Volkswagen ID. Buzz review: performance, motor & drive
It’s not quick, but a comfortable ride and good refinement are exactly what you want from an electric family car
| 0-62mph | Top speed | Driven wheels | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.2s | 90mph | Rear | 201bhp |
While the majority of people carriers and minibuses these days are just vans with windows, the ID. Buzz uses the same MEB platform as the rest of the models in the VW’s electric car line-up, not to mention the Audi Q4 e-tron, Cupra Born and Skoda Enyaq iV. That means this electric MPV offers a more car-like driving experience than you might expect.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz 0-62mph, top speed and acceleration
The Buzz isn’t what you’d call quick, as 0-62mph takes 10.2 seconds, while the top speed stands at 90mph. But it does at least feel more alert than you might expect thanks to its smooth power delivery and the instant torque from the electric motor powering the rear wheels. In fact, acceleration at lower speeds is surprising for a car of this size and shape, and it’s certainly fast enough for daily use. Admittedly, the ID. Buzz wasn’t fully loaded when we drove it. With five passengers and a boot full of luggage on board, it may feel a little sluggish, while the seven-seater version is likely to be even slower.
However, Volkswagen has confirmed an all-wheel drive model will join the range in 2023, along with the ID. Buzz GTX. We expect the latter to feature the same 295bhp, dual-motor powertrain as the ID.4 GTX and ID.5 GTX There’s also a smaller battery model on the way, too. All of these should be notably quicker to 62mph.
Handling
Thanks to the huge 77kWh battery being mounted along the floor, the centre of gravity is low, while the rear-mounted motor not only helps free up space over the front axle, but also improves handling. Body control is fantastic for a vehicle like this, and the steering feels direct and well weighted.
We also liked how refined the ID. Buzz was, especially for an EV with such a bluff front end. There’s very little wind and road noise in the cabin, which is free from any of those characteristic shakes and rattles you might find on van-to-car conversions.
The ride is perhaps a little firm around town, but it doesn’t crash through potholes or even broken up roads, and it's nice and comfortable at motorway speeds. Even with our test car’s optional 21-inch alloy wheels.
Unfortunately, the ID. Buzz only has two settings for the regenerative braking - on or off. It’s the same setup you’ll find in the ID.3 and ID.4, and even when in ‘B’ mode we wished it was a bit stronger or could offer the same one-pedal driving capabilities as the latest Hyundai and Kia EVs. You also need to be quite firm with the brake pedal in order to bring the 2.5-tonne minibus to a halt.
