Travel Assist' semi-autonomous drive system.

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