Volkswagen ID. Buzz – A joyful throwback to the future
Driving the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz was an experience that left a lasting impression. This all-electric micro bus seamlessly fuses the charm of the classic VW minibus with today’s EV tech, creating something truly unique on the road. Everywhere I drove this ID Buzz, it stopped people in their tracks and everyone had questions about it. Having the chance to be one of the first to drive this iconic vehicle was very exciting and I have some thoughts.
Spec breakdown
The ID Buzz, for the US, was announced last year and there have been plenty of articles showing off the specs and everything it has on paper. This article is mostly about how it feels to truly drive this car and have it as your own. But I did want to touch on the high level specs for those that want a refresher. Here’s a brief overview of the ID. Buzz’s key specs:
- Range: The Pro S Plus RWD (the model I was driving) delivers an estimated 234 miles on a full charge.
- Power: With 282 horsepower, it has plenty of power for both city driving and highway cruising.
- Towing: The RWD models are rated for 2,600 lbs while AWD can tow up to 3,500 lbs.
- Charging: Fast charging lets you go from 10-80% in just 26 minutes—ideal for those long road trips.
- Space: With the third row removed, you’ll have 145.5 cubic feet of space for cargo.
- Here are some key high-level specs for the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz:
- Battery Size: 91 kWh
- Turning Radius (RWD): 37.4 feet
Now that we have some of those specs out of the way, lets get into the driving experience!
Instant icon
Visually, the ID. Buzz is unmistakable. The retro design cues, such as the oversized VW logo and two-tone paint, immediately take you back to the glory days of the original Microbus. Yet, it’s not just a nostalgia trip—the sleek lines and LED lighting give it a futuristic appeal. As I drove through the winding roads north of San Francisco and back onto the highway, I couldn’t help but notice the attention it received. Heads turned, people pointed, and it felt like driving a piece of history reinvented for today. Every pit stop we made, someone came up to me asking about it and told me stories of their experiences with the original model. You could feel the nostalgia from everyone.
While the ID. Buzz captures the spirit of the original Microbus, it’s a completely different beast under the hood. The classic Microbus was known for its simplicity, rear-mounted air-cooled engine, and modest power. In contrast, the new ID. Buzz features an all-electric powertrain, offering significantly more horsepower and modern EV technology. It’s designed with advanced safety features, fast charging capabilities, and a sleek aerodynamic profile that the original could only dream of. The essence of the beloved Microbus remains, but the ID. Buzz is undeniably a vehicle built for the future.
Nimble and smooth
Behind the wheel, the ID. Buzz feels far more agile than you’d expect from a vehicle of this size. Thanks to its low center of gravity, courtesy of the battery placement, and its impressive turning radius, it handles like a much smaller car. I was driving the Pro S Plus RWD version, and navigating sharp curves and tight spots felt remarkably easy. On the winding roads, the ID. Buzz maintained its composure, offering great traction and a smooth, almost effortless ride.
Highway driving was equally impressive. The electric powertrain delivered instant torque, making acceleration smooth and responsive. So even though it wont go 0-60 mph in 3 seconds it still is able to do that in 6 seconds, allowing you to overtake cars and merge onto highways with ease. There’s no engine noise to speak of, so the cabin remains peaceful—a nice touch for long drives. One of the more impressive aspects I notice was the lack of outside noise. For a car with so much volume and no white engine noise, it was insanely quiet. Much quieter than my Model Y. And while the ID. Buzz is a large vehicle, it never felt cumbersome, whether I was cruising at highway speeds or handling more intricate driving situations.
Comfort and space
Step inside, and the ID. Buzz continues to impress. The cabin is vast, offering more space than many full-size SUVs, yet the vehicle’s footprint is closer to that of a midsize crossover. The high-quality finishes (which most comst standard) give it a refined, yet welcoming feel. The seats were supportive and comfortable, perfect for long drives, and the overall layout of the interior felt well-thought-out and practical. Every trim comes with heated seats throughout the car, and ventilated seats for the front row. While the trim I had, also came with a massage setting which was a nice surprise.
There’s room for up to seven passengers, and with the rear seats folded down, a cavernous 145.5 cubic feet of cargo space awaits. It also ahs eight 45W USB-C ports throughout the car, giving enough power to charge even your Macbook and there is even a wireless charger for the front passengers. There were also other smaller details you notice like the HUD for the driver as well as a light bar under the windshield that actually has a function aside from aesthetics. It will blink one way when its time to turn, or turn red when it needs you to touch the wheel while using the drive assist. Love the form and function. Whether you’re planning a family road trip or need extra space for an outdoor adventure, the ID. Buzz has you covered.
Pricing and Availability
The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz is expected to be available later this year. While pre-orders are not open yet, you can visit the Volkswagen website to configure your exact model and see detailed pricing based on your preferences.
- Pro S RWD: Starting at $59,995, offering a great balance of range, power, and features.
- Pro S Plus AWD: Available at $63,495 for RWD and $67,995 for AWD, with additional premium features.
- 1st Edition: A special launch model with unique badging and features, starting at $65,495 for RWD and $69,995 for AWD.
With its mix of iconic design, modern EV technology, and practical features, the ID. Buzz is set to be a popular choice once it hits dealerships.
My takeaway
Overall, driving the Volkswagen ID. Buzz was a great experience. I was surprised how they were able to give me that nostagic feel but in a car that can easily be used as an everyday car. Before seeing it in person and driving it, I thought to myself “this is a cool looking car but is it practical as your daily driver”? The answer is, yes. I bet we see more of these on the road than you think. It’s ideal for families, adventurers, or anyone in need of a spacious, versatile vehicle that’s fun to drive. I can see myself using this to take my kids to a soccer or hockey practice. I can see us using this for our yearly road trip from New Jersey To Florida and back comfortably. Whether you’re cruising through the city or tackling a road trip, the ID. Buzz has the space, power, and charm to keep you smiling the whole way.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Wind energy powered 20% of all electricity consumed in Europe (19% in the EU) in 2024, and the EU has set a goal to grow this share to 34% by 2030 and more than 50% by 2050.
To stay on track, the EU needs to install 30 GW of new wind farms annually, but it only managed 13 GW in 2024 – 11.4 GW onshore and 1.4 GW offshore. This is what’s holding the EU back from achieving its wind growth goals.
Three big problems holding Europe’s wind power back
Europe’s wind power growth is stalling for three key reasons:
Permitting delays. Many governments haven’t implemented the EU’s new permitting rules, making it harder for projects to move forward.
Grid connection bottlenecks. Over 500 GW(!) of potential wind capacity is stuck in grid connection queues.
Slow electrification. Europe’s economy isn’t electrifying fast enough to drive demand for more renewable energy.
Brussels-based trade association WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson summed it up: “The EU must urgently tackle all three problems. More wind means cheaper power, which means increased competitiveness.”
Permitting: Germany sets the standard
Permitting remains a massive roadblock, despite new EU rules aimed at streamlining the process. In fact, the situation worsened in 2024 in many countries. The bright spot? Germany. By embracing the EU’s permitting rules — with measures like binding deadlines and treating wind energy as a public interest priority — Germany approved a record 15 GW of new onshore wind in 2024. That’s seven times more than five years ago.
If other governments follow Germany’s lead, Europe could unlock the full potential of wind energy and bolster energy security.
Grid connections: a growing crisis
Access to the electricity grid is now the biggest obstacle to deploying wind energy. And it’s not just about long queues — Europe’s grid infrastructure isn’t expanding fast enough to keep up with demand. A glaring example is Germany’s 900-megawatt (MW) Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm. The turbines are ready to go, but the grid connection won’t be in place until 2026.
This issue isn’t isolated. Governments need to accelerate grid expansion if they’re serious about meeting renewable energy targets.
Electrification: falling behind
Wind energy’s growth is also tied to how quickly Europe electrifies its economy. Right now, electricity accounts for just 23% of the EU’s total energy consumption. That needs to jump to 61% by 2050 to align with climate goals. However, electrification efforts in key sectors like transportation, heating, and industry are moving too slowly.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has tasked Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen with crafting an Electrification Action Plan. That can’t come soon enough.
More wind farms awarded, but challenges persist
On a positive note, governments across Europe awarded a record 37 GW of new wind capacity (29 GW in the EU) in 2024. But without faster permitting, better grid connections, and increased electrification, these awards won’t translate into the clean energy-producing wind farms Europe desperately needs.
Investments and corporate interest
Investments in wind energy totaled €31 billion in 2024, financing 19 GW of new capacity. While onshore wind investments remained strong at €24 billion, offshore wind funding saw a dip. Final investment decisions for offshore projects remain challenging due to slow permitting and grid delays.
Corporate consumers continue to show strong interest in wind energy. Half of all electricity contracted under Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in 2024 was wind. Dedicated wind PPAs were 4 GW out of a total of 12 GW of renewable PPAs.
Read more: Renewables could meet almost half of global electricity demand by 2030 – IEA
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss the official unveiling of the new Tesla Model Y, Mazda 6e, Aptera solar car production-intent, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.
Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET):
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
The Chinese EV leader is launching a new flagship electric sedan. BYD’s new Han L EV leaked in China on Friday, revealing a potential Tesla Model S Plaid challenger.
What we know about the BYD Han L EV so far
We knew it was coming soon after BYD teased the Han L on social media a few days ago. Now, we are learning more about what to expect.
BYD’s new electric sedan appeared in China’s latest Ministry of Industry and Information Tech (MIIT) filing, a catalog of new vehicles that will soon be sold.
The filing revealed four versions, including two EV and two PHEV models. The Han L EV will be available in single- and dual-motor configurations. With a peak power of 580 kW (777 hp), the single-motor model packs more power than expected.
BYD’s dual-motor Han L gains an additional 230 kW (308 hp) front-mounted motor. As CnEVPost pointed out, the vehicle’s back has a “2.7S” badge, which suggests a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) sprint time of just 2.7 seconds.
To put that into perspective, the Tesla Model S Plaid can accelerate from 0 to 100 km in 2.1 seconds. In China, the Model S Plaid starts at RBM 814,900, or over $110,000. Speaking of Tesla, the EV leader just unveiled its highly anticipated Model Y “Juniper” refresh in China on Thursday. It starts at RMB 263,500 ($36,000).
BYD already sells the Han EV in China, starting at around RMB 200,000. However, the single front motor, with a peak power of 180 kW, is much less potent than the “L” model. The Han EV can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds.
At 5,050 mm long, 1,960 mm wide, and 1,505 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,970 mm, BYD’s new Han L is roughly the size of the Model Y (4,970 mm long, 1,964 mm wide, 1,445 mm tall, wheelbase of 2,960 mm).
Other than that it will use a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack from BYD’s FinDreams unit, no other battery specs were revealed. Check back soon for the full rundown.
Source: CnEVPost, China MIIT
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports9 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway