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After nearly 20 years, the Volkswagen Bus is making a comeback! Recently, Volkswagen revealed the look of the new VW ID. Buzz, which is an iteration of the iconic Bus and is poised to make waves once it hits showroom floors.
For nearly a decade, VW has teased the return of the icon, with the most recent tease coming in 2017 as a retro-inspired take on the new EV. Much of the hip styling carried over into the forthcoming 2024 production model.
The ID Buzz is a big deal because it's poised to tap into a segment of the EV market that has thus far been relatively untouched — the family market. Car and Driver noted that the ID. Buzz won't be an exercise in form over function, either.
While the ID. Buzz's styling is a modern update on a quintessential nostalgic look from automotive history, the ID. Buzz's real claim to fame is its cavernous and configurable interior — which you should be able to check out at Volkswagen SouthTowne within the next year.
Here are a few of the highlights of the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Buzz:
Spacious interior for the family
Buses have always been primarily people haulers and the ID. Buzz carries on that tradition with its spacious interior. The U.S. model will have three rows and seating for seven, with tons of cargo space in the rear. The European model is the shorter wheelbase version of the ID Buzz that the U.S. will receive and has 40 cubic feet of cargo space as reported by Car and Driver.
The front seats are highly adjustable and put the driver in a classic, upright seating position. Because there is no engine under the hood, the interior boasts ample space for all passengers that defies its smaller-than-expected exterior proportions.
The ID. Buzz EV is the sixth new SUV Volkswagen has planned for America's SUV-loving market. Proving they could excel in the SUV industry, Volkswagen launched the Atlas in 2018, followed by a redesign of the Tiguan, a smaller version of the Atlas called Atlas Cross Sport, then launched the all-new Taos and ID.4 EV in 2021.
EV range, power and charging
In addition to its comfort and size, Volkswagen has planned the ID. Buzz to go the distance. As with all electric vehicles, range is a top consideration for buyers — especially if you're toting your family around. While details are not confirmed for the U.S. market, Car and Driver reports, "The company has only said that the battery will be larger than the 77-kWh pack that powers the upcoming European model. We expect that the American ID. Buzz will have at least 260 miles of range per charge. VW reports those who plug into a DC fast-charger will be able to charge from 5% to 80% in as little as 30 minutes."
Built on Volkswagen's Modular Electric Drive (MEB) platform, the ID. Buzz shares its underpinnings with the Audi e-tron crossover and Volkswagens ID.4 crossover. Volkswagen has confirmed the base model will feature a single, rear-mounted electric motor that makes 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque. However, you can expect a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup with around 300 horsepower to be available near its launch time in the U.S.
A great value
Kelley Blue Book reports the average new car price in 2022 is over $47,000. Multiple reports, including Car and Driver, estimate the ID. Buzz to be priced around $40,000 — less than the average new car price. Pricing details haven't been released but given Volkswagen's history of offering competitive values, especially with their new ID.4 EV, U.S. customers should expect the same ideology to carry over for the new ID. Buzz.
Available to custom-build and pre-order
As with the ID.4, Volkswagen SouthTowne anticipates the ID. Buzz will be available on a reservation platform. "We have hundreds of customers who have custom-built their ID.4 right from our website," says Josh Osborne, Volkswagen SouthTowne's general manager. "Our customers are eager to get their hands on this electric vehicle as soon as possible, so we know they'll love the ID. Buzz EV as well."
The ID. Buzz will be produced in Hanover, Germany, while Volkswagen is moving the ID.4 production to Chattanooga, Tennessee near the end of 2022. "We're really excited about the ID.4 being moved to America because we believe we'll have more of these incredible EV vehicles to offer our customers," says Osborne. "We look forward to being able to offer our guests who want to go electric with more options."
The return of the Volkswagen Bus in EV form is exciting and it promises to be unlike anything else on the road. If you are interested in learning more about the ID. Buzz the folks at Volkswagen SouthTowne are here to help. Reach out to them today or visit their website.
