A TOUCH OF THE SIXTIES AT THE WHEEL OF THE VW ID.BUZZ LWB

There's no denying it, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz really stands out. Especially with its two-tone bodywork reminiscent of its illustrious ancestor from the 50s and 60s. Except we're now in the 21st century, and the ride is electric.

Until the arrival of the LWB variant, the ID.Buzz was only available with 5 seats for families (in Europe). Not enough. This changes with the ID.Buzz LWB. LWB for 'long wheelbase' meaning a long wheelbase adding 25cm. Hence, there are now 7 real seats, a boot, and... more range. Thus, the battery has 86kWh usable (91 kWh gross), adding 7kWh more than the standard ID.Buzz with the same motor. It's not much, but it's always good to take. We'll talk about it again. It's time to take the wheel of this 4.96-metre long cube for a motorway ride heading to the countryside of West Flanders near Kortrijk (Belgium).

Combi bus

Starting is simply done with the foot on the brake and turning the selector behind the steering wheel by hand. And off we go amidst the admiring winks of passers-by in front of the neo-retro look of our little cargo. We'd almost feel like giving them the surfer's wave to show off. Especially as we're on an expedition, the night will be spent on inflatable mattresses after a party for which we're providing musi. Hence, apart from yours truly and his three passengers that were in the boot, with the third row folded, the bags, the suitcase, the inflatable mattresses, the sleeping bags, the amp, the speakers, a large box of cables and mics, and... the disco ball. Everything fit behind the tailgate (optionallyelectric) and above the storage space for cables and mandatory accessories (first aid kit and triangle for example), without having to unfold the luggage cover. The mic stands did have to be placed behind the rear seats. And as it is planned that you can enter through the sliding door (electric optionally) to access the third row, the seats fold forward. So it's easy.

Holiday Atmosphere

In the driver's position on the right, the driver faces an apparently endless dashboard. An unusable surface. But luckily, there's a glove box in front of the passenger above the glove compartment. You'll also find them throughout the cabin. And for smartphones, there's a slot near the steering wheel in front of two USB-C sockets. These aren't necessary for a phone with wireless charging, as the receptacle is an induction charger. There's also USB-C for the front passenger and those in the back. Connectivity is complete, in a friendly environment, despite the plastic. For brightness, the electrochromic panoramic roof changes opacity by sliding your finger over a touch-sensitive area on the headliner. It's fun! As for the insulating glass (guess what: optional), it creates a cocoon where even the sound of a drunkard is muffled. And yet, of course, the engine is silent!

Tchiki boum

Can you see the clichéd image of hipsters nodding their heads to the music, wandering around in their green and white bus? That was us during this test (even though we're not really hipsters). The ID.Buzz encourages leisurely exploration. And even on the motorway, the tarmac takes on a different flavour. We dominate the traffic and the left lane is permitted thanks to the 286hp (210 kW) engine installed on the minibus's rear axle. Its torque of 560Nm makes acceleration easy, so much so that it goes from 0 to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds with the right foot . The maximum speed is 160km/h. However, the bulkiness of the contraption encourages tackling turns and roundabouts with care. Even if the centre of gravity is low, thanks (or due) to the weight of the battery. It still remains a vehicle shaped like a milk box. And yet VW has managed to sufficiently fine-tune the aerodynamics to allow it to take on long journeys, well assisted by a new, more economical engine for the VW ID range.

Traveller

In the countryside, it's possible to stay below 19kWh/100km. It gets trickier at over 100km/h with an average of over 23kWh/100km. We were lucky, the temperature was spring-like, which allowed us to hope for 300km on the motorway and more than 400km combined. Nevertheless, it's always possible to hope for relay stages of around 2 hours on the motorway in any season, even more than 2h30 when the weather is kind, before looking for a charging station. Then you have to manoeuvre to position the rear right of the vehicle near the socket. The maximum charging speed is 200kW, but it's obviously the software of the charging station and the car that will decide on the actual power, such as 125kW. In any case, you should anticipate at least a 30-minute break to recover 200km of range, when the weather isn't too wintry. In fact, for the cold seasons, the car can even have heated seats in the back and a windscreen defrosting system (optional!).

Limited weight

For camping or at the recycling park, it's possible to tow a trailer thanks to its electric tow hook, with 1000kg permissible on the device. Be careful, with passengers, the total exceeds 3.5 tonnes. In this case, you need to consider the appropriate license. A slight weight caveat in the enthusiasm: the vehicle's maximum authorised mass is 3340kg. This means you can't have seven rugby players in the seats and their gear in the 306-litre boot. And when all the seats are folded down with the ID.Buzz turned into a cargo van, the maximum 2469 litres should avoid transporting heavy loads. It’s a family car, not for big removals. Moreover, the comfort and ambient lighting on board are clearly focused on leisure and everyday life. The floating screen for navigation and infotainment is pairing compatible. And then, icing on the cake, despite its size, the turning circle of the ID.Buzz LWB and its cameras greatly facilitate parallel parking in the city, provided you find at least 5.50m free to install it.

The Painful Price

The ID.Buzz LWB is great. It’s a fun minibus to look at and drive. Plus, its 86kWh battery hints at possibilities for excursions and trips without too much compromise. Although in winter, you may need to slightly lower your ambitions. The starting price of the 286 hp ID.Buzz LWB is at least €62,000 including VAT (compared to €56,000 for the 5-seater 286 hp ID.Buzz with 79 kWh). Our model from the Belgian market, in Pro trim with all its options (including the infotainment pack at €1,657, the comfort pack at €3,091, the towing device, sliding doors and electric tailgate at €3,130, two-tone bodywork, all driving aids at €2,585, a stylish interior to €4,114...) cost a whopping €85,722 (and some cents)! Wow, impact zone… In France, you can expect to pay at least €58,400 for the 7-seater ID.Buzz Pro. In Switzerland, the "base" price for the Pro trim in long wheelbase is 71,000 CHF. And in Canada, it almost reaches 81,000 CAD. There you go...

(MH with Olivier Duquesne – Source: Volkswagen – Pictures: © Olivier Duquesne & Volkswagen)

2025-03-13T10:51:52Z