Unlike the old VW Bus, the new one got a five-star Euro rating.
Volkswagen fans around the world have been patiently waiting for the all-electric ID. Buzz to finally go on sale. With deliveries slated to take place in Europe before the end of the year, the 21st-century take on the iconic VW Bus has just undergone its European crash testing by way of the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Unlike the vintage vehicle from which it draws its inspiration, the ID. Buzz promises to be genuinely safe.
The ID. Buzz utilized in the NCAP testing was a Euro-spec two-row, short wheelbase model. This is a slightly different machine than the long-wheelbase variant slated to arrive on American soil when the van goes on sale for 2024. The American-spec model will be 10.6-inches longer than the vehicle tested here, and should come equipped with a larger and heavier battery pack. Regardless, you can expect these crash results to be fairly similar to what we’ll find from NHTSA and IIHS. The shorter VW ID. Buzz managed to secure top honors during the NCAP procedure, scoring five stars overall. More specifically, the electric van managed to capture safety scores of 92 percent for adult occupants, 87 percent for child occupants, and 90 percent for VW’s onboard safety assist features.
The ID. Buzz also scored 60 percent in the vulnerable road user category, which accounts for things like pedestrians and cyclists who share the roadways. Part of the point reduction in that category was related to poor pelvic protection for pedestrians in the instance of a collision. The van’s automatic emergency braking system also failed to prevent the tester from striking a cyclist dummy in several scenarios, though you wouldn’t know that based on that 90 percent rating alone.
We’ll have to wait until the on-sale date for the ID. Buzz gets a bit closer before we know how the U.S.-models will fare in an accident, but things look pretty good so far. The van took Euro NCAP’s 50 and 60 kph shunts without much drama, though it is worth noting that American testing is a bit different across the board. If you want to live out your VW van fantasies without the fear of injury, it seems the ID. Buzz is the safest option.
Keyword: Watch the VW ID. Buzz Ace Its Crash Test