The Volkswagen ID. Buzz has fancy “IQ. Light” matrix headlamps that wake up as you approach the vehicle. The projectors appear a lot like human eyes, and they rotate back and forth on startup to have a quick “look” around. Cute.
That’s the ID. Buzz all over. On one level it’s a highly functional vehicle (van or, as with this one, spacious people-mover), but delivered with a high degree of very self-conscious flair. It’s the electric Kombi, after all.
Yeah, everybody loves this thing and it’s not hard to see why. Sold? Well, that’s the catch; our Pro NWB (denoting “normal wheelbase”) is the bottom end of the Buzz people-moving lineup, but it’s $129,990. Yikes. Another 250mm length (Pro LWB) will cost you another $10k.
It seems especially expensive when you consider that underneath, it’s built on the same MEB electric “skateboard” as an ID.4/5 SUV; albeit with a lot of extra metal and a pretty lavish standard-equipment list.
But there’s nothing quite like the ID. Buzz on the market. A Kia Carnival is the closest rival rival in terms of being a pure people-mover, and if we’re talking pure-electric then it’s got to be the Kia EV9, which is more an SUV; that’s also over $100k (currently on pause as Kia New Zealand awaits the 2026 model). Are either of those cars anywhere near as cool as the ID. Buzz?
This is a highly functional vehicle, but delivered with a high degree of highly self-conscious flair. It’s the electric Kombi, after all.
The technical stuff might not even matter to many buyers, but the Pro NWB tested here has a 79kWh (usable) battery and single electric motor. It’s good for 382km range and the motor’s at the back, so it’s rear-wheel drive (RWD).
The NWB is also relatively compact for a vehicle of this type. It has a 2988mm wheelbase, but overall length is a snip over 4.7m - so it’s quite a bit shorter than the likes of a Hyundai Santa Fe or Toyota Highlander.
Our car’s optional ($2400) 6-seat layout is excellent; it puts 2 captain’s chairs in the second row and a 50/50 split seat right at the back.
It’s all about pleasing the passengers, right? They’ll probably be pleased just to be seen in it. But even the NWB is spacious indeed, with the flat floor afforded by an EV platform giving it a real lounge vibe in the back.
As does our car’s optional ($2400) 6-seat layout, which puts 2 captain’s chairs in the second row and a 50/50 split seat right at the back. The spacing between the 2 middle seats means you can walk straight through to the rear, no hassle.
It's a cool way to travel, although there aren’t as many surprise-and-delight features as we’d expected.
Fold the whole lot and you’ll still get a flat load-through (love the way the second-row seat squabs “kneel”); but you can also unclip and completely remove the third row; it's not light, but the mechanism is easy and it’s still a one-person job.
The side doors and tailgate are all powered, including a sensor on the right-side that prevents it fully opening if the charge flap at the back of the vehicle is in use (because the door would hit it otherwise).
Yep, this is a cool way to travel, although the cabin materials aren’t quite as premium as you might expect (some of the plastics are quite hard and vanny) and if we’re honest, there aren’t as many surprise-and-delight features as we’d expected.
The “Buzzbox” is a good example. On the surface it’s a great idea: a storage box on bespoke mounting points that acts as a centre-console storage unit (there are trays and a big drawer), but can also be released and taken away; it even includes a bottle-opener. Nice, but it’s also rather heavy and awkwardly shaped; we can’t help but wonder why it doesn’t have a carry strap and/or refrigeration.
We suspect the answer is that there’s much more to come in terms of Buzz accessories. The mounting points are there and can potentially be used for a whole lot of cool stuff. Especially once the much-talked-about California campervan version emerges.
The ID.Buzz is good to drive because it’s essentially a car, with a typically-EV low centre of gravity and RWD. The dashboard layout is slightly behind the latest VW stuff like Tigan/Tayron and Golf 8.5, which have reintroduced some physical buttons; Buzz sticks with the minimalist controls and haptic activation of the original IDs.
Actually, we’re okay with that; through 5 years of new-gen VW test cars and a long-term ID.5 in 2024, we haven’t really experienced the ergonomic annoyance with this tech that others have complained about.
Props to the Buzz’s front-seat massagers, by the way. The “ergoComfort” chairs have three configurable programmes and they really get to work on you. There’s one called Stretch that actually feels like it might want to hurt you; but then it hurts so good.
Dynamically, the Buzz is pure-ID: compliant ride and a nice RWD feel to the way it takes on Kiwi corners. There’s not a lot of communication from the steering, but that’s normal in EV-world; the brakes are a bit of a disappointment at open-road speeds, with a spongy initial response. They’re fine in town and the excellent adaptive cruise means you can leave the car to work it all out anyway.
The ID. Buzz is not quite the EV-MPV masterclass the price might lead you to expect. But it’s still a real feelgood machine; the combination of all that Kombi heritage and high style makes it so hard to resist. Can you really put a price on making people happy everywhere you go?
How much is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro NWB?
Our Pro NWB is the entry point for the ID. Buzz with back seats (not including the Cargo van, is what we mean) and it's $129,990.
What are the key statistics for the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro NWB?
The Pro NWB has a 79kWh (usable) battery and single electric motor. It’s good for 382km range and the motor’s at the back, so it’s rear-drive (RWD).
Is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro NWB efficient?
The 382km range figure from 79kWh might not wow you, but this is a big vehicle (nearly 2.6 tonnes). And o our experience, these VW ID models do deliver on on the claim.
Is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro NWB good to drive?
It's just like a tall car, because it's really just a tall car. The brakes are a bit spongy at low speed, but the ride/handling balance is good and the low centre of gravity means the ID. Buzz never feels wobbly.
Is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro NWB practical?
Even the shorter (sorry, "normal") wheelbase Buzz is super-spacious in the back. You can't have 7 seats in the NWB (that's reserved for the LWB), but can have a 3rd row by choosing the $2400 6-seat option, with 2 captain's chair in the middle that give a great walk-through space.
The extra seats in the back row are split 50/50 and can be removed completely if needed, although you can also fold all 4 rear chairs down to get a flat load area.
What do we like about the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro NWB?
It looks awesome and everybody seems to love it, nice RWD feel to the chassis, lavishly equipped and boasts the best front-seat massagers in the business, seating configurations are impressively practical.
What don’t we like about the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro NWB?
It seems crazy-expensive given the platform is shared with lots of other ID models, the brakes feel a bit spongy at low speed, it's a shame VW couldn't crack 400km range.
What kind of person would the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro NWB suit?
A Kombi enthusiast who wants to embrace the next step in the model's heritage, or somebody who really needs a van-sized people moved and wants to look really cool.