2025 Volkswagen ID Buzz Advantages and Disadvantages Review: The Influence of Emotion over Reason

      Jerry Perez

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      As an automotive journalist, reviewing cars filled with nostalgia can be both thrilling and challenging. It's easy for the allure of new and charming models to cloud your judgment before you actually drive them, especially for iconic vehicles like the Mazda Miata, Ford Bronco, or Porsche 911. The 2025 Volkswagen ID Buzz, with its cheerful design and playful two-tone colors, invites you to fall in love with it. It’s cute, fun, and evokes a sense of nostalgia, even if you weren't a peace-loving teen in the 1960s.

      However, this EV is not the same as your parents’ (or grandparents’) VW Bus. It may resemble one in shape and color, backed by clever marketing, but it isn’t truly a classic VW Bus. So if it's shaped like a friend, why not call it one? Here’s the reasoning:

      Jerry Perez

      Cons

      Typically, we start reviews with the positives, but I’ve decided to make an exception and begin with the downsides. This way, you can conclude your reading on a positive note. See? The ID Buzz's charm is already influencing me.

      Let’s discuss usability. During my week of testing, I struggled to gauge how an average ID Buzz owner would utilize it daily. Are they using it to transport people, carry items, or merely enjoy it as a fun weekend drive? Our editor, Andrew Collins, recently tested an ID Buzz packed with cargo and his pets. He found that while the van boasts plenty of cargo space, it's not particularly flexible in adapting on the go, unlike a minivan with a stowable third row or easily removable seats.

      If you're transporting children, they’ll need to be old enough to climb into the ID Buzz themselves, as it sits significantly higher than most vans, and perhaps even higher than many SUVs. Getting into the cabin—whether in front or the back—feels more like climbing into a full-size pickup truck.

      While the cabin ergonomics are acceptable, VW’s troublesome window switches rear their ugly head again. Similar to the ID.4 I drove earlier, the ID Buzz has two switches for four windows. You must first select whether you want to operate the front or rear windows with a different switch. This is frustrating and ill-conceived, akin to the tiny sliding rear windows that remind me that family transport isn’t this EV’s primary function. They work more like vents than actual windows, allowing a bit of air into the back but too small to easily grab a takeout bag from a drive-thru. It's puzzling why VW didn't equip it with full-sized windows like a typical van, as the large sliding door panels certainly have the space for them.

      The Buzz’s 231-mile range isn't terrible, but considering cold weather and other driving conditions, you're looking closer to 200 miles than 250. That’s not ideal for a vehicle priced at $70,000. Additionally, my test vehicle failed to connect to fast chargers, forcing me to monitor my mileage closely. Due to a technical issue that VW didn’t clarify, while I could insert the charging connector into the van's port, the software prevented it from accepting a charge from any source above a 120-volt outlet. As a result, my creamsicle-colored ID Buzz could only be charged at home.

      Pros

      Although it has been mentioned before, the ID Buzz is undeniably a cool-looking vehicle. I’m used to turning heads in exotic cars, typically sleek and low with two doors, but the ID Buzz is a completely different beast! It’s an electric minivan, for goodness' sake. Ultimately, people might admire flashy cars, but they genuinely love vehicles that bring them joy. Who can resist a smile? The ID Buzz has that effect, and it translates into the driving experience as well.

      The driving experience itself is surprisingly lively. Despite its cargo-container dimensions, the ID Buzz is light on its feet and gives the driver confidence to maintain speed through corners, even taking a roundabout at a brisk pace. Although it features a tall, heavy roof at 76 inches, body roll is manageable, and the sturdy suspension helps keep handling in check on winding roads.

      Moreover, the ID Buzz is remarkably comfortable. All seats are well-designed—whether you're driving, in the front passenger seat, on the second-row captain chairs (a bench seat option is also available), or in the third row. In fact, the third-row bench is so comfortable it was recalled for being "too wide." Unfortunately, due to its range limitations, you probably won’t be sitting in any seat for longer than a few hours at a time, but at least you’ll have a comfortable spot while waiting for it to charge.

      Verdict

      Much like many appealing vehicles out there, the 2025 VW ID Buzz presents a significant question mark regarding its usability and overall purpose. It’s an