- Volkswagen officially shows off the long-awaited ID. Buzz: the reborn Volkswagen Bus.
- The VW ID. Buzz rides on the Volkwagen all-electric MEB platform, which also underpins the ID.4.
- Volkswagen will launch the ID. Buzz in Europe later this year, with the North American market scheduled for 2024.
Volkswagen’s Type 2 is known throughout the world as many different things: transporter, Kombi, Microbus, or even just simply Bus. The legendary Volkswagen people mover has laid dormant for years, but was kept alive in the peoples’ minds because of its cultural legacy.
After a long hiatus and lots of speculation, it’s finally here. Volkswagen is reviving the Bus with the all-electric ID. Buzz and the ID. Buzz Cargo. The reborn VW Bus shares its platform with other battery-electric VW products. That means the spec sheet of the ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo shouldn’t be a huge surprise.
Powering the early, European-spec ID. Buzz vans are the same 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque electric motor that feeds the Volkswagen ID.4. This electric motor powers the rear axle and can carry the ID. Buzz to an electronically limited 90 mph top speed. Powering this motor is an 82-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that advertises 77 kWh of usable juice. Again, this is the same battery pack that you’ll find supporting VW's ID.4 powertrain. Volkswagen does note different battery capacities and power outputs are scheduled for 2023.
While this does ride on the same modular electric platform as the VW ID.4, the ID. Buzz stands apart from the rest of the VW lineup with its retro-inspired styling. Taking inspiration from the Microbus of yore, the VW ID. Buzz blends its heritage with modernity.
The large Volkswagen badge on the nose of the ID. Buzz is flanked by slim, modern headlights, instead of retro-inspired round units. The rear features LED taillights that are connected with a full-width light strip. Kicking off with short wheelbase examples in Europe, the ID. Buzz will expand with long-wheelbase versions in 2023. The US market ID. Buzz will be based on the long-wheelbase version and is currently scheduled for 2024.
As you’d imagine, the interior of Volkswagen’s reborn bus is spacious. The European version will seat five at launch, but a six-seat version is coming later. The extended wheelbase version will see a seven-seat variant when it reaches production.
While seating might be the most important part of a van, the ID. Buzz isn’t just a workhorse. As for the ID. Buzz Cargo, its work-forward focus means it will only have three seats in the front, with cargo space in the back. The interior of Volkswagen’s reborn Bus hosts plenty of modern consumer tech. In front of the driver is a 10.0-inch digital cockpit instrument cluster, which is flanked by a 10.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The latter can be upsized to a 12.0-inch screen with navigation if you pay extra. Below the screen is a digital bar that can control the radio volume and climate controls. A stalk on the steering column controls gear shifting, and digital controls trigger light functions, defrost and heat functions.
Making the interior fun, the ID. Buzz will ship with 10 standard ambient light shades, with 30 colors available as an option. This fun design element also makes its way to the unique upholstery patterns. Volkswagen uses recycled synthetic fibers made from a combination of ocean plastics and recycled PET bottles.
Volkswagen is also tacking on standard driver-assist features. The ID. Buzz will arrive with lane assist, front assist, and dynamic road-sign display for no extra cost. You can opt for more features like adaptive cruise control, travel assist, and park assist, but those will add to your bottom line.
As for when you can snag one of these: Volkswagen has answers. In Europe, you could hop into an ID. Buzz as early as the third quarter of this year. In North America, Volkswagen plans to debut its long-wheelbase ID. Buzz in 2023, with it hitting the road in 2024.
As for price, that’s too far away to tell. Volkswagen hasn’t released the price for the European versions, which could shed light on US pricing. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the ID. Buzz start in the $40,000 range, similar to the ID. 4.
Do you think you’d return to the VW Bus? Or does the ID. Buzz not pull enough on the nostalgia heartstrings? Let us know your thoughts below.
