Erste Fahrt: Volkswagen ID. Buzz ist praktische Nostalgie zum hohen Preis
Wenn wir zum ersten Mal ein neues Auto fahren, versetzen wir uns in die Denkweise des beabsichtigten Käufers. Das mag der Grund sein, warum uns unsere erste Erfahrung mit dem Volkswagen ID. Buzz etwas verwirrt hat. Der große, elektrische Van ist anders als jedes andere Fahrzeug, das man kaufen kann, aber wir können nicht genau herausfinden, für wen er gedacht ist.
In der Vergangenheit wollte Volkswagen mit dem Bus ein Fahrzeug für alle sein. Minibus. T2. Vanagon. Eurovan. Wie auch immer man es nannte, die stupsnasigen, käferäugigen Vans von Volkswagen waren preiswert, anpassbar und leicht zu reparieren. Infolgedessen wurden sie von den 50er bis Anfang der 2000er Jahre zu einem festen Bestandteil der amerikanischen Straßen. Egal, ob du in deinem Vanagon vor Grateful Dead-Konzerten camptest, schöne Erinnerungen an Kindheitsausflüge in Nationalparks mit dem alten Bus deiner Familie hast oder "Little Miss Sunshine" wirklich genossen hast, diese großen Volkswagen mit winzigen Motoren waren im 20. Jahrhundert genauso Teil des amerikanischen Alltags wie V8-betriebene Muscle-Cars.
When CR first tested the original Microbus in 1959, we said that "no station wagon to or nearly as much as a VW bus should be considered," despite later warnings in our July 1966 issue that it was "too weak for the lively contemporary U.S. traffic." Some of us at the Auto Test Center grew up with a VW bus in the family. We were all the more excited when VW announced the electrified ID. Buzz at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show.
Now, almost seven years later, we have ridden the real thing. It's an electrified people-mover with three rows of seats, an electric drive, lots of nostalgia and zero of the downsides of the original. It even has a rear engine! Well, with a rear engine, with the option of all-wheel drive.
However, the price of the new model — between $60,000 and $70,000 — is far too high for most people, and a range of 231 miles between charges isn't enough to make the round-trip trip between Haight-Ashbury and the Monterey County Fairgrounds.
When we tried to brainstorm audiences for an expensive, nostalgic, electric minivan, the best we could think of was "professional cupcake bakers with independent means who want a rolling advertisement," "retired hippie couples who traded free love for free markets," and "boutique luxury hotels who need a distinctive, easy-to-load airport shuttle." It is not a mass-market vehicle.
Photo: Darya Kovaliyk/Consumer Reports
This is probably intentional. The ID. Buzz is what people in the marketing world call a "halo" product. It's too expensive or niche for most people to actually buy, but it's compelling enough to draw attention to a brand as a whole. In practice, this means that most families who go to a Volkswagen dealer will drive home with a new Atlas or Tiguan, even if they post photos on Instagram of their children posing in front of the ID. Buzz on the showroom.
But we're not here to judge the business plans of automakers. We're here to help you assess whether the ID. Buzz could suit your needs (or budget), which is why we're planning to buy our own ID. Buzz as soon as it's available from dealerships. To get a few first impressions, we have rented a mid-range Pro S Plus AWD model directly from Volkswagen in the meantime. CR members can read our initial thoughts below.
Once our buzz arrives, we will drive it 2,000 miles to make sure everything is working properly. Then we will subject it to more than 50 tests at the CR Auto Test Center, including empirical measurements of acceleration, braking, handling, fit of the child seat and ease of use. We will also measure the range of the electric vehicle. In the end, it receives an overall score based on the results of our road tests, brand reliability survey responses, and standard safety features. CR members will have access to the full test results as soon as they are available.
What We Driven: 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S Plus AWD Electric Minivan
Drive: 335 hp, two electric motors; 91 kWh battery; 1-speed direct drive; All-wheel drive
MSRP: $67,995
Options: All-wheel drive, premium audio, captain's chairs, panoramic glass roof ($1,495), two-tone exterior ($995), flexboard raised cargo floor