Besides the extinct beetle, one of Volkswagen’s greatest icons is its beetle T1 van or Bulli (nickname it got in Germany)Which was born in 1949 and developed over time through its seven generations. Now, in the midst of electrification, the German company has reinterpreted its concept to create a model perfectly adapted to the new electric era that is already on the horizon. Let’s get to know ID.Buzz in more detail.
The bully of the electric age
The product that Volkswagen offers us is a 100% electric truck designed specifically for them Families or active people who enjoy a free and fun lifestyle Although it doesn’t stand out in its features, since it’s modest, it does have other relevant aspects that potential buyers will appreciate.
The first: the retro aesthetic.
When creating this model, the designers wanted Restoring the representative and very recognizable face of the T1 in the shape of the letter “V”, with the generous brand logo leading the frontto. Personal fulfillment. True to this powerful and sporty appearance of the original Bulli, Buzz shows itself as a very cheerful alternative to electric mobility that will attract all eyes thanks to its shapes, its two-tone bodywork with bright colours, and its connected visual clusters at the front and rear. At the back, some have very short overhangs and their large 19-inch wheels (20-inch ones are optional).
People love its image, so much so that I have never felt as much interest as I do with this car, which is something future owners should take into consideration. However, you can also choose more discreet monotone paints, but such a choice would take away a lot of grace from this charming ensemble. One thing to keep in mind is that the designers and engineers went to great lengths to make this happen Making the massive body as slippery as possible for airflow, hence the identifier. The Buzz has an aerodynamic coefficient of just 0.29.
Second: practical application.
Getting in and out of the cabin is a simple task thanks to the large ID doors. Buzz (the sides have an automatic hatch at this end) and the presence of steps on the door sills as well as grab handles in the second row. Inside we have enough space for five people to move around comfortably and with all their luggage for travel, entertainment and daily use. There are compartments in various places, a surface for wireless charging, several USB-C sockets (up to 8 depending on equipment) and even A central piece of furniture that can be removed to facilitate passage to the rear seats, which are dominated by a flat floor. This car has good leg and headroom, but I miss having the power windows since the windows are fixed. The rear seats can be adjusted longitudinally, while the backrest can also be adjusted and, of course, folded completely to increase the overall volume of the luggage compartment, offering an impressive capacity of 2,205 liters and the ability to carry up to 529 kilograms. All this in very cool details such as graphics of trucks, a world map or faces that wink at us.
Third: high driving comfort.
Personal fulfillment. Buzz is a model that invites you to drive calmly, without stress, and gives you a high driving position from which you can enjoy a great view (although I miss that the center mirror was a little larger to improve the rear view), with Comfortable seats with adjustable armrests on both sides for both driver and passenger. From here, all the devices were at our fingertips so we could handle the smooth, high-resolution multimedia system, although we would have liked not to have to face the different touch surfaces that appear on both the central screen (it can be 10-inch or 12-inch) As in the steering wheel and light panel.
On the road, This car feels comfortable. The adaptive suspension has a high ability to absorb various asphalt imperfections, resulting in more pronounced body movements. However, it can be contained satisfactorily by activating the firmer mode of the shock absorbers, which is ideal when we leave the city. But while we’re at it, we’ll take advantage of its excellent manoeuvrability, smooth steering and standard-included driving aids such as Park Assist Plus or emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection (it also has LED headlights, lane departure warning assist and traffic sign recognition ). Furthermore, like the original Bulli, It maintains rear-wheel drive status, providing extra agility when cruising or flowing through traffic into a balanced package that surprises with its good manners.. Of course, the brake pedal feels a bit artificial.
Technical card for Volkswagen ID. buzz
- Length: 4.71 meters
- Width: 1.98 metres
- Height: 1.92 meters
- Battle: 2.98 metres
- Weight: 2,459 kilograms
- Luggage compartment: 1,121 – 2,205 litres
- Platform: MEB
- Engine: Electric, 204 hp and 310 Nm
- Transmission: Single-ratio automatic; Rear wheel drive
- Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 10.2 seconds
- Maximum speed: 145 km/h
- Energy consumption: 20.8 kW/100 km
- Battery capacity: 77 kWh useful
- Maximum charging power: 170 kW DC; 11 kW AC
- Autonomy: 418 kilometers on the combined cycle
- Turning radius: 11.1 metres
- Brakes: ventilated discs at the front and drums at the rear
- Tires: 235/55 R19 front and 255/50 R19 rear (optional, 235/50 R20 front and 265/45 R20 rear)
What about autonomy, consumption and charging?
A battery with a useful capacity of 77 kWh is located between the front and rear axles, thanks to which the Volkswagen electric truck becomes It will be able to travel a distance of about 500 km if we use it exclusively urban, otherwise, if we leave the city and use it to travel on highways we will see how this number is reduced to about 350 km.. This is because its combined consumption during the days that elapsed until the video test was conducted ranged between 20 and 21 kWh/100 km. However, in the following days, Energy consumption of ID. The noise has been reduced to reflect 18.2 kWh/100 km return time. We even managed to take a trip on urban and intercity roads that needed just 13.2 kWh/100 km. When it came to achieving these records, the level of hold in B mode (or using Sport driving mode, as it achieves similar deceleration) was very important, as well as the ease of flattening the car without losing speed (it even wins on some inclines) when you release your foot from gas pedal.
When it comes to replenishing the battery’s electricity, we have several options that affect the waiting time for the charging process to complete and its economic cost. It would be a faster but also more expensive alternative Chargers capable of providing the 170 kW direct current supported by the ID. Buzz, the ability to go from 5 to 80% in 30 minutes. The other, more convenient option will allow us to cover this period in 7 and a half hours, since the charger built into the truck will limit the power to a maximum of 11 kW in AC. Later, Volkswagen will integrate a two-way charging option to supply electricity to other devices that need it or return power to the user’s home grid, as well as a “Plug & Charge” function that is designed to facilitate and simplify the charging process.
More identity. Noise on the road
Currently, Volkswagen no longer sells the ID Buzz in this first edition as the only models available are Origin and Pro, which start at €58,445 and €63,560 respectively. Both are linked to a 204 hp motor and the aforementioned 77 kWh battery, although several important new features will be added to the range later. On the one hand, there is the extended wheelbase chassis, which will be accompanied by a new 286 hp engine and 85 kWh battery, offering clearly improved performance and more generous autonomy. On the other hand, the abbreviation GTX will give life to the most high-performance version of the family, equipped with all-wheel drive and a total of 340 hp. No matter what you choose, you’ll feel like you’re being watched, but that’s normal when it comes to vehicles as unique, bold, and friendly as this one. buzz.
Pros: Retro aesthetics, practicality, ride comfort, maneuverability, standard included driving aids, rear-wheel drive.
Cons: Brake pedal feel, uncommunicative steering, weight.
“Beeraholic. Friend of animals everywhere. Evil web scholar. Zombie maven.”