I am a Canadian who has lived in Norway for 44 years. We ordered a Buzz the day orders opened here (2022-05-23, if I remember correctly) and took delivery 2023-02-13. We have not regretted our choice. Last week our washing machine broke down. We picked up a new one at the local appliance store, and there was no problem fitting it into the back. Buzz is yellow and white because my bride and I rented a yellow VW Rabbit in 1978, and used it on our honeymoon. So, nostalgia.
@@TheTyisawesome you cant compare the my23 in Europe with the US Version - its way faster and Range ist much more stable, as well as the infotainment has Improved a lot - i love driving it,
@@savedfaves to each their own. But judging by the favorable comments, it’s still different and doesn’t look like anything else on the road. It’s more spacious, functional, and practical than a 3 row SUV in terms of interior space… VW never was a flashy car brand. But it’s cool to see a van and not another SUV.
Can U imagine how dangerous that '60's version is compared to todays standards? Frontal crush zone is your legs arms and face, hopefully that might save the folks in *the back* seats. 😄
For most people, this is much better than a pickup truck, since they rarely are used for off-road. On the other hand, the VW has incredible space for people and lugging things around.
when he lifted those headrests in the back seat the first thing that came to mind was "Roger Roger" Edit: Thanks for the likes, didn't expect the force to be that strong with this one
@@jobjobbington6884 Maybe it's because I'm on edibles rn, but that brings me so much joy: the forethought to use 1 size wrench to help the people who'd repair the bus on the side of the road... that brings a happy tear to my eye... I've been a technician on geosynchronous satellites, and the number of times I'd try to disassemble something for troubleshooting and couldn't because something didn't fit or wouldn't get out of the way... Some engineers are so far away from the day-to-day headaches that they have no idea what kinds of changes are good or bad for everyone else.
I disagree. A lot of Volkswagen engines from the era are still going strong. Can't say that about any other engine. My 68 still had its original engine up until 2019 when it caught fire during a California heatwave 😅
A colleague of mine drives the European version in that crazy green. And what is not mentioned in the review but blows me away, is that this minibus just accelerates like a normal EV and is very unexpected. As well as the really tight turning circle, we parked in some really narrow parking spaces with this without issue and the sliding doors allow you to get out anywhere.
Removing the center console is actually very neat! Not only it makes it super easy to clean/vacuum the car, you can just get up and walk to the back without going from the outside!
@@MrQuay03 That's awesome! Didn't know this was a standard feature for some of the current minivan options. I guess it would be a shortcoming if they didn't include this feature on the ID Buzz.
2023 ID 4 owner, by far my favorite vehicle ever. Full tank every day (home charger), fast, very comfortable, all wheel drive, very quiet, incredible handling and acceleration, and an amazing sound system. I don't love the charging time on long trips but around town it can't be beat!
2020 ID3 owner (here in the Netherlands) but I wanted to echo your praises - easily the best vehicle I've ever owned (includes BMW, Chevy, Alfa, Nissan, Ford and other VWs). Bought mine in the depths of the pandemic, had one issue with a dead main screen (& repaired the very next day) but nothing - nothing! - since. 70K km later, a half-dozen trips to Paris, a couple through th UK, dozens to Belgium, Poland, Germany, and a daily 45min drive to Amsterdam .. still feels new and makes me giggle. I don't mind the charging - can use a 30min break after 3hrs driving, but it's all so easy and quiet! Absolutely love this car!
@@support1125 2025 VW will get Supercharger access. I'd like to see better range from the Buzz as well but next gen battery tech will be necessary for that to happen
Minivans are the best all-around family vehicles at least in the US; I can fit 12' long boards inside in a pinch, even 4x8 plywood sheets with the back seats folded down! Then put seats up, and fits 7 kids/adults just fine.
I will say the walkway between seats is wider in the old bay-windows than the buzz given the size difference I thought that it was odd the walkway was so narrow. Also, clearly the buzz is based off the bay window and not the split window because you can see the fake air vents in the back where the old scoops were at on the bay window instead of being functional. They’re just stickers now.
I was a test driver/evaluator for this vehicle, last year, for a company that works with VW and this is THE MOST comfortable EV vehicle that I’ve driven! I loved the space and the pace at which it moves. For a heavy vehicle, this MV moves and handles! So glad to see it finally for sale.
@@anemeth9281 It seems like VW has a habit of just missing the mark. To make a cool vehicle like this and then giving such short range. They had/have the opportunity to knock it out of the park but no, not VW!
@@LarryRichelli The Buzz is heavy, and it's shaped like a giant brick. That enormous frontal area is going to create a lot of drag, there's just no way around that. You can't wave a magic wand and conjure up additional range; it's not possible to break the laws of physics.
@@LarryRichelli Yeah, imagine that a smaller vehicle gets a longer range! Wow. Like I said - the Buzz has a very large frontal area; this has a very substantial impact on drag, which also increases exponentially by the cube of velocity. So highway driving at high speed, big fat brick-shaped vehicle - lots of drag. Smaller vehicle, smaller frontal area; substantially less drag at the same velocity. And not many EVs have a bigger battery than the extended wheelbase Buzz - 111-ish kWh IIRC. You have some luxury vehicles, mostly German ones, and then it's mostly pickup trucks and their SUV counterparts, which are all about as large or even larger than the Buzz, and even heavier too. Remember the 4-ton Hummer? You're not even allowed to drive that with a regular driver's license in the EU, it counts as a commercial vehicle and can only go 80km/h on public roads, even if you were crazy enough to import one and get it certified/registered... And just heaping on more battery, well more battery = more cost, more weight, slower acceleration, worse handling. Shorter wheelbase Buzz gets more towing capacity, because the vehicle is lighter. What you "think" has relevance doesn't factor into anything here. What I'm stating is fact.
These ID-Buzzes are hugely succesful here, they carry more than a pickup truck (which are illegal in many places due to being a hazard in cities), can fit more people, and are widely configurable. They can also go around tight corners, and carry a lot of power with them. We're doing a lot of surveying work, and most of our surveyors have these to carry all their GNSS stuff, point cloud scanners, you name it. It can provide them with electricity (3p400 if so desired, we're a 3 phase country), and the range + charging capacity is enough for most. It's most definately a great work van. What it's NOT is a long range hauler, VW still has to figure out CCS Type 2 fast charging and 800V, but again: for work/local stuff these are great; heck, the average "mom" type here loves them.
What is "here"? The thing has not met the taste of the German market, so it will do even less with the American market. A classic misguided development.
@@haigha-qb4kf they're becoming more and more frequent in the UK, which is where I'm presuming OP is from. Außerdem habe ich sie bei besuchen in Deutschland gesehen - vielleicht sind sie außerhalb der städte etwas beliebter?
my understanding is that this is an unfortunate emergent property of NHTSA regs in the US; there's a GVWR cutoff over which certain regulations are loosened. This "truck exemption" is why everything on US roads has been getting bigger and stupider for the past two decades.
@@StripeyType That's not going to be an issue with the Buzz, it's been designed for compliance with EU regs, and there's no special exemptions for big, dumb vehicles there. :)
In Canada, the ID Buzz starts at $82,095 before taxes (another 12-15%, for most of us). That puts it within just a few thousand dollars of a Porsche 718 Cayman. As far as I can tell, the original VW Minibus was about $3000 in 1969, or a little over $30,000 in today's money. Those buying those old micro-busses, both then and today, don't seem to want a USB-c port in every seat, an LCD navigation console, or a magical electrical moonroof (wondering: how much does that part cost to replace, if I drop a canoe on it?). They wanted something with 1960s charm that they could sleep in--something simple and rugged. I can't help thinking this new ID Buzz captures a lot of the look of the original, but very little of the original's soul. Given this, and the price, I suspect the number of actual surfers, hippies, and bohemian beach-dwellers buying these will be vanishingly small, instead picked up by those nearing retirement, used perhaps once a year to drive to the beach, and otherwise used for groceries and transporting appliances. Do I think it's cool? Sure. Will it be iconic in the way the original was? Somehow I doubt it.
I think that VW had to lower the price in the US due to the slowing demand and depreciation of EVs. in 2022, dealers were overpricing evs, and now car makers have to double the incentives to sell evs. Vw had to sell the buzz for the similar price of the kia EV9 (this suv has similar size and perks) 7 years after they announce it. I'll wait 1 year to see the dropping.
Not sure what 1990s-2000s era money adjusted for inflation is now but even back than $1000 bucks wasn’t a lot for a used car. I did odd jobs for a year / sold my 4wheeler and was able to afford it as a kid starting to drive.
A very well appointed hybrid Sienna or Odyssey are at least $10k less than that, and have all the same bells and whistles plus fully fold-down rear seats. I love the idea of an EV minivan but since I'm spending my own money, I can't do it.
Wow!! My husband was looking into this car for our family and I didn't care for it much from VW's website, but this video really made me love it! It's aesthetically "pretty" and nostalgic like the original and not so "typical" looking like other vans on the market and sooo spacious that I loveeee it!!!! I can't wait to test drive it! But I gotta check all these pockets because we head out somewhere because I know my kids will put everything they can into the nooks and crannies! It's sooo cute!
fun fact: we still rock VW mini buses in Brazil for daily use and it was produced until 2012, where airbag and ABS were turned into obligatory devices in a car by the end of its life, it's got a 1.4l water cooled engine instead of the old 1.6l air-cooled one
No one with kids looks at a minivan and thinks "road trip." We think, "soccer practice" and "band rehearsal" and "library run" and "let's just grab fast food in between all the practices and events." We just want something that can fit the family so we don't have to take two vehicles. The "road trip" is only a benefit once a year.
From what I see from my friend with small kids, when going on road trips they have to make lots of stops because kids lose patience quickly. Lots of stops could mean lots of charging, so range should not be an issue.
Many folks without young kids are looking at this and are not thinking minivan. They are thinking how can I get rid of those rear seats, add a bed and a galley, and turn it into a campervan.
I've wanted one of these since they announced it all those years ago... The announcement is starting to feel nostalgic with how long it's taking to bring this magnificent automobile to the USA.
"Something that's not quite a minivan" was a key phrase here for those of us who already own a minivan (Toyota Sienna in my case). I had high hopes this could replace my mini van but I see three glaring problems: (1) Lack of captain seats in the middle; (2) 3rd row appears much smaller, most noticeably in width (only 2 seats?!?) but also legroom; (3) trunk appears MUCH smaller in all three dimensions.
there is an option which has 2 "captain seats" the 3rd row is slightly smaller in width, but 2 grown adults can sit next to each other and have enough leg room to sit comfortably. The third row of the sienna is also slightly smaller it just has a midlle seat wedged in. ;) The trunk is smaller with the third row, if you need more space you can fold the seats down and they then are on the same level as the "bench" so you habe storage on the same level until the back of the second row. In person your Problems will look different and may not even be problems anymore. But before you look at it look at the price difference, that is the biggest problem the buzz and vw in general have. Way to expensive compared to similar cars. XD
Our company now has 8 of these in the cargo version, all I can say that they are amazing. They support fast charging which means in 20 min from 0 to 80 % charged.
Which means you'll be looking for battery replacements in your near future. No getting around it... Lithium batteries do not like being charged quickly.
@cdangers With thermal management, these batteries will have roughly 10% but probably more like 8% degradation after 100,000 miles if mosytly used with rapid chargers. Electric cars are not new now and this is roughly what peole are seeing
@@cdangers They will be fine, the issue isn't charging the batteries quickly, it's heat. They have coolant running through the batteries, they will be fine
@@cdangers you know this has been proven wrong a long time ago right? This is an actual fake news theory pushed forward by people trying to slow down ev adoption.
@@cdangers Patently false. As long as the battery has good thermal management they'll last incredibly long. Even teslas getting hammered by fast charging are doing alright. Theres a decent drop to 80% of original max charge over the first few years but then the curve goes totally flat for a long time
You have to hit something tall like a truck to impact the footwell. I suspect these tales of leg amputations are just stories people tell because it happened once.
@@f.kieranfinney457 Either way, serious/fatal injuries were a result of basically having no front end to help absorb impacts ... Nostalgia will always keep the original split window van in high regards, same with other classic air-cooled Volkswagens ...
Cite stats that support that. I absolutely doubt they were any less safe than any other van or large wagon. A head on was a death sentence for every car on the road in that era. The biggest risk factor was who was driving.
@@dertythegrower The headlights aren't made in a CNC machine. It's the cost cutting option because it's the same or similar as the headlights on other VW vans. It's a corporate design bereft of all of the great anthropomorphism and personality of the original.
Just get an old Mazda 5 Estate (2010), better in every way than this new-age hippie wagon. Better storage, front middle and back, more features (under seat storage and built in bin etc). Actually more family friendly.
Unless you live in Maine or a similarly climated and vertically challenging environment, with 6 months of icy, slushy roads. My dad would park his RWD f-150, October through April because, despite the amnt of weight in the back, it couldn't get out of his neighborhood, unless chains were put on.@@houssamalucad753
I think the criticism was only about keeping the old look (head & tail light) which would've given it cute retro look while simultaneously making it modern like what rivian does because it clearly doesn't need to look aggressive
And honda e does that. It's definitely possible, but it requires more care. VW went for the cost cutting design option by designing this around what appears to be a retooled VW Transporter multi-platform design. The old one is infinitely better looking. The new one is lazy.
I totally agree, I don't understand the trend with aggressive look, round and friendly headlight is the right choice for this car. It would be more classy with round look. This model will look dated after 5 years. Gotta learn something from 911, and why it's so iconic.
@@KevinxJin I'm in Ireland and I've seen a few around by now, and once you've come to expect the two-tone paint job the smoke lifts and the mirrors lose their sheen. Has cost saving corporate design written all over it. Imagine if VW put a design visionary such as Jony Ive in charge of bringing the microbus into the modern era and asked them to design something memorable, iconic and timeless-it would not be a van version of the ID.3
When I was a kid we had the original bus; outside of the iconic exterior, there wasn't anything I miss about it. We also had a GMC campervan with a mini fridge, sleeperseating, a table, etc, and that's the vehicle I have better childhood memories of. When they were originally developing the Buzz I think they were floating features like programmable seating arrangements, tables, TV's and the like, and while I'm disappointed to not see these features, the Buzz is the EV available on the market I'm most interested in. I don't see the range being a huge problem; there's two types of "road trip" experiences, the "take turns driving and sleep in shifts, we have to get to the concert by Saturday" type you take as a young adult, and the ambling, family centered ones visa vi National Lampoon's Vacation, where you don't push yourself and have lots of lingering stops along the way. 250 miles is a full days worth of driving in the latter type of trip.
$40k and 300 miles of range would be an instant buy for me.. $60k and 234 miles is a tough sell. I fell in love with this thing when I first heard about it years ago, and then again at the LA Auto Show last year. But that range and price is a dealbreaker. Really hope it does well and they improve upon it in the coming years.
Loaded with the family and our stuff for a road time and we wouldn't even make it from Houston to Dallas, or to Baton Rouge, and we'd be real nervous about getting to San Antonio or Austin. I'll stick with a Sienna hybrid for 600+ miles for $20k cheaper. Really a shame because I like everything else about the Buzz.
I am proud to be part of building ID Buzz, specifically the glass screen. So big, large, and very heavy. I hated going to work because of that, but today l am proud of my hard work. 🎉
I love how the controls for this EV is actually like a normal car. Not the Tesla style two sticks and two spin wheels. Full controls for the wind shield wipers, turn signal, and regular driving buttons. This is huge for me. I love the idea of EVs, but other than the power source and motors, I want it like a normal car. They spent decades fine tuning the ergonomics for many common actions while driving, those things don't magically go away just because it doesn't burn gas. The road still has bumps that make controlling touch screens harder than normal knobs and buttons.
That's why Teslas are going to get killed by these new ev's. I have a f-150 lightning and I absolutely love it, and since I can charge on the Tesla supercharger network there's absolutely no reason to ever get a Tesla now
It should be illegal to put core car functions in a touchscreen. It’s insane to me that it’s allowed. All car controls should be tactile to the point that you can use them without looking off the road
@@NateFordCompletely agree and why I would never buy a Tesla. Sound, AC, and all the other nonessential stuff might work via Touchscreen but indicators, lights, windscreen wipers and so on I want to be able to use just from muscle memory without looking because I want to keep my eyes on the road.
Nice that they include a beer bottle opener and a handy card for prepping your lines of ❄️ when you wanna get lit while the kids are at soccer practice
I've been driving my ID Buzz here in Finland for about a half a year now, and just the amount of joy and random waves you get from people who love the look of the car is crazy.
I see them here in Stockholm quite often and it's so fun to see them drive around. I used to take photos of them to send to a friend who also likes them :D
I don’t know in what world this is not a mini van but as a newly minted father of two I t’s my number one dream vehicle right now. In fact, it’s the only van my wife will even consider. Only problem is finding one in stock. My local dealer said they’ll have exactly 2 in January! All that aside, I’m not too worried about range since with little kids, who will almost always be in a vehicle like this, you need to stop pretty regularly, anyhow providing plenty of opportunities for charging. The rest of the vehicle just rocks!
I was able to get in one in Vegas and what disappointed me the most was the giant hump in the fooor from the battery sled. It’s really cumbersome and seems like just a lazy design choice.
One thing that most people don't acknowledge about the original VW Minibus is that it was a freaking Death Trap. You would never want to be in a crash because it would shred like tissue paper. Also, the driving experience was honestly crappy with amazingly imprecise steering and terrible suspension. I'm really looking forward to seeing what can be done with the concept of an electric minibus built with modern design and safety standards!
Exactly.. I'm surprised I had to scroll in so far to find this comment. I'm old enough to have lived in the day when those were around and my friend had one and every time I got in it, death trap always crossed my mind. If I remember correctly, I don't believe the one he had even had seat belts.. the VW Beetle of the day was also a death trap.
MKB kept talking about how much further from the driver the windshield is. Yeah, that's a compromise you have to make when it's no longer acceptable to use your knees as the front crumple zone.
Taking that center console out is super helpful for long items. I can fit an 8’ piece of wood in my minivan but I got fold the seats down. Removing that console would let me put 10’ in there no problem.
I live in Canada with three kids. I chose a hybrid Pacifica because I get the taste of EV but the range of gas, plane tickets for 3 kids 2 adults means we have to plan $1,000± just to get to the location, so road tripping is cost cutting for us. I was really looking forward to this vehicle coming out thinking the utility it would have would be comparable to the minivans of today but every video I've seen on it has proven otherwise. The sheer amount of space I have right now is honestly astounding. I have a panoramic sunroof, lane/speed maintain, hidden roof rack, and ac plugs. On my road trip down to Las Vegas I put roof storage and that let us have area in the back to put plastic drawer storage, a mini toilet in case the kids had an emergency and electric cooler. I do not think this is capable of offering that amount of space let alone that distance. Some hotels let you charge and then you can enjoy the city cheaper (or free) than gas. Honest I think plug-in hybrids just offer too much versatility at this point compared to EVs of various charge speeds, ranges, climates, plug standards and the state some stations are in.
I agree with your comments that the Pacifica plug-in hybrid is the sweet spot for a road trip vehicle right now. I just bought a 2018 Pacifica Hybrid and did a 5000 Km road trip and it was averaging 6.7 l/100km (35 mpg) fully loaded with cargo and three adults. The Pacifica is also easily convertible to a cargo hauler. It deserves a lot more attention than it is getting as it is a far more practical vehicle than the Buzz. I admit that I was looking forward to the Buzz but the cost and short range make it a toy for those who just want to appear cool... much like the original VW van was more about image than actually being a good vehicle. My friends who owned them were always looking for parts and often stuck with repairs on road trips.
I have a Pacifica on my radar too. I've had a couple of minivans, decades ago, but now I want another one for comfort and cargo room. Great for long road trips. I'll be getting an AWD model with stow n go seats. This VW doesn't even have removable middle seats, making it useless to me.
Yup I've owned 2 of them. Was going to buy a 3rd but the dealers were so stupid near me that they couldn't figure out how to give instant tax credit when it became available. I really wish there was a pinnacle Pacifica that was full ev with 320 miles of range at least. That would be perfect. I only fly if it's over 1000 miles so it's really not bad road tripping with that range. Loved our pinnacle pachybrid though it was great
I'd be interested to see the BUZZ up close. While not sure exactly how much usable interior space the long BUZZ has, I have read that it is similar to my '97 Transporter, which is essentially a LWB (long wheel base) Eurovan. When it comes to interior space, the LWB VW T series vans are a big step up from typical minivans and I believe that is what the long BUZZ was aimed to achieve as well. They're in another league actually, with a payload of a metric ton. There is over 9 ft behind the front seats in mine. They space the rows of seats far apart I can't span the distance with my legs so it doesn't look like much until seats are removed. Some Transporters have 4 closely spaced rows for 10 passengers which hints at their carrying capacity.
I quite like the shape actually, but I wish they kept the really deep V with the two tone look at the front and the really REALLY big logo. That would have been so recognizable. Just have a bit of fun with it VW
My wife and I like it. It's cute and has a lot of cool tech, but that range for that price is a deal killer for us. Glad to see you covering more consumer level affordable cars :D
Its not all that bad honestly! Our current car gets about 200 miles of range and I've taken it on road trips from my home in San Diego to Fresno, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon so far! You just plan where you're gonna be stopping before you leave - and I'm not someone who wants to be driving for four or five hours straight anyway.
With that short of range you're searching for a charging station that's on your route and not being used or broken. In my ICE vehicle I'm enjoying the scenery because there's gas stations on every corner. I do like the van, not the price or range. And, the dealers will be marking them up $5/10k believe me. Don't fall for that. If they don't take off the markup, wait !!!
I was a self-employed mobile DJ for a very long time until I retired a few years back, and I always drove a minivan to haul my gear. If I was still working, this is absolutely the next van I would buy.
I am a current mobile DJ, who is using a 5x8 trailer now but had a T&C before then. I am giving the Buzz a serious look (I almost bought a id.4 a couple years back but it was plagued by delivery delays).
I used to play drums in a very popular cover band and while my Tesla Model Y fit most of my gear pretty well, I would too absolutely buy this VW as a replacement. Alternatively I would love if Honda brought back the Element as an EV; that was a perfect DJ/band equipment hauler too.
As someone who needs to park in an open city parking lot, it would be nice to see more closed storage areas. Fewer things visible means less chance a thief does a smash & grab.
There is so much they could have done right if they didn't use their one size fits all production line designed for SUVs. But they didn't, hence this half baked van that will fail as a commercial product.
If I had a family I would love to have this as a family car, seems super versatile. It can do it all, haul your entire family, double as a cargo van, triple as a camper
Just used an ID buzz converted qs camper van in Norway. The van is super usable and the range is a bit limited but totally fine in a country with good chargers.
I’m a mini van guy and have been driving them for over 35 years. I’ve been waiting for this one for 10 years. Here’s my problem with it: I need to be able to remove all the rear seats. Every other car company provides for that function except VW. This kind of flexibility is key to all successful mini vans. That’s a major mistake VW. And when comparing apples to apples in terms of models the VW is $20,000 more than its competitors. I’m willing to pay more but $20,000 more?! That’s a big ask especially when its efficiencies and range are not industry leading. I may purchase this van used in 1 or 2 years if it’s proving to be reliable and let someone else pay for the depreciation.
When looking at the EV market it's pricing is about what you'd expect. I haven't been in the Buzz but I have checked out a couple of the 3 row EVs. It's basically a good competitor and if you want an all electric van it's the only one offered in the US. I believe you can remove the seats but I don't remember if it's easy but none of the other 3 row EVs make it easy and again none are vans.
Looks great! I was looking forward to your review. Like many, what I REALLY want is the longer-wheelbase version with the camper kit interior. Either way, this will be a consideration for me, for sure, as soon as it's available in the US.
In Brazil we called it "Kombi". It was very popular for work to transport people and goods (they had the seats removed). You can still see them being used to this day, the last one was produced here in 2013.
Super sad that you can't also remove the second row seats. With the Pacifica and the Voyager, all seats can come out, which makes these vans insanely versatile. If the seats came out, you could do all sorts of things with this as a sort of camper van/ van life that would bring in even more buyers by adding people who aren't hauling large families around. VW, where you at?
How about the second and third rows fold into the floor? I do not want to lug around a row of seats. Been there done that. But if they easily folded down flat, it would be amazing.
VW designers did an amazing job of keeping many of the retro design features of the original Minibus, while also modernizing the ID. Buzz at the same time. Well done!!
nah, next to the original, it looks meh. Still much better than the horrible current situation with SUVs, that's for sure, but far from being an "amazing job", especially at this price.
Excellent review. I think there’s definitely a niche for the right type of family, primarily a local, commuter family that maybe goes on shorter weekend trips.
As someone who has been on multiple roadtrips with this beauty, I can promise you its a treat. The range is fine and the chraging is quick. The 20min it'll take you to recharge are what it would take you on yoir abwrage stop with toilet amd coffe break anyway. So it doesnt slow you down, it actually just takes the stress out of it form the get go. Don't know about the charging grid in the US and the distances are probably bigger in the US compared to Germany. But over here it'll get you anywhere woth ease, joy and comfort
Spoken like someone who's never had to suffer "Electrify America" chargers.. it will take you 20 minutes just to find a working one and initiate a session. if you can at all. And then it will probably be de-rated and only deliver about 1/3 the charge rate the vehicle is capable of. :/
Here in America, you are looking at 5-6 charging stops for a road trip. . . How much range do you get in 20 minutes? Other channels are definitely saying the Range is bad enough that no matter how good the charging grid is, this is going to take 30-40% longer on road trips.
Should have mentioned safety. Those old busses are utterly deadly. There’s 2mm of steel between you and the outside world right at your knees. Don’t ever even ride in one!
The 230 mile range is a huge buzz kill for me. The fact they couldn't pack a bigger battery and more range in the minivan format than my 10 year old model S is kinda pathetic. These things should be 300 mile plus vehicles in the US, I think most people that buy vans are long range drivers taking kids on road trips moreso than just ferrying them around town.
@@ReiniGrauer If this had 300 mile or better range and the middle seats came out easily I'd be all over it but yeah this kinda kills anything I'd want to do with it.
I have been using my green/white buzzi to live in 3 days a week now since 6-6-23 and it still makes me happy when I see it. That must count for something.😊
To all that reminisce the original 'Bully' or Type 2. I had the experience of driving one in the old days. It was a fully kitted out camper van. I had to drive it on the UK highway and the thing was so unstable from crosswinds and trucks overtaking it, I was scared witless and took it off the highway and used country lanes. That was at 50 mph on the highway. The ID Buzz is, according to everyone that has driven one, totally stable. Who wants the nostalgia of the original, without stability?
drove one many times. They were charming but, given the lack of power, mediocre brakes and ridiculous sensitivity to side winds they were out and out dangerous at times, and certainly not suited to freeways. I still smile when I see one, though - especially the ones with the pop up camping tops.
Had one for ten years. Bone stock, they are dangerously underpowered. I did find it nice to drive though - in a comedy way. When I got it, the steering would go 180 degrees before the wheels started to move.
I found out in the 90's that people who drove the VW Minibus were the best people on earth. Backpacked, hitched and cycled all over and every time I needed some help someone in a VW bus would pull over and lend a hand. Happened several times. This thing is #1 on my nostalgia vehicle list.
the sunroof tinting is really neat, but it does nothing to stop the heat from getting into the cabin, which out here in AZ is a major issue with most EV's. At least our ID.4 has a power sun shade which does help keep the radiating heat out... the "butt in the front seat to make anything work" is also a problem on the ID.4. Some genius decided the rear 12volt plug should only have power when the vehicle ignition is on.. meaning butt in seat. Kind of hard to power my tire inflator when I have to simultaneously be in the drivers chair.
3 things: wish it had longer range. 2) wish the steering wheel was bigger and more horizontal, like the 60's version. 3) wish the side door opened like a door rather than slide back like a minivan. But otherwise, it looks great.
18 months of real world experience with a Buzz. 1) We have never had issues with range. 2) The steering wheel provided is practical. 3) Sliding doors are wonderful in cramped parking lots.
I think the main reason to take out the middle console is especially if you get a captains chair setup you can crawl through the whole car from the front without getting out the car.
I'm in Edmonton and I only road trip once a year to Calgary. 250 miles of range is excellent for weekly needs. Even if you were going to Jasper that would be a 1 stop trip. I plan on taking my Buzz camping to Waterton just for the drive.
@@N3v3r_S3ttl3 We're in Lithuania so would have to wait for the Germans to start dropping them into the 2nd hand market before they become affordable. Can't wait.
I love this new VW Bus. Even though I’m not the audience for this kind of vehicle at all, I just love its uniqueness and the crazy amount of storage it has. I can see this being a pretty cool friend hauler, without it being your typical van. The range is a shame, but not surprising.
My wife is a truck girl (Chevy/GMC Suburbans and pickups) and absolutely LOVES the idea of these to the point that she asked me to pre-order one for her.
@@NoName-nb9qi LOL nope. Already have 2 EVs, one new and the other I have had for years. I get over 250 for both of them. I'm also an engineer that has hobby-worked on my cars/trucks/tractors for 20+ years. Diesel, gas, EVs are all cool for me as long as they do their job.
@@davidbowser The 250 on your other two EVs wouldn't translate here; range is a variable per vehicle. Not sure this will drop below 200, but with a 234 mi list, it's a distinct possibility.
@@TynesStudios I dig what you're saying and assume it is in good faith, so let me put it this way: my EVs are EPA rated for around 260 and 250 and I get around 260 and 250. The person I was responding to said I wouldn't get 200 and was just spreading FUD ("Novelty"), so I was not saying THIS vehicle would get 250, but rather that I am confident in EVs, in general, and that the stated range will be more than 200 for me.
I am a Canadian who has lived in Norway for 44 years. We ordered a Buzz the day orders opened here (2022-05-23, if I remember correctly) and took delivery 2023-02-13. We have not regretted our choice. Last week our washing machine broke down. We picked up a new one at the local appliance store, and there was no problem fitting it into the back. Buzz is yellow and white because my bride and I rented a yellow VW Rabbit in 1978, and used it on our honeymoon. So, nostalgia.
How does it handle, and how is the acceleration. Is it sluggish?
Unreal that's awesome. How's the range in the Winter tho? Still road tripable?
@@TheTyisawesome you cant compare the my23 in Europe with the US Version - its way faster and Range ist much more stable, as well as the infotainment has Improved a lot - i love driving it,
@@jason3064 They are plenty quick honestly, especially if you go for the AWD option. 6.5 0-60 is spicy
@TheCompyshop thanks for the reply . For a minivan, that's a nice take-off
The original bus is so iconic. The new ID Buzz is cool looking. Absolutely love it. At least it’s not an SUV.
Think the new one is a bit meh looking tbh
@@savedfaves to each their own. But judging by the favorable comments, it’s still different and doesn’t look like anything else on the road. It’s more spacious, functional, and practical than a 3 row SUV in terms of interior space…
VW never was a flashy car brand. But it’s cool to see a van and not another SUV.
Can U imagine how dangerous that '60's version is compared to todays standards? Frontal crush zone is your legs arms and face, hopefully that might save the folks in *the back* seats. 😄
Cute minivan for sure, in a field of bland options. For whatever aesthetics are worth.
I see tons of SUV that really shouldn't be considered SUVs. They're vans, just without the van architecture
I've never wanted a mini van in my life until now
the range tho
@@mach_ It has a big battery. Youre just not getting more electric range if you drive a brick. Every upside has a downside
Right?? Me too! It looks so cool!
A mini van for 60k lol
I'm not impressed... it's an electric mini van trying to cosplay as something cooler.
For most people, this is much better than a pickup truck, since they rarely are used for off-road. On the other hand, the VW has incredible space for people and lugging things around.
when he lifted those headrests in the back seat the first thing that came to mind was "Roger Roger"
Edit: Thanks for the likes, didn't expect the force to be that strong with this one
Yes!!!!! I had the EXACT same thought!
Me too 😂
I said it out loud.
Now _that’s_ nostalgia!
😂 same
In all fairness, the original VW bus got about 250 mile range before it had to go to the shop, so kinda nostalgic.
😂
Not my experience as an owner and tech.
It was designed to be easily roadside repaired tho. Only needed 1 size wrench for every bolt on the thing if I remember correctly
@@jobjobbington6884 Maybe it's because I'm on edibles rn, but that brings me so much joy: the forethought to use 1 size wrench to help the people who'd repair the bus on the side of the road... that brings a happy tear to my eye... I've been a technician on geosynchronous satellites, and the number of times I'd try to disassemble something for troubleshooting and couldn't because something didn't fit or wouldn't get out of the way... Some engineers are so far away from the day-to-day headaches that they have no idea what kinds of changes are good or bad for everyone else.
I disagree. A lot of Volkswagen engines from the era are still going strong. Can't say that about any other engine. My 68 still had its original engine up until 2019 when it caught fire during a California heatwave 😅
secret droids in the back seats. definitely a car sponsored by the empire.
roger roger
First thing I thought as well.
Roger Roger
Roger Roger
CIS, not Empire
But I instantly thought about droids aswell :D
A colleague of mine drives the European version in that crazy green. And what is not mentioned in the review but blows me away, is that this minibus just accelerates like a normal EV and is very unexpected. As well as the really tight turning circle, we parked in some really narrow parking spaces with this without issue and the sliding doors allow you to get out anywhere.
"3 rows of adult storage" should be in the commercial for this thing.
because at no time in human history, minivans/minibuses ever existed before
Bangbus😅
Removing the center console is actually very neat! Not only it makes it super easy to clean/vacuum the car, you can just get up and walk to the back without going from the outside!
Sienna, Odyssey back in 2000s all have removable center consoles. This is not special
@@MrQuay03 That's awesome! Didn't know this was a standard feature for some of the current minivan options. I guess it would be a shortcoming if they didn't include this feature on the ID Buzz.
We drove a Kombi when I was a child. I remember using this thoroughfare from front to back all the time. Even whilst on the move.
also provides a happy space for my wife's little dog
@@MrQuay03 Who said it was special?
Yet, is *More** Spacious and practical than any SUV.
And twice as big
@@Chipsaru it's definitely not twice as big as a modern SUV 😂
@@ChipsaruNo where near twice as big. Even a midsized suv is larger than this.
@@ChipoltleXD my european SUV is 11 inches shorter than this, so it depends
@@ChipsaruThat's a crossover, not an SUV
2023 ID 4 owner, by far my favorite vehicle ever. Full tank every day (home charger), fast, very comfortable, all wheel drive, very quiet, incredible handling and acceleration, and an amazing sound system. I don't love the charging time on long trips but around town it can't be beat!
2020 ID3 owner (here in the Netherlands) but I wanted to echo your praises - easily the best vehicle I've ever owned (includes BMW, Chevy, Alfa, Nissan, Ford and other VWs). Bought mine in the depths of the pandemic, had one issue with a dead main screen (& repaired the very next day) but nothing - nothing! - since. 70K km later, a half-dozen trips to Paris, a couple through th UK, dozens to Belgium, Poland, Germany, and a daily 45min drive to Amsterdam .. still feels new and makes me giggle. I don't mind the charging - can use a 30min break after 3hrs driving, but it's all so easy and quiet! Absolutely love this car!
dont charge the vehicle up to 100% every day, unless you need it all in that day.
around town just fucking walk bro
@@Padlock_Steve People should just spend all their time walking, and make all the people who would ride with them also walk, am I right? 😂
I'm so happy to see these fun EVs instead of just boring replicas of existing models. Cannot wait to try this in SoCal soon!
For this to be practical, needs about 300 miles and access to Tesla supercharger network. Then this thing would be an ultimate road tripper
@@support1125 2025 VW will get Supercharger access. I'd like to see better range from the Buzz as well but next gen battery tech will be necessary for that to happen
can't wait for your vid on it!
I don't know man. This is pretty much a replica of an existing model lol
In socal and then … no where else. Because there’s no range. This thing shouldn’t exist and makes no sense whatsoever. They’ll sell 5.
Me with my dog, "I should buy one of these."
You should
I was literally thinking the same thing. Two dogs though.😅
Me with my dog and cat: same
realll
Wish my dog was as rich as yours ;)
It's like Marques is experiencing the practicality of a minivan for the first time
Probably because there aren't electric minivans available for consumers in the US
He got sponsoring to shill it off, go figure.
The correct answer for any family is just buy the damn minivan. Minivan > SUV every goddamn day.
@techconix there are hybrid minivans I think. I have seen vans with a charge port.
@@cbpe1234the Chrysler Pacifica had a PHEV model. I have it and it’s amazing
Minivans are the best all-around family vehicles at least in the US; I can fit 12' long boards inside in a pinch, even 4x8 plywood sheets with the back seats folded down! Then put seats up, and fits 7 kids/adults just fine.
Still in tears over the fact that you didn’t give us an inside tour of the old one
maybe there's some left over hippies in the back
you can check out Fluffy's vw bus tours. there are plenty online :)
hmm.. update this space when you stop crying, ok?
I will say the walkway between seats is wider in the old bay-windows than the buzz given the size difference I thought that it was odd the walkway was so narrow.
Also, clearly the buzz is based off the bay window and not the split window because you can see the fake air vents in the back where the old scoops were at on the bay window instead of being functional. They’re just stickers now.
The clown doesn’t know anything about it or care about it. He just somehow got the rarest VW bus and pretended it was nothing. Elitist
I was a test driver/evaluator for this vehicle, last year, for a company that works with VW and this is THE MOST comfortable EV vehicle that I’ve driven! I loved the space and the pace at which it moves. For a heavy vehicle, this MV moves and handles! So glad to see it finally for sale.
Also, its turning circle is impressive
@@anemeth9281 It seems like VW has a habit of just missing the mark. To make a cool vehicle like this and then giving such short range. They had/have the opportunity to knock it out of the park but no, not VW!
@@LarryRichelli The Buzz is heavy, and it's shaped like a giant brick. That enormous frontal area is going to create a lot of drag, there's just no way around that. You can't wave a magic wand and conjure up additional range; it's not possible to break the laws of physics.
@lennyvalentin6485 Many EVs smaller than this one have larger battery and longer range . I don't think your post has relevance here
@@LarryRichelli Yeah, imagine that a smaller vehicle gets a longer range! Wow.
Like I said - the Buzz has a very large frontal area; this has a very substantial impact on drag, which also increases exponentially by the cube of velocity. So highway driving at high speed, big fat brick-shaped vehicle - lots of drag. Smaller vehicle, smaller frontal area; substantially less drag at the same velocity.
And not many EVs have a bigger battery than the extended wheelbase Buzz - 111-ish kWh IIRC. You have some luxury vehicles, mostly German ones, and then it's mostly pickup trucks and their SUV counterparts, which are all about as large or even larger than the Buzz, and even heavier too. Remember the 4-ton Hummer? You're not even allowed to drive that with a regular driver's license in the EU, it counts as a commercial vehicle and can only go 80km/h on public roads, even if you were crazy enough to import one and get it certified/registered...
And just heaping on more battery, well more battery = more cost, more weight, slower acceleration, worse handling. Shorter wheelbase Buzz gets more towing capacity, because the vehicle is lighter.
What you "think" has relevance doesn't factor into anything here. What I'm stating is fact.
These ID-Buzzes are hugely succesful here, they carry more than a pickup truck (which are illegal in many places due to being a hazard in cities), can fit more people, and are widely configurable. They can also go around tight corners, and carry a lot of power with them. We're doing a lot of surveying work, and most of our surveyors have these to carry all their GNSS stuff, point cloud scanners, you name it. It can provide them with electricity (3p400 if so desired, we're a 3 phase country), and the range + charging capacity is enough for most. It's most definately a great work van. What it's NOT is a long range hauler, VW still has to figure out CCS Type 2 fast charging and 800V, but again: for work/local stuff these are great; heck, the average "mom" type here loves them.
Best comment
What is "here"? The thing has not met the taste of the German market, so it will do even less with the American market. A classic misguided development.
@@haigha-qb4kf they're becoming more and more frequent in the UK, which is where I'm presuming OP is from.
Außerdem habe ich sie bei besuchen in Deutschland gesehen - vielleicht sind sie außerhalb der städte etwas beliebter?
@@haigha-qb4kfThe Dutch sure seem to like them. See them everywhere
@@LorenceMarsdin yeah, talking from a Dutch perspective. That's the scope of "here".
Love it! Currently own an ID.4 and it’s been a great vehicle! Have loved all my Volkswagens! Glad to see the Buzz finally hitting the US market!
The long wheelbase version was also launched in the EU at the same time. You can pick which one you want, whereas the US only gets the bigger one.
Yea cuz Americans love big vehicles
my understanding is that this is an unfortunate emergent property of NHTSA regs in the US; there's a GVWR cutoff over which certain regulations are loosened. This "truck exemption" is why everything on US roads has been getting bigger and stupider for the past two decades.
@@StripeyType That's not going to be an issue with the Buzz, it's been designed for compliance with EU regs, and there's no special exemptions for big, dumb vehicles there. :)
Same with the Tiguan. We don't get the short wheelbase Tiguan over here either.
@@lennyvalentin6485 sort of. It's why we can't get the short wheelbase version stateside, though.
This is my dream car even though I dont have a big family. I just love the vibe and the practicality.
In Canada, the ID Buzz starts at $82,095 before taxes (another 12-15%, for most of us). That puts it within just a few thousand dollars of a Porsche 718 Cayman. As far as I can tell, the original VW Minibus was about $3000 in 1969, or a little over $30,000 in today's money. Those buying those old micro-busses, both then and today, don't seem to want a USB-c port in every seat, an LCD navigation console, or a magical electrical moonroof (wondering: how much does that part cost to replace, if I drop a canoe on it?). They wanted something with 1960s charm that they could sleep in--something simple and rugged. I can't help thinking this new ID Buzz captures a lot of the look of the original, but very little of the original's soul. Given this, and the price, I suspect the number of actual surfers, hippies, and bohemian beach-dwellers buying these will be vanishingly small, instead picked up by those nearing retirement, used perhaps once a year to drive to the beach, and otherwise used for groceries and transporting appliances. Do I think it's cool? Sure. Will it be iconic in the way the original was? Somehow I doubt it.
I think that VW had to lower the price in the US due to the slowing demand and depreciation of EVs. in 2022, dealers were overpricing evs, and now car makers have to double the incentives to sell evs. Vw had to sell the buzz for the similar price of the kia EV9 (this suv has similar size and perks) 7 years after they announce it. I'll wait 1 year to see the dropping.
Agreed, in 1996 I paid $1000 for a late 1970s bay window. Used but ran and solid otherwise. Volkswagen is no longer a people’s car.
Not sure what 1990s-2000s era money adjusted for inflation is now but even back than $1000 bucks wasn’t a lot for a used car. I did odd jobs for a year / sold my 4wheeler and was able to afford it as a kid starting to drive.
A very well appointed hybrid Sienna or Odyssey are at least $10k less than that, and have all the same bells and whistles plus fully fold-down rear seats. I love the idea of an EV minivan but since I'm spending my own money, I can't do it.
80K is too much. It’s gonna fail.
Wow!! My husband was looking into this car for our family and I didn't care for it much from VW's website, but this video really made me love it! It's aesthetically "pretty" and nostalgic like the original and not so "typical" looking like other vans on the market and sooo spacious that I loveeee it!!!! I can't wait to test drive it! But I gotta check all these pockets because we head out somewhere because I know my kids will put everything they can into the nooks and crannies! It's sooo cute!
fun fact: we still rock VW mini buses in Brazil for daily use and it was produced until 2012, where airbag and ABS were turned into obligatory devices in a car
by the end of its life, it's got a 1.4l water cooled engine instead of the old 1.6l air-cooled one
And we call them Kombis, which is great
Come to Europe and you can buy a big house from its price even in the most expensive part of Europe.
@@strobi0001how would one take an entire minibus back to europe? Thats insanity.
@@strobi0001 Where would I buy that house? Please let me know and I'll get one! :)
@@gustavmukki3165only in the most lost and/or remote regions it is true.
No one with kids looks at a minivan and thinks "road trip." We think, "soccer practice" and "band rehearsal" and "library run" and "let's just grab fast food in between all the practices and events." We just want something that can fit the family so we don't have to take two vehicles. The "road trip" is only a benefit once a year.
My thoughts exactly! Well said.
And then you see the white interior...
From what I see from my friend with small kids, when going on road trips they have to make lots of stops because kids lose patience quickly. Lots of stops could mean lots of charging, so range should not be an issue.
Sure but that's not what the vw van was known for back then. Maybe you're too young to remember that
Many folks without young kids are looking at this and are not thinking minivan. They are thinking how can I get rid of those rear seats, add a bed and a galley, and turn it into a campervan.
I've wanted one of these since they announced it all those years ago... The announcement is starting to feel nostalgic with how long it's taking to bring this magnificent automobile to the USA.
"Something that's not quite a minivan" was a key phrase here for those of us who already own a minivan (Toyota Sienna in my case). I had high hopes this could replace my mini van but I see three glaring problems: (1) Lack of captain seats in the middle; (2) 3rd row appears much smaller, most noticeably in width (only 2 seats?!?) but also legroom; (3) trunk appears MUCH smaller in all three dimensions.
I'll probably buy another Pacifica
there is an option which has 2 "captain seats"
the 3rd row is slightly smaller in width, but 2 grown adults can sit next to each other and have enough leg room to sit comfortably. The third row of the sienna is also slightly smaller it just has a midlle seat wedged in. ;)
The trunk is smaller with the third row, if you need more space you can fold the seats down and they then are on the same level as the "bench" so you habe storage on the same level until the back of the second row.
In person your Problems will look different and may not even be problems anymore.
But before you look at it look at the price difference, that is the biggest problem the buzz and vw in general have. Way to expensive compared to similar cars. XD
Our company now has 8 of these in the cargo version, all I can say that they are amazing. They support fast charging which means in 20 min from 0 to 80 % charged.
Which means you'll be looking for battery replacements in your near future. No getting around it... Lithium batteries do not like being charged quickly.
@cdangers With thermal management, these batteries will have roughly 10% but probably more like 8% degradation after 100,000 miles if mosytly used with rapid chargers. Electric cars are not new now and this is roughly what peole are seeing
@@cdangers They will be fine, the issue isn't charging the batteries quickly, it's heat. They have coolant running through the batteries, they will be fine
@@cdangers you know this has been proven wrong a long time ago right? This is an actual fake news theory pushed forward by people trying to slow down ev adoption.
@@cdangers Patently false. As long as the battery has good thermal management they'll last incredibly long. Even teslas getting hammered by fast charging are doing alright. Theres a decent drop to 80% of original max charge over the first few years but then the curve goes totally flat for a long time
I have a ‘65 bus. It’s lethally dangerous. So many folks lost their legs below the knees. Fun around town up to 35mph. New one is baller.
You have to hit something tall like a truck to impact the footwell. I suspect these tales of leg amputations are just stories people tell because it happened once.
@@f.kieranfinney457 Either way, serious/fatal injuries were a result of basically having no front end to help absorb impacts ... Nostalgia will always keep the original split window van in high regards, same with other classic air-cooled Volkswagens ...
How many?
Cite stats that support that. I absolutely doubt they were any less safe than any other van or large wagon. A head on was a death sentence for every car on the road in that era. The biggest risk factor was who was driving.
I wish they gave the new bus round headlights. It’s too angry. It’s not friendly looking like the old one.
circles make a lot of leftover material in cnc. maybe it was done for cost reasons
What part of the headlines is cnc'd? @@dertythegrower
Agreed. Round headlights are classy. Loved the look of that honda E.
@@dertythegrower for 60 thousand dollars I don't give a damn about overhead.
@@dertythegrower The headlights aren't made in a CNC machine. It's the cost cutting option because it's the same or similar as the headlights on other VW vans. It's a corporate design bereft of all of the great anthropomorphism and personality of the original.
I like this guy’s car reviews. He knows his stuff and he gives OPINIONS which I really like. I hate stats-only “reviews.”
Congrats on over 1 million subscribers on Auto Focus!
as a parent of many kids... this ev van actually looks SWEET. wish that starting price of $62K was bit lower... esp for that range :/
Just get an old Mazda 5 Estate (2010), better in every way than this new-age hippie wagon. Better storage, front middle and back, more features (under seat storage and built in bin etc). Actually more family friendly.
I just wish I could have both 7 seats and AWD.
@@Demobot1AWD is overrated, winter tires make all the difference.
@@houssamalucad753you must live in socal...
Unless you live in Maine or a similarly climated and vertically challenging environment, with 6 months of icy, slushy roads. My dad would park his RWD f-150, October through April because, despite the amnt of weight in the back, it couldn't get out of his neighborhood, unless chains were put on.@@houssamalucad753
LWB is also in Europe, as well as SWB. I have a Multivan. If the buzz ends up with removable seats like the Multivan, that will be great.
I came on to say this. We get both LWB and SWB options. The SWB looks cuter to my eyes.
I saw one in person the other day and they're gorgeous. VW killed it with these, it looks exactly how you would expect an electric VW Bus to look.
Miles and Ellis riding in the original mini-van looks hilarious 🤣
its a microbus, a van does mpt have windows.
@@krusher74🤓🤓🤓
I think the criticism was only about keeping the old look (head & tail light) which would've given it cute retro look while simultaneously making it modern like what rivian does because it clearly doesn't need to look aggressive
And honda e does that. It's definitely possible, but it requires more care. VW went for the cost cutting design option by designing this around what appears to be a retooled VW Transporter multi-platform design. The old one is infinitely better looking. The new one is lazy.
I totally agree, I don't understand the trend with aggressive look, round and friendly headlight is the right choice for this car. It would be more classy with round look. This model will look dated after 5 years. Gotta learn something from 911, and why it's so iconic.
this
@@KevinxJin I'm in Ireland and I've seen a few around by now, and once you've come to expect the two-tone paint job the smoke lifts and the mirrors lose their sheen. Has cost saving corporate design written all over it. Imagine if VW put a design visionary such as Jony Ive in charge of bringing the microbus into the modern era and asked them to design something memorable, iconic and timeless-it would not be a van version of the ID.3
If you have ever seen the old Little Orphan Annie comics, it's hard to call the Rivian good looking. It's just strange.
When I was a kid we had the original bus; outside of the iconic exterior, there wasn't anything I miss about it. We also had a GMC campervan with a mini fridge, sleeperseating, a table, etc, and that's the vehicle I have better childhood memories of. When they were originally developing the Buzz I think they were floating features like programmable seating arrangements, tables, TV's and the like, and while I'm disappointed to not see these features, the Buzz is the EV available on the market I'm most interested in.
I don't see the range being a huge problem; there's two types of "road trip" experiences, the "take turns driving and sleep in shifts, we have to get to the concert by Saturday" type you take as a young adult, and the ambling, family centered ones visa vi National Lampoon's Vacation, where you don't push yourself and have lots of lingering stops along the way. 250 miles is a full days worth of driving in the latter type of trip.
I tried 3 other sites to learn more about the ID Buzz, got bored and moved on. Good job I watched until the end and yes, now I must have one!!
$40k and 300 miles of range would be an instant buy for me.. $60k and 234 miles is a tough sell. I fell in love with this thing when I first heard about it years ago, and then again at the LA Auto Show last year. But that range and price is a dealbreaker. Really hope it does well and they improve upon it in the coming years.
Same. This isn’t what I was hoping for.
Yup, same here. Love the concept but price too high and range too low.
Loaded with the family and our stuff for a road time and we wouldn't even make it from Houston to Dallas, or to Baton Rouge, and we'd be real nervous about getting to San Antonio or Austin. I'll stick with a Sienna hybrid for 600+ miles for $20k cheaper.
Really a shame because I like everything else about the Buzz.
Especially as a car whose original fame was as a road trip camper van. You're better off now with a Sienna hybrid
Same. Smaller would have been fine if it was cheaper and better range
I am proud to be part of building ID Buzz, specifically the glass screen. So big, large, and very heavy. I hated going to work because of that, but today l am proud of my hard work. 🎉
You can keep it at £70,000 grand too 😂
The drivetrain & batterie should be the same as id7 and a ID California is missing.
@@daidavies6210the price would be okay if it had over 300 miles of range
Are you an NPC?
Why can't you open the windows if the driver is not in the car?
I love how the controls for this EV is actually like a normal car. Not the Tesla style two sticks and two spin wheels. Full controls for the wind shield wipers, turn signal, and regular driving buttons. This is huge for me. I love the idea of EVs, but other than the power source and motors, I want it like a normal car. They spent decades fine tuning the ergonomics for many common actions while driving, those things don't magically go away just because it doesn't burn gas. The road still has bumps that make controlling touch screens harder than normal knobs and buttons.
That's why Teslas are going to get killed by these new ev's. I have a f-150 lightning and I absolutely love it, and since I can charge on the Tesla supercharger network there's absolutely no reason to ever get a Tesla now
@@johnmackes5542is it using the NACS plug?
@@carson9903 I've got the adapter for mine to switch from nacs to CCS. Basically makes it so I can use anything, which is nice
It should be illegal to put core car functions in a touchscreen. It’s insane to me that it’s allowed. All car controls should be tactile to the point that you can use them without looking off the road
@@NateFordCompletely agree and why I would never buy a Tesla.
Sound, AC, and all the other nonessential stuff might work via Touchscreen but indicators, lights, windscreen wipers and so on I want to be able to use just from muscle memory without looking because I want to keep my eyes on the road.
Nice that they include a beer bottle opener and a handy card for prepping your lines of ❄️ when you wanna get lit while the kids are at soccer practice
I've been driving my ID Buzz here in Finland for about a half a year now, and just the amount of joy and random waves you get from people who love the look of the car is crazy.
stop lying.
Kinda the opposite attention that an acquaintance of mine gets from his Cybertruck.
@@manoahvanderwolf3259 Why would that be a lie?
I see them here in Stockholm quite often and it's so fun to see them drive around. I used to take photos of them to send to a friend who also likes them :D
@@Ambroos yeah it just spreads joy this thing. It is anything but the most sensible purchase but it just is so much fun.
I don’t know in what world this is not a mini van but as a newly minted father of two I t’s my number one dream vehicle right now. In fact, it’s the only van my wife will even consider. Only problem is finding one in stock. My local dealer said they’ll have exactly 2 in January!
All that aside, I’m not too worried about range since with little kids, who will almost always be in a vehicle like this, you need to stop pretty regularly, anyhow providing plenty of opportunities for charging. The rest of the vehicle just rocks!
you could've bought a new porsche with the money you'll spend on these kids bro
@@minecraftercreeper1 cars depreciate value and won’t bring me the same kind of joy my friend. 😂
@@fireant202 so you brought someone into existence to suffer and die for your own joy? LMFAO
@@minecraftercreeper1 I don’t need to get into antinatalist arguments with you friend. Don’t yuck my yum.
@@fireant202 You gave life to your child but you also gave him a painful death, you okay with that?
Bro came into cars and instantly became my favorite car journalist. Not an influencer like most on UA-cam. . . He actually calls a spade a spade.
Man who normally says stuff without some prior research.
@@michealktrevor some things are self-evident and yet widely unacknowledged
@@Shotblur same video he says Europe only has the short wheel base version yet it actually has both versions on sale
He is literally an influencer who favors certain products...
*fisker starts crying*
such a great review pls keep these coming!!!
You can tint the sunroof by sliding your finger across the middle of the dome light area as seen in 11:31. No need to go into the infotainment system.
I need a retro futuristic scooby doo cosplay with this
you know disney and vw probably already have that collab in the works for some new kids 3d movie
@@dertythegrower original was a Dodge van, not VW
there's one in Indonesia wrapped in Scooby Doo's mystery van sticker
I was able to get in one in Vegas and what disappointed me the most was the giant hump in the fooor from the battery sled. It’s really cumbersome and seems like just a lazy design choice.
@@stephenmcgauley rear bench area?
One thing that most people don't acknowledge about the original VW Minibus is that it was a freaking Death Trap. You would never want to be in a crash because it would shred like tissue paper. Also, the driving experience was honestly crappy with amazingly imprecise steering and terrible suspension. I'm really looking forward to seeing what can be done with the concept of an electric minibus built with modern design and safety standards!
Exactly.. I'm surprised I had to scroll in so far to find this comment. I'm old enough to have lived in the day when those were around and my friend had one and every time I got in it, death trap always crossed my mind. If I remember correctly, I don't believe the one he had even had seat belts.. the VW Beetle of the day was also a death trap.
Thank you for saying the cons! Everyone praises it, but there have to be some negative things about it.
MKB kept talking about how much further from the driver the windshield is.
Yeah, that's a compromise you have to make when it's no longer acceptable to use your knees as the front crumple zone.
@@Justmyownopinion5999LOL! 😂
No aircon
Taking that center console out is super helpful for long items. I can fit an 8’ piece of wood in my minivan but I got fold the seats down. Removing that console would let me put 10’ in there no problem.
10:00 "Adult Storage," exactly what I was looking for! About to buy this car to store my 6 humans hehe
I live in Canada with three kids. I chose a hybrid Pacifica because I get the taste of EV but the range of gas, plane tickets for 3 kids 2 adults means we have to plan $1,000± just to get to the location, so road tripping is cost cutting for us. I was really looking forward to this vehicle coming out thinking the utility it would have would be comparable to the minivans of today but every video I've seen on it has proven otherwise. The sheer amount of space I have right now is honestly astounding. I have a panoramic sunroof, lane/speed maintain, hidden roof rack, and ac plugs. On my road trip down to Las Vegas I put roof storage and that let us have area in the back to put plastic drawer storage, a mini toilet in case the kids had an emergency and electric cooler. I do not think this is capable of offering that amount of space let alone that distance. Some hotels let you charge and then you can enjoy the city cheaper (or free) than gas. Honest I think plug-in hybrids just offer too much versatility at this point compared to EVs of various charge speeds, ranges, climates, plug standards and the state some stations are in.
I agree with your comments that the Pacifica plug-in hybrid is the sweet spot for a road trip vehicle right now. I just bought a 2018 Pacifica Hybrid and did a 5000 Km road trip and it was averaging 6.7 l/100km (35 mpg) fully loaded with cargo and three adults. The Pacifica is also easily convertible to a cargo hauler. It deserves a lot more attention than it is getting as it is a far more practical vehicle than the Buzz. I admit that I was looking forward to the Buzz but the cost and short range make it a toy for those who just want to appear cool... much like the original VW van was more about image than actually being a good vehicle. My friends who owned them were always looking for parts and often stuck with repairs on road trips.
I have a Pacifica on my radar too. I've had a couple of minivans, decades ago, but now I want another one for comfort and cargo room. Great for long road trips. I'll be getting an AWD model with stow n go seats. This VW doesn't even have removable middle seats, making it useless to me.
Yup I've owned 2 of them. Was going to buy a 3rd but the dealers were so stupid near me that they couldn't figure out how to give instant tax credit when it became available. I really wish there was a pinnacle Pacifica that was full ev with 320 miles of range at least. That would be perfect. I only fly if it's over 1000 miles so it's really not bad road tripping with that range. Loved our pinnacle pachybrid though it was great
I'd be interested to see the BUZZ up close. While not sure exactly how much usable interior space the long BUZZ has, I have read that it is similar to my '97 Transporter, which is essentially a LWB (long wheel base) Eurovan. When it comes to interior space, the LWB VW T series vans are a big step up from typical minivans and I believe that is what the long BUZZ was aimed to achieve as well. They're in another league actually, with a payload of a metric ton. There is over 9 ft behind the front seats in mine. They space the rows of seats far apart I can't span the distance with my legs so it doesn't look like much until seats are removed. Some Transporters have 4 closely spaced rows for 10 passengers which hints at their carrying capacity.
Honestly I dig it, it may be my future home 😂
Certainly cheaper than any new house I've seen so far. And it even comes with an AC.
Ah yes.... the BUS life. That is a thing.
@@OperationDarksideand an electric system and outlets already installed, and a huge backup battery XD
Technically won't be homeless then.
Groovy, man!
Great video, like always. Would love some more cable cam work though, as I had to stop watching a few times from motion sickness…
I quite like the shape actually, but I wish they kept the really deep V with the two tone look at the front and the really REALLY big logo. That would have been so recognizable. Just have a bit of fun with it VW
Yeah. Missed opportunity. Along with the round headlights.
It would look like a tong...
I agree, I really don't like the flat grill area at the bottom. Seems like a missed opportunity.
My wife and I like it. It's cute and has a lot of cool tech, but that range for that price is a deal killer for us. Glad to see you covering more consumer level affordable cars :D
Its not all that bad honestly! Our current car gets about 200 miles of range and I've taken it on road trips from my home in San Diego to Fresno, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon so far! You just plan where you're gonna be stopping before you leave - and I'm not someone who wants to be driving for four or five hours straight anyway.
With that short of range you're searching for a charging station that's on your route and not being used or broken. In my ICE vehicle I'm enjoying the scenery because there's gas stations on every corner. I do like the van, not the price or range. And, the dealers will be marking them up $5/10k believe me. Don't fall for that. If they don't take off the markup, wait !!!
Thanks for the vid. As a (former) VW California owner: Center console removal is essential to install swivel chairs for a camper version.
unfortunately no swivel available yet that are certified. But we can see some on the market already.
I really enjoy your reviews. Thank you for this one. I am a VW fan and still a bit doubtful of electrics.
This is a cool mini van. As a dad I would definitely get this.
I was a self-employed mobile DJ for a very long time until I retired a few years back, and I always drove a minivan to haul my gear. If I was still working, this is absolutely the next van I would buy.
I am a current mobile DJ, who is using a 5x8 trailer now but had a T&C before then. I am giving the Buzz a serious look (I almost bought a id.4 a couple years back but it was plagued by delivery delays).
I used to play drums in a very popular cover band and while my Tesla Model Y fit most of my gear pretty well, I would too absolutely buy this VW as a replacement. Alternatively I would love if Honda brought back the Element as an EV; that was a perfect DJ/band equipment hauler too.
This guy is the best reviewer on UA-cam, very thorough!
Extremely informative and so happy for you! Immediately worth a subscription
As someone who needs to park in an open city parking lot, it would be nice to see more closed storage areas. Fewer things visible means less chance a thief does a smash & grab.
Privacy enhanced with window tint, but agree as to more closed area storage ...
VW could have put circle headlights.
There is so much they could have done right if they didn't use their one size fits all production line designed for SUVs. But they didn't, hence this half baked van that will fail as a commercial product.
If I had a family I would love to have this as a family car, seems super versatile. It can do it all, haul your entire family, double as a cargo van, triple as a camper
Just used an ID buzz converted qs camper van in Norway. The van is super usable and the range is a bit limited but totally fine in a country with good chargers.
That removable center part needs to be mini fridge/battery pack for camping. 6:20
Do you know how much money you just said?
The ID Buzz supports VTL. So you have a 90KWh battery with you.
Great aftermarket opportunity!
@@christianp.broepetersen2026 Do you have link to that info regarding V2L?
I’m a mini van guy and have been driving them for over 35 years. I’ve been waiting for this one for 10 years. Here’s my problem with it: I need to be able to remove all the rear seats. Every other car company provides for that function except VW. This kind of flexibility is key to all successful mini vans. That’s a major mistake VW. And when comparing apples to apples in terms of models the VW is $20,000 more than its competitors. I’m willing to pay more but $20,000 more?! That’s a big ask especially when its efficiencies and range are not industry leading. I may purchase this van used in 1 or 2 years if it’s proving to be reliable and let someone else pay for the depreciation.
Agreed it’s like a mini mini van, not quite as good
Surprised if they do not offer a more cargo-friendly option in the near future. Sales potential will almost force that move.
@@markstevens1729id buzz cargo already exists 🏆
When looking at the EV market it's pricing is about what you'd expect. I haven't been in the Buzz but I have checked out a couple of the 3 row EVs. It's basically a good competitor and if you want an all electric van it's the only one offered in the US.
I believe you can remove the seats but I don't remember if it's easy but none of the other 3 row EVs make it easy and again none are vans.
While we didn’t get an electric T1, germany DID get 150 T2 Elektro Buses in 1972.
0:20 You literally made a series called Retro Tech talking about "Nostalgia" in tech.
And the entire premise was about how I'd never used any of those gadgets 😅
@@mkbhdI am hurt! I use cassettes on a daily basis as a way to disconnect at the gym 😭
You workout with a walkman in your pocket 😅😅 @WrainTravels
@@josesammut9396 Its basically the same size as my Iphone and that stays in the locker.
*9:48** bruh that headrest looks like one of those droids in Star Wars lmao*
Was looking for this comment 😂😂
Same ones in our Odyssey. Where you been?
@@TynesStudios Not in a minivan?
Removable center console:
- people with no kids: 🤔
- people with small kids: 🤩🤩🤩
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 It is an absolute game changer to get to the kids without getting out (after stopping officially 😉)
Looks great! I was looking forward to your review.
Like many, what I REALLY want is the longer-wheelbase version with the camper kit interior.
Either way, this will be a consideration for me, for sure, as soon as it's available in the US.
In Brazil we called it "Kombi". It was very popular for work to transport people and goods (they had the seats removed). You can still see them being used to this day, the last one was produced here in 2013.
they call it that over in australia too.
@@spizzz2 Traveling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie...
Thats what we call a Kombi in the german speaking part of europe:
ua-cam.com/video/GnCrUs51Lt8/v-deo.html
Seeing the change in sunlight on his shirt at 7:25 is pretty cool. I wonder if there's a big difference in temperature.
We finally get a VW Autofocus!!! I've been waiting for the ID.4 forever.
Super sad that you can't also remove the second row seats. With the Pacifica and the Voyager, all seats can come out, which makes these vans insanely versatile. If the seats came out, you could do all sorts of things with this as a sort of camper van/ van life that would bring in even more buyers by adding people who aren't hauling large families around. VW, where you at?
Of course you can.
Je just didn’t do it for the video. Wouldve been a pain in the arse.
How about the second and third rows fold into the floor? I do not want to lug around a row of seats. Been there done that. But if they easily folded down flat, it would be amazing.
@@rpdx3 only the third row comes out. The second row just folds.
VW designers did an amazing job of keeping many of the retro design features of the original Minibus, while also modernizing the ID. Buzz at the same time. Well done!!
nah, next to the original, it looks meh. Still much better than the horrible current situation with SUVs, that's for sure, but far from being an "amazing job", especially at this price.
If I could financially afford this I would have instantly jumped on this when I first saw the short. This looks so fun and functional.
Excellent review. I think there’s definitely a niche for the right type of family, primarily a local, commuter family that maybe goes on shorter weekend trips.
As someone who has been on multiple roadtrips with this beauty, I can promise you its a treat. The range is fine and the chraging is quick. The 20min it'll take you to recharge are what it would take you on yoir abwrage stop with toilet amd coffe break anyway. So it doesnt slow you down, it actually just takes the stress out of it form the get go. Don't know about the charging grid in the US and the distances are probably bigger in the US compared to Germany. But over here it'll get you anywhere woth ease, joy and comfort
Spoken like someone who's never had to suffer "Electrify America" chargers.. it will take you 20 minutes just to find a working one and initiate a session. if you can at all. And then it will probably be de-rated and only deliver about 1/3 the charge rate the vehicle is capable of. :/
@@Turk380they’re probably in Europe where shit works
Here in America, you are looking at 5-6 charging stops for a road trip. . . How much range do you get in 20 minutes? Other channels are definitely saying the Range is bad enough that no matter how good the charging grid is, this is going to take 30-40% longer on road trips.
Should have mentioned safety. Those old busses are utterly deadly. There’s 2mm of steel between you and the outside world right at your knees. Don’t ever even ride in one!
Same can be said for motorcycles. Trick is, don't drive like a douche canoe.
@@Adrian-wd4rn Can't control other people....
Give me a break. 🙄
He doesn’t know anything about them so why would he mention it?
@@rockyj5047 Again...same can be said riding motorcycles.
2 things I want to see: a longer range version, and a camper conversion!
The 230 mile range is a huge buzz kill for me. The fact they couldn't pack a bigger battery and more range in the minivan format than my 10 year old model S is kinda pathetic. These things should be 300 mile plus vehicles in the US, I think most people that buy vans are long range drivers taking kids on road trips moreso than just ferrying them around town.
@@ReiniGrauer If this had 300 mile or better range and the middle seats came out easily I'd be all over it but yeah this kinda kills anything I'd want to do with it.
And better software
@@gordonstewart5774 in good old VW fashion, software will be sorted in last production year
Volkswagon's reply: Cha-ching! 💸💰💸
I have been using my green/white buzzi to live in 3 days a week now since 6-6-23 and it still makes me happy when I see it. That must count for something.😊
To all that reminisce the original 'Bully' or Type 2. I had the experience of driving one in the old days. It was a fully kitted out camper van. I had to drive it on the UK highway and the thing was so unstable from crosswinds and trucks overtaking it, I was scared witless and took it off the highway and used country lanes. That was at 50 mph on the highway. The ID Buzz is, according to everyone that has driven one, totally stable. Who wants the nostalgia of the original, without stability?
drove one many times. They were charming but, given the lack of power, mediocre brakes and ridiculous sensitivity to side winds they were out and out dangerous at times, and certainly not suited to freeways. I still smile when I see one, though - especially the ones with the pop up camping tops.
Had one for ten years. Bone stock, they are dangerously underpowered. I did find it nice to drive though - in a comedy way. When I got it, the steering would go 180 degrees before the wheels started to move.
Should've went with round headlights to keep the friendly look, kinda looks like a fat sports car now 😆
It's probably hard to fall for nostalgia if the subject of said nostalgia was at its peak 15-30 years before you were born.
I found out in the 90's that people who drove the VW Minibus were the best people on earth.
Backpacked, hitched and cycled all over and every time I needed some help someone in a VW bus would pull over and lend a hand.
Happened several times.
This thing is #1 on my nostalgia vehicle list.
Nah, dat stuff (nostalgia) spreads by osmosis through populations.
the sunroof tinting is really neat, but it does nothing to stop the heat from getting into the cabin, which out here in AZ is a major issue with most EV's. At least our ID.4 has a power sun shade which does help keep the radiating heat out... the "butt in the front seat to make anything work" is also a problem on the ID.4. Some genius decided the rear 12volt plug should only have power when the vehicle ignition is on.. meaning butt in seat. Kind of hard to power my tire inflator when I have to simultaneously be in the drivers chair.
I think most people just wanted the lights to be more similar to the original. The headlights on this car do not match the rest of the aesthetic
3 things: wish it had longer range. 2) wish the steering wheel was bigger and more horizontal, like the 60's version. 3) wish the side door opened like a door rather than slide back like a minivan. But otherwise, it looks great.
18 months of real world experience with a Buzz. 1) We have never had issues with range. 2) The steering wheel provided is practical. 3) Sliding doors are wonderful in cramped parking lots.
2.) No you won't like this...Airbag would not work anymore.
"Ass, batts, or grass, nobody rides free"
"My other bus is a universal serial"
I can’t with that second line omg
"My third row is Bangin'!"
Batts? It’s ass, gas, or grass,. right?
@@rjcarr316EVs don’t take gas lol
@@anonymousidea9119 Ah, OK, makes sense now.
I think the main reason to take out the middle console is especially if you get a captains chair setup you can crawl through the whole car from the front without getting out the car.
I would love to have it but it needs 300miles range. Especially because in winter that 300 miles will be 200. (I’m in Canada with real winter)
I'm in Edmonton and I only road trip once a year to Calgary. 250 miles of range is excellent for weekly needs. Even if you were going to Jasper that would be a 1 stop trip. I plan on taking my Buzz camping to Waterton just for the drive.
@@Demobot1 I’m in small town Manitoba with a 200km daily commute. My 23 bolt ev barely makes it in the winter and that’s charging all day at 120v
In Europe there are two variants. A long, three row and a short, two row version
And a commercial version, it actually makes for a decent mobile workshop or work van inside the city
@@nrk9857 Of course right. In fact, the Cargo and the Normal version are nearly 50/50 in terms of selling numbers.
@@nrk9857 Dutch roadside assistance (ANWB) use these vans too.
Three row not tree row...
@@N3v3r_S3ttl3 We're in Lithuania so would have to wait for the Germans to start dropping them into the 2nd hand market before they become affordable. Can't wait.
I love this new VW Bus. Even though I’m not the audience for this kind of vehicle at all, I just love its uniqueness and the crazy amount of storage it has. I can see this being a pretty cool friend hauler, without it being your typical van. The range is a shame, but not surprising.
If I was in market for an EV, it was the Mach E, now it's this. Grew up in one (well three) of these and the nostalgia factor is huge!
The scrapper and the bottle opener was not expected LOL Nice !
My wife is a truck girl (Chevy/GMC Suburbans and pickups) and absolutely LOVES the idea of these to the point that she asked me to pre-order one for her.
Don't it bro. All these EV's are just a Novelty. You won't even get 200 miles of range. The Novelty dies pretty quick
That's not your wife -- she's an imposter! I am your wife. Please pre-order this for me.
@@NoName-nb9qi LOL nope. Already have 2 EVs, one new and the other I have had for years. I get over 250 for both of them. I'm also an engineer that has hobby-worked on my cars/trucks/tractors for 20+ years. Diesel, gas, EVs are all cool for me as long as they do their job.
@@davidbowser The 250 on your other two EVs wouldn't translate here; range is a variable per vehicle. Not sure this will drop below 200, but with a 234 mi list, it's a distinct possibility.
@@TynesStudios I dig what you're saying and assume it is in good faith, so let me put it this way: my EVs are EPA rated for around 260 and 250 and I get around 260 and 250. The person I was responding to said I wouldn't get 200 and was just spreading FUD ("Novelty"), so I was not saying THIS vehicle would get 250, but rather that I am confident in EVs, in general, and that the stated range will be more than 200 for me.