Volkswagen ID. Buzz review: range, battery & charging
A solid range of over 250 miles for all ID. Buzz models is paired with 170kW rapid charging speeds that top anything VW has offered before
| Battery size | Range | Wallbox charge time | Rapid charge time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 77kWh | 255-258 miles | 12hrs 15mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 30mins (5-80%, 170kW) |
At launch, the ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo are only available with the ‘Pro’ powertrain, which pairs a 77kWh battery with a 201bhp electric motor mounted on the rear axle. However, Volkswagen has already confirmed more variants are on the way, including cheaper ‘Pure’ models that’ll feature either a 45 or 58kWh battery. Exactly which unit it’ll use has yet to be announced, but it’s likely to offer a range closer to 200 miles.
Volkswagen has also teased seven-seater and all-wheel drive versions of the ID. Buzz that are due to arrive in 2023, but range figures for either model are still under wraps. The same goes for the forthcoming ID. Buzz GTX, also due this year.
The high-performance variant is likely to use the same powertrain as the ID.4 GTX and ID.5 GTX, which includes the 77kWh battery from the ‘Pro’ models and a dual-motor setup for all-wheel drive and 295bhp. As a result, it’s unlikely the ID. Buzz GTX will cover more than 220 miles on a charge – unless VW surprises us with a larger battery from launch.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz range
For now, every ID. Buzz comes with a 77kWh battery, which Volkswagen says is enough for the electric minibus to cover up to 258 miles, depending on the exact specification, and for 256 miles to be possible in its panel van counterpart.
During our time with a top-of-the-range Style model, on a typical autumn day in the UK that included a variety of driving situations, the ID. Buzz offered us an indicated range of 230 miles – just 25 miles short of the WLTP claimed figure, which isn’t too bad. It's still considerably further than rivals like the Peugeot e-Rifter or Citroen e-SpaceTourer can go before needing a top up. We did see 20-30 miles of range disappear when we turned on the climate control, but that’s not uncommon in electric cars.
Charge time
The ID. Buzz boasts the fastest rapid charging speeds in Volkswagen’s EV line-up, capable of reaching up to 170kW compared to the ID.4’s 100-135kW maximum. As a result, if you find a suitably fast charging point, you can top up the Buzz's 77kWh battery from 5-80% capacity in exactly half-an-hour. But, if you want to fully replenish the ID. Buzz’s driving range via a 7.4kW home wallbox or on-street charging point, it’ll need to be plugged in for over 12 hours.
