Volkswagen ID Buzz 2022: The Electric Generation Combi

The Volkswagen ID Buzz has nothing to do with the hippie Combi anymore, but aims to appeal with its electric motor and good range.

After 21 years of waiting, the true new Combi has arrived. Foretold since the 2001 Microbus concept, then Bulli in 2011, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz took shape in 2017 on the eponymous prototype.

Style, but not the soul

On March 9, 2022, it becomes a reality to reconnect with the famous model introduced in the 1950s. It’s no surprise that its design is “neo-retro,” similar to the New Beetle which copied the Beetle. It retains the two-tone treatment — white combined with orange, blue, yellow, or green — though it abandons the round eyes to adopt the family look from the VW ID3. Because here, the difference is significant: the ID Buzz runs solely on electricity.

No more small engine in the rear overhang; the electric motor is placed on the rear axle. The MEB platform is shared with the smaller cousins, not the thermal Transporter/Multivan equivalents. No all-wheel drive, but the Volkswagen shuttle boasts a power of 150 kW or 204 horsepower, with a torque of 310 Nm. The first Combi, which developed a maximum of 70 hp, seems modest in comparison.

A colorful interior, except in utility versions

The interior also derives from the ID.3, featuring the same gauges and central screen. A matter of sharing components. The rest of the dashboard is very minimalist, with air vents running along the top, above a wooden surface and numerous storage compartments.

The passenger version plays with body colors and white or even two-tone seats. It also emphasizes recycled materials, incorporated into the seat velour or the ceiling.

Conversely, the utility version ID Buzz Cargo opts for complete black. The dashboard is also different, higher and with a small touchscreen (10 inches max versus 12 for the “minibus”).

Like other Volkswagen electric models, over-the-air updates will be regular and free. The brand does not forget connected objects, with 8 USB-C ports, while the Cargo will only have five.

Small, spacious but not rugged

We already saw the dimensions of the ID Buzz. At 4.71 meters long, it is short compared to the competition, especially since it only has one body style. This means that despite its size, it won’t be able to offer 7 seats, not even in the future.

However, North America will get a long-wheelbase version (LWB). Coming in 2023, it will include 7 seats. But in return, Americans will not have access to the Cargo utility version.

The utility version, readily available in Europe, will have 2 or 3 seats in the front. The cargo space is 3.9 m³, within the category standard, but the downside is the payload capacity. With a weight of 2,350 kg, the ID. Buzz Cargo can only carry 650 kg of goods.

In comparison, Stellantis and Mercedes-Benz vans offer about 1 tonne capacity. But their batteries are smaller (thus lighter). The “midsize” variant offers 1,121 liters behind the seats, up to 2,205 liters with the rear bench folded down.

Note that the tailgate seen in the images does not account for the optional two-door access for the rear.

What range for the Volkswagen ID Buzz?

The only figure that the ID Buzz seems to want to hide is its range. However, it shouldn’t be overlooked, as the French subsidiary has already hinted that its new-born will have a range of 440 km, compared to 420 km for the Cargo. That’s more than the 330 km of models like the Citroën ë-Jumpy, Peugeot e-Expert, and others (with 75 kWh), or the Mercedes eVito (314 km with 60 kWh). Why? The ID Buzz is a native electric, designed 100% electric, whereas competitors have a thermal base originally.

On the charging side, good news because the ID Buzz outperforms other Volkswagen electric cars. With a maximum power of 170 kW, it can go from 5% to 80% charge in 30 minutes on a fast charger. In AC mode, the shuttle peaks at 11 kW on a three-phase socket. It can also power a house via bidirectional charging (V2H, Vehicle to Home), through a suitable wallbox. Later, V2G (Vehicle to Grid) will connect the vehicle to the power grid.

The Plus & Charge feature is also planned for a future update. This function allows connecting to a charger without using a badge, app, or card, initiating automatic payment via the car’s linked account. The ID Buzz will only be able to do this on networks of chargers “Ionity, Aral, bp, Enel, EON, as well as Iberdrola and Eviny”.

It will also be necessary to get familiar with the nomenclature already seen on the ID.5 and similar models. Name the large battery “Pro,” because a second smaller one, “Pure,” of 58 kWh, arrives in 2023. Its range will be close to 350 km but will lower the entry-level price.

Launch of the Volkswagen ID Buzz in September 2022

But to know the price, patience is needed. The brand still does not communicate about the new electric Combi, although production is already underway in March. Pre-orders will start in May, with deliveries beginning in September.

In 2025, a significant evolution will arrive on the roads. The Volkswagen ID Buzz will be able to drive without a driver, as it will incorporate the upcoming fleet of MOIA autonomous vehicles.

Also read: Test drive of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz: for trendy cool folks!