I drove the Volkswagen ID Buzz XL – it’s even better than the brilliant original and here’s why
THE brilliant but expensive Volkswagen ID Buzz has won more trophies than Man City over the past year.
Top Gear. GQ. What Car? The Sunday Times et al. They all fell in love with the retro-cool electric five-seater.
We did, too.
But we think this XL-sized version with seven seats and a bigger battery is even better. Not least because there’ll be a California camper version too.
Measuring in at a smidge under five metres – that’s 25cm longer – all the extra external length has been put into that central sliding door.
VW designer Einar Aranda told us: “It was easy, man. And I think it looks even better too. It’s literally in a class of its own.”
To be fair, there aren’t many seven-seat electric MPVs out there. And none that look this rad.
With its extra bulk, the long-wheelbase Buzz gets the option of a new, more powerful 85kWh battery over the standard 77kWh and a new heatpump that boosts the range up to 285 miles.
Charging time is quicker too, down to just 25 minutes at a public rapid charger.
It’ll also be a damn sight swifter than the original Sixties air-cooled icon.
A new 210kW rear-axle motor delivers 286hp/550Nm and will hustle the big bus from 0-62mph in just 7.9 seconds.
Amusingly, a GTX model will also be available in 2024 offering dual-motor all-wheel drive, 339hp and a hilarious sprint time of just 6.4 seconds.
Old hippies won’t know what hit ’em, man!
The cabin is much the same as a regular ID Buzz up front, albeit with an updated infotainment screen.
Leg room for all three rows is excellent – yes, even the two seats at the back that can be removed for more load space if needed.
The middle can be spec’d as a three-seat sliding bench or two single captain’s chairs like up front.
And if you look up, you’ll find the largest panoramic sunroof VW has ever made, which is also charged with smart Rolls-Royce-esque liquid crystals.
At the touch of a slider (or a voice command) it switches from transparent to fully opaque.
A further added bonus of this glass ceiling is an extra inch of head space.
We love the ID Buzz and we love that VW is channelling the groove of the original camper, with great interior practicality and infectious enthusiasm to make this MPV something truly alternative in a sea of derivative EVs.
Prices have yet to be confirmed. But given the regular ID Buzz is £58k, expect the big Buzz to cost around £65k.