Competes with: Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Ford Transit and E-Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Looks like: The original Microbus electrified and upgraded for the digital age
Powertrains: 201-horsepower electric motor, 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack; rear-wheel drive (European model)
Hits dealerships: 2023 (European model), 2024 (U.S. model)
The iconic Volkswagen Microbus is finally making its comeback as VW debuts the all-electric ID. Buzz for the European market, with a North American version to follow. First revealed as a concept vehicle at the 2017 North American International Auto Show, fans of the Microbus will finally get to see the classic van reincarnated for the modern age. The ID. Buzz comes back to life as a five-seat passenger van or ID. Buzz Cargo van, both slated for Europe. Here in the U.S., a longer-wheelbase passenger van is expected to arrive in 2024, but VW has not revealed plans to bring the five-seat passenger or cargo vans to our shores.
Before becoming a symbol of the counterculture movement of the 1960s, the original T1 Microbus was a cost-effective, utilitarian family vehicle that was used for hauling passengers and gear. The new ID. Buzz carries on the tradition by retaining the distinctive exterior look of the original bus and placing a focus on maximizing space for a range of use cases. Like the social revolution its predecessor came to symbolize, the new ID. Buzz joins the ID.4 small SUV to usher in VW’s electric revolution: The automaker says it aims to increase its share of all-electric vehicles by at least 70% in Europe and 50% in North America and China by 2030.
A Nostalgic Exterior
The exterior of the new ID. Buzz maintains the spirit of the early Microbus with its short overhangs, classic V-shaped hood, supersized VW badge and an eclectic palette of paint colors. The ID. Buzz rides on VW’s MEB platform, which also underpins the ID.4. According to the automaker, the vehicle’s electric drive system allows for better space utilization and a smaller turning radius than comparably sized gas-powered models. The passenger and cargo vans will each ride on standard 18-inch steel wheels, and aluminum-alloy wheels ranging in size from 18 to 21 inches are available for the passenger van.
A total of eleven exterior paint color combinations will be available for the European models, including seven single color options (Candy White, Mono Silver, Lime Yellow, Starlight Blue, Energetic Orange, Bay Leaf Green and Deep Black) and four two-tone options with a Candy White upper section and a choice of body colors for the lower section, mirrors and door handles.
Functional and Sustainable Interior
The European passenger van will offer seating for five or six occupants depending on configuration, while the extended wheelbase will seat up to seven with a three-row, 2/3/2 configuration. The passenger van features an adjustable trunk floor and two sliding doors, while the cargo van seats three up front and offers a VW-estimated 137.7 cubic feet of cargo space. An optional moveable center console first seen in the concept vehicle provides storage bins, drawers and cupholders. In the long-wheelbase model, the console will be moveable between rows or can be removed entirely.
VW channels the Microbus’ counterculture roots with non-traditional materials inside the new ID. Buzz. Instead of animal-based leather, sustainable materials like recycled plastic and vegan leatherette trim are used throughout. Like the exterior, the interior of the ID. Buzz comes in a single or two-tone color scheme, blending Candy White on the instrument panel and outer panels of the seats with contrasting colors on the seat cushions, dash panel and door trim. A standard 10-color ambient lighting system can be upgraded to 30 colors.
Powertrain and Charging
The European version of the ID. Buzz will arrive with a 201-hp electric motor powered by a 82-kWh battery that drives the van’s rear axle. The all-electric van will have an estimated maximum 229 pounds-feet of torque and an electronically limited top speed of 90 mph. No range numbers or U.S.-specific performance specs are currently available, but Volkswagen promises more battery options with varying power outputs will follow the van’s initial launch.
The ID. Buzz has an AC charging rate of 11 kilowatts, and DC fast charging tops out at 170 kW; Volkswagen estimates DC fast charging will enable the battery to charge from 5% to 80% in 30 minutes. The European model will also offer bidirectional (vehicle-to-home) charging, but it’s unclear if the U.S. version will have the same capability.
Tech and Safety Features
Manufacturer image | Volkswagen ID. Buzz
To bring the Microbus into the digital age, Volkswagen gives the ID. Buzz a high-tech interior and an extensive suite of driver-assist features. A 10-inch digital gauge cluster and 10-inch center touchscreen display come standard, and a larger 12-inch center touchscreen is available. The vehicle’s tech setup closely resembles the ID.4’s, including an unfortunate abundance of touch-sensitive controls.
The passenger van will include a number of driver-assist technologies, including standard or available features like automatic emergency braking, park assist, adaptive cruise control and hands-on lane centering down to a stop.
Pricing and Release Date
The ID. Buzz passenger and cargo vans will arrive in Europe in late 2023 followed by a U.S.-bound three-row passenger van in 2024. Pricing has not yet been announced for the European or U.S. model and is expected to be revealed closer to the van’s launch.
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Keyword: Volkswagen ID.Buzz Debuts: The Microbus Revived for the Electric Revolution