When Volkswagen started their latest EV development cycle after Dieselgate one of the first concepts they showed was an electric version of their iconic VW Bus. Well, we now have the actual production version available for sale branded as the ID. Buzz, and it has been given a 1,000kg towing capacity. However, the pricing for the ID. Buzz seems a bit steep, starting at just over £57,000 for the first Pro version. For the capabilities of the vehicle, it would appear buyers are being asked to pay for style over substance.
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Key VW ID. Buzz Specs
- Official Towing Capacity – 1,000 kg
- Availability – Late 2022
- Price – Starting £57,115
- Range (EV Database) – 205 miles
- Estimated Towing Range (50%) – 102 miles
- Maximum DC Charge Rate – 175kW
- Rapid Charge 10% to 80% – 30 min
- Check VW ID. Buzz Specs
VW ID. Buzz HP & Torque
- RWD with 201 HP and 229 lb-ft of torque
VW ID. Buzz Towing Capabilities
The ID. Buzz shares the same EV technology as the ID.4. Hence, this first version of the ID. Buzz the Pro has many of the same specifications as the ID.4 Pro, same 77kWh usable battery capacity and the same horse power and torque figures.
Furthermore more, both vehicles can tow 1,000kg which is sufficient for small cargo trailers, teardrop caravans, camping trailers even a small touring caravan. However, there are also notable differences between the ID.4 Pro and ID.Buzz Pro.
First, while the ID.4 Pro has a real-world range of 255 miles, the ID.Buzz Pro will only manage around 205 miles. The reason for this range loss is two fold. First, the ID. Buzz has an unladen weight 362 kg more than the ID.4 Pro. Second, I think aerodynamics are playing their part as well.
While the ID.4 Pro betters the ID. Buzz on range, where the ID. Buzz shines, in fact I think its the only reason to actually buy one is its cargo volume. Where the ID.4 maxes out 1,575 litres the ID. Buzz offers a massive 2,123 litres.
So with the ID. Buzz while you are getting less range than its ID.4 sibling you are getting more storage capacity. But what is the price to pay for that storage capacity? Is the ID. Buzz a bit more expensive? Is it a few thousand more, maybe five grand more? Nope, its over twelve and a half thousand more!
VW ID. Buzz Review
I’ve included a video below from Fully Charged on the VW ID.Buzz. The title of the video is ‘the antidote to Pointless SUVs‘. I get where their coming from on the space aspect, but the ID. Buzz is lacking in other areas. For instance, the ID. Buzz obviously has much less ground clearance than an SUV and in the current specification no AWD.
My Thoughts On The VW ID. Buzz…
Ok, if you need to prioritize internal cargo space over towing capacity/range I can see the appeal of the ID. Buzz. However, when it comes to towing for the price, its not an area where the ID. Buzz is providing good value.
For instance, I think if I was looking for the specifications of the ID.4 I would personally opt for the better value Skoda Enyaq. Well, the ID. Buzz is significantly more expensive than the ID.4, therefore if you don’t need that much cargo space the ID. Buzz is not good value, and that’s if you were purely looking for an EV from within the VW group.
For the £57K price point of the VW ID.Buzz you could by a Tesla Model Y Long Range for instance. Besides cargo capacity the ID. Buzz cannot compete with the Tesla on any other metric.
I feel VW has priced the ID. Buzz to cash in on heritage and the appeal the VW Bus has developed over the decades. Hence, I think the ID. Buzz is style over substance.