VW ID Buzz First Drive: This 3-row 7 Passenger *Bus* Means No More Boring Family Cars
One of my earliest memories is climbing into our green and white 1967 VW Bus, smelling the plastic seats and floor mats that became even more fragrant as the car heated up. I loved that I could see out all of the widows—there were no head rests to block the view. The windshield was a window to the world.
The wide rear benches gave my brothers and I plenty of room to climb around, though my dad installed seat belts and insisted we wear them while the car was moving, as much for our safety as for keeping us from bothering him while he was driving. These feelings come flooding back touring the all-electric VW ID Buzz, the revival of the original, which is (finally) making its debut.
What I remember but won’t be reminded of is the whir and gurgle of the motor; the sound of an old VW engine is iconic. Unlike most cars, the engine sat under the rear floor and took up a lot of space; there wasn’t actually all that much room for luggage or groceries. And, when my dad added motor oil or made a repair, the car smelled like grease. All that is gone; while the electric motor in the VW ID Buzz is in the rear, it doesn’t take up passenger space and no grease is required.
Video: We toured the VW ID Buzz: Don’t call it a minivan!
This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. No AI was used. Additionally, I was VW’s guest for this test drive though all opinions are my own.
The OG Van Gets a New Life
My parents were Barbie and Ken: clean cut, modern, empowered and contrary to the typical VW Bus driver: free-range hippies, campground hunters or soul surfers. The practicality of the VW Bus appealed to my parents for the space, for the ease of making the drive to Florida from New York, for the high seating position and visibility. They rejected the idea of cramming three kids and our stuff into a sedan and they thought a station wagon was cliché.
They were OG minivan people, as it turns out; they almost always owned one. It’s this nostalgia on my part and attitude on their part that makes the introduction of the all-electric VW ID.Buzz, priced from $60K to $70K, so exciting. We’ve been waiting for this.
Read: “Hey Kia, Why Does This Hybrid Minivan Feel Like an SUV?” 2025 Kia Carnival
Old Vs. New: What the 2025 VW ID Buzz is All About
It’s been almost a decade since VW began teasing the return of the VW Bus, this time, called the ID Buzz, an all electric micro-bus. It does what VW does so well: provides flexible, versatile space ideal for families, road trips, cargo and more. It is filled with clever details, personality and spunk.
It’s fun to drive as much for the power under the hood as for the clever features, all at a price that won’t make you nauseous, though quite a stretch from the $2,500 that the 1967 model cost (which would be $23,000 in 2024 dollars).
What felt the most heritage in the 2025 model is the upright seating position in all seats, the visibility from all the windows, and the modern-vintage feel; as with the original, the road and the view are front and center. VW crushed it in creating a modern version of its most iconic car.
Read: Why the 2022 Toyota Sienna Minivan is My Eleven Year Old’s Dream Car
What Else Adds to the Charm of the VW ID Buzz?
The VW ID Buzz, however, delivers a lot more than that original bus:
- Safety systems both passive (air bags, seat belts, high strength steel) and active (emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control)
- Power sliding doors with sliding windows and a power tailgate
- Heated front and second row seats
- Front massaging seats
- Wood dashboard trim
- A multimedia system with voice assistance
- Seating for 7 with a center row bench seat
- Play/pause brake and accelerator pedals
- Keyless entry and start
- Ambient lighting
- 20” wheels
- A base model rear wheel drive powertrain that delivers 282 HP — up from 53 HP in 1967
- 230 miles of electric driving
- Low center of gravity thanks to ‘skateboard’ battery pack
- It can be charged at home or at a charge station
Read: The Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric Minivan: Not Your Mama’s Minivan
It’s Cute, But Is It Smart?
Thankfully, the 2025 model is so much smarter than the 1967 bus my parents had. In addition to all the safety systems, it’s equipped with a smart adaptive suspension, a navigation system that shows you where public charge stations are, and its electric battery system can recharge to 80% in about 26 minutes at a DC fast charger. It has a retractable trailer hitch that tucks away underneath the body when not needed (to keep the lines clean, of course!).
And then, there are features like approach lighting that flashes when you walk up with the key. A power lift gate that opens with a kick under the rear bumper. A cargo and storage system called “Flexboard” that adds a secure divided cargo space with storage drawers. A center console between the front seats that is removable—and which I appreciated when I locked myself in the rear (the child locks were on) so I could easily climb out.
Is it Boring Behind the Wheel?
Not one bit. I got to test both the rear wheel drive and all wheel drive models and found both to be fun and easy to drive. Both were powerful, with lots of instant torque, as electric cars are known for— 406 lb.-ft of torque in either the AWD or RWD model, which felt pretty quick and responsive on the highway.
When accelerating on the highway, you might forget that you’re in a tall bus; it’s smooth and fast. But accelerating on a winding road, you’re aware of the ID Buzz’s size and shape.
Even though the VW ID Buzz has a low center of gravity, it’s a tall girl, and I felt the need to be cautious on curvy roads, though it handled nicely. I didn’t get to ride in the second or 3rd row but I can see rear seat passengers feeling mostly comfortable due to all the windows and air vents. However, I could feel the ID Buzz body lean a bit around curves, both as a passenger and a driver. Those with rear seat passengers may want to take it easy with all that torque, lest you find yourself cleaning up after a sick baby.
Seating Options And 3rd Row Access: It’s All Super Easy
VW offers really good options for seating with a center row bench or captains chairs. Captains chairs are standard on AWD Pro S and 1st Edition models or can be added for $695 to the rear wheel drive models, which come with a standard center row bench seat.
For accessing the 3rd row there are two options: The center pass-through in the captains chairs models, or slide-and-tilt center seats, which you’ll need in models with a bench seat. These seats function similarly to the seats in the Atlas and can slide and tilt even with a child car seat installed.
Configuring Kids Car Seats: The Buzz Makes This Easy
And then, the great news: All rear seats have both lower anchors and upper tethers, making it easy to LATCH install car seats in any row. The high roof line and sliding center doors offer plenty fo space for maneuvering kids and their car seats. I found it easy to stand and bend from the waist to get around the cabin.
And then, I measured ample space for kids car seats in all rows: More than 30” of space between seats for installing rear facing car seats (34″ behind the driver’s seat when set for me); of course, this depends on the positioning of the seat in front, but even when those seats are pushed back pretty far, I had 30” or more. Even sitting in the 3rd row behind the center row seat pushed fully back, I had lots of leg room (I’m 5’8”) and measured an incredible 34″ seat back to seat back—meaning you could easily fit a rear facing car seat there if you needed to. Space in this bus is actually pretty magical.
Folding and Removable Rear Seats For Cargo or … Camping?
There is no under-floor space in the VW ID Buzz due to the battery pack, but with so much space to work with, VW was still able to configure rear seats to fold flat — sort of. The center seats fold flat and 3rd row seats, which are removable, fold level with the center row seats. However, this leaves a big gap behind the 3rd row.
To fix that, VW added a “Flexboard” cargo system; it’s essentially a shelf that divides the space behind the 3rd row and there are cargo drawers that fit under the Flexboard. With all the seats down and the Flexboard in place, the cargo space is one large contiguous space that could probably accommodate two adult campers. Note that the Flexboard is anchored in place; it’s not an easily movable system, for good and for bad.
Yes, There Will Be Accessories
VW isn’t ready to say just yet which accessories will be offered — a rooftop tent, perhaps? A full kitchen setup? A roof box and sleeping bag system? Curtains? My guess is, in the spirit of VW Busses of the past, all of the above.
I can easily see camping in the ID Buzz, and with AWD and so many power outlets, it’ll be a natural as long as there’s someplace to charge it. Look for announcements on accessories soon.
What I Hope VW Will Fix
The one thing that tripped me up was keeping the power on while I wasn’t in the driver’s seat. You can double tap the starter button on the side of the steering column under the gear selector for auxiliary power. Normally, you don’t need to tap it to start the car because it stays “on” all the time; just tap the brake to put it in gear. Double tapping the starter will turn the power on for a while, but not entirely.
For me, it was taking photos; but in reality it’s this: one kid is doing homework in the car, another on the practice field (where I am too) and the third running back and forth out of boredom, checking her phone and making plans for later. With accessory power (by double-tapping the starter) I found the system went on and off, on and off, perhaps tripped by opening and closing doors? I’d love a more reliable internal power system, both for keeping the kids going on their homework and for inflating air mattresses and running auxiliary lights on a campground. Hopefully that will be part of the accessory package and it’ll solve these parenting needs, too.
What The VW ID Buzz Costs
Priced from $60,000 to $70,000, VW did a nice job outfitting the ID Buzz with a ton of great features for the price. It’ll be built in Hanover, Germany, which means it won’t qualify for federal purchase tax incentives, though anyone who leases a VW ID Buzz should see that $7,500 discount reflected in the lease and buy-out price. In addition to the features listed above, the base model, priced at $59,995, also includes:
- 3-zone climate with rear seat controls
- Leatherette seating
- A fully-functional multimedia system radio, phone, navigation and “Hello ID” voice activation system (you can even change the wake word to one of your choice)
- 8 USB ports
- A household outlet
- Park assist
- Road sign display
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless phone charger
- Heated steering wheel
- Front massage seats
- Second row heated outboard seats
- Heated steering wheel
For A Bit More, Get a Lot More
There are two other model choices in addition to the entry-level Pro model and it’s actually sort of surprising that the price only jumps by $3,500 and $5,500. However, both models are rear wheel drive with a single motor. Here’s what is included:
Pro S, priced at $63,495, also includes:
- Retractable tow hitch
- 14 Speaker Harman Kardon sound system
- Head up display
- Surround view camera
- Flexboard elevated cargo floor
The First Edition, priced at $65,495, adds
- Two tone exterior
- 20” wheels
- Panoramic sunroof
- 1st Edition badging
- Cross bars on the roof rails
- Heritage floor mats
Options Drive Up The Price of the 2025 VW ID Buzz — But Not a Lot
It’s the truly necessary things are what will drive up the price: All wheel drive, a sunroof and of course that iconic two-tone paint choice, which are included in the 1st Edition. All in, the top price of the WW ID Buzz is still under $70K. Here’s what the extras cost if purchased a la carte:
- All wheel drive, called 4Motion, includes a second motor in the front and adds $4,500 and 53 HP
- Captains chairs are standard on AWD models and offered for $695 on RWD models
- Two-tone paint: $995
- Panoramic sunroof: $1,495
What We Loved
Where do I start?
- The cute “ID” face with a lighted VW badge and ID headlights
- A removable front center console with lower drawers
- The pop-out cupholder on the front dash
- Elegant details, including the Dune interior with white leatherette and glowy orange accents
- 3 climate zones with lots of air vents
- Allllllllllllll that legroom
- Full LATCH sets for all rear seats (why isn’t this a thing in every family car?)
- Sliding doors and a power liftgate
- The Flexboard cargo system with drawers
- So many standard features (wireless charging? Massage seats???)
- That almost everything can be had for about $70K
- Lots of power and more than respectable torque
- The wide thresholds that make getting in and out easy
- The upgraded heritage floor mats—so beautiful!
- B mode adds regenerative braking and will replenish power was you drive
What You Need to Know
- It can take some finagling to keep the power on when there’s not someone in the driver’s seat
- All the options can drive the price up
- All wheel drive, the most expensive option, is a must in snowy or hilly places since this a rear wheel drive vehicle
- The 230 or so mile range makes this a better around-town and short-trip EV than a long-range road tripper (though, that’s not impossible with the right planning)
- This is a large vehicle and while it doesn’t feel as large as a Suburban, it doesn’t feel small, either
- The Flexboard cargo system isn’t listed as an option for the Pro model
How the VW ID Buzz Compares to Other 3-row Family Cars
This is the big one: how does it measure up? With minor updates to the Toyota Sienna hybrid and more significant updates to the Kia Carnival, including the introduction of a hybrid powertrain, family buyers have a lot of choices. The top of the line Sienna comes in at about the starting price of the ID Buzz; the Carnival is priced about $8K lower.
And then, there are the electric 3-row competitors: Volvo EX90, priced from $80K $90K and with a range of 310 miles, and the Kia EV9, priced from $55K-$74K and a range of 280 miles, the VW ID Buzz gives buyers something to think about: Fun, personality and the luxury of heritage. This is not your grandma’s microbus; it’s designed to create new memories all its own.
Categorized:Car Reviews
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