The Volkswagen ID. Buzz Was Worth the Wait

The world doesn’t need another minivan, but the second coming of the venerable Volkswagen Microbus isn’t about need—this is a minivan to be desired. The concept debuted back in 2018, and the production version—the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S Plus 4MOTION—is finally here. It might be the world’s first electric minivan, but who really cares? The ID. Buzz, especially when clad in Candy White over Energetic Orange paint, elicits more happiness in bystanders than a toddler giggling while holding a golden retriever puppy. 

Before you even step inside, it’s apparent that nothing else on the road looks like it. It’s not for everyone, but it’s certainly a conversation starter. So, it’s probably not the volume driver VW needs right now to boost lagging sales, but it’s easily the brand’s new halo vehicle. It’s an interesting move, building an EV minivan: a powertrain with slow growth in a segment that’s about as hot as breakdancing in the Olympics. Nevertheless, the ID. Buzz is the flame to our moth. Its charms are impossible to resist.

Stateside, all five trim levels get the long-wheelbase passenger version. (An alternate commercial version is sold in Europe.) The rounded bread van look is long and attractive, even though it’s several inches shorter than every one of its competitors: the Toyota Sienna, the Honda Odyssey, the Kia Carnival, and the Chrysler Pacifica. This can be attributed not only to the ID. Buzz’s styling, but also due to the fact that there’s no engine under the hood. The two-tone paint scheme honors the iconic original VW bus, with more white up front than its predecessor. Thankfully, the big logo is front and center, and it illuminates along with the LED daytime running lights and the bisecting light bar. Instead of the original’s round headlights, the ID. Buzz gets the same somewhat vanilla, inwardly tapering versions as its ID.4 crossover sibling. But unlike the ID.4, the rest of the ID. Buzz’s styling is so pleasing that you don’t really notice the bland lights. 

The long, pill-shaped body is accented with a lattice-work lower grille, a large illuminated VW badge in front, a distinct beltline that separates the two-tone paint, sleek frameless side glass, and triple faux vents on the D-pillar that echo the original Microbus’s rear engine vents. Even the wheels are modernized, sportier versions of the original disc-shaped hubcaps No single styling element is arresting on its own, rather it all comes together as a fetching modern interpretation of a motoring icon.

Similarly, the expansive and airy cabin of the ID.Buzz is a revelation. Although it’s far from perfect, the interior design matches the fresh exterior hand in glove. The first thing you notice is the huge front glass that benefits from an EV powertrain. Although there’s a fair amount of distance between the nose and the driver, it appears that you’re in a big, clear bubble. Sightlines are excellent. The ultramodern dash layout provides a good setting for the large 12.9-inch central infotainment screen. Light-colored faux wood dash inserts, orange trim, linear vents that blend into dark trim lines, and a cream-white steering wheel look fantastic together. The only oddity, not so much in terms of aesthetics but functionality, is the small 5.3-inch digital instrument cluster that peeks above the steering column. Data and configuration capabilities are extremely limited. 

Playful details include play/pause icons on the “gas” pedal and brake, sliding porthole side windows, and various Easter eggs on the windows, door cards, and seat bases. Even the center storage console has removable dividers that act as improvised ice scrapers. How original is that? 

One important detail that was curiously left out are center cupholders in the second row, a huge omission for a family-focused minivan. The fact that the second-row console is removable and adjustable almost makes up for the oversight. The rest of the cabin benefits from ample passenger space, the most open layout of any minivan, and styling that makes competitors in the segment look painfully antiquated.

No Microbus ever drove like ID.Buzz. That’s because of our tester’s dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration with 335 horsepower. The laid-back acceleration of the original VW van has been replaced by an electric rocket that launches to 60 in 5.5 seconds. (That’s as quick as a 2024 BMW 530i xDrive M-Sport performance sedan!) Mash the throttle, and the ID.Buzz responds with near-immediacy, jolting occupants who don’t expect this family hauler to move. Even the steering is quite good. The feel is a tad artificial, but the precision is impressive. The suspension is on the firm side, but it’s not jarring. Straight-line highway cruising feels effortless and smooth, and body roll is surprisingly manageable for something this tall—a credit to the floor-mounted battery that keeps the center of gravity low.

It’s the first minivan that’s fun to drive, and it bests many crossovers and SUVs with sportier leanings. Yet that performance doesn’t come at the cost of efficiency: The 4Motion version gets 231 miles of range on a full charge, and can fast-charge to 80 percent in just 30 minutes.

There’s so much to love about the ID.Buzz. Volkswagen captured the spirit of the original and properly modernized everything. It’s still playful with its looks, but it delivers space for everyone, EV efficiency, family-friendly features, and serious driving delights. This is the minivan to covet—and one of the best automotive releases in recent memory.