The three-row Buzz is defined by its big battery, which has its plusses and minuses.
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2025 VW ID Buzz: Acres of space, but being electric comes at a premium
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I saw that pun in the title and wondered if Dr Mole had started doing car reviews.
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A bus with non-removable seats seems like a hard sell to most people who would want one for camping/nomading.
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In addition to the wider market realities that have diminished the prospects for the ID.Buzz, the Kia EV9 and now the Hyundai Ioniq9 have such a range advantage that it makes the VW a very hard sell.
Where purchasing an EV still represents something of a new experience for most of us, and range limitations are the most well-known downside, it's hard to get people to consider something that already comes up short in that area. At least that's the experience I've had trying to convince my wife that our next vehicle should be an EV.
Also, in Canada this starts at $80k, while the Koreans both start at $60k.
Where purchasing an EV still represents something of a new experience for most of us, and range limitations are the most well-known downside, it's hard to get people to consider something that already comes up short in that area. At least that's the experience I've had trying to convince my wife that our next vehicle should be an EV.
Also, in Canada this starts at $80k, while the Koreans both start at $60k.
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I've seen some of these around in the UK and Germany in the past year or so. In person, they look fantastic and practically beckon the passer-by to inspect up close and look in. Intelligent use of space (TARDIS-like). But yes, shame the seats can't be removed. With other camper vans I've seen solutions where a bed platform can lie on top of the folded down seats, but that would raise the height and not allow for other use of the space. Hmm.
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Can it carry 4x8 sheet goods or is it too small? Just carried two sheets home last night in the Pacifica. Will be a niche minivan without seat that fold into the floor or are removeable.
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They're removable. Just not EZ-removable (bring a wrench).
Without removing them, there's plenty of room to just lay the seats flat and throw an air mattress on top of them, and that gives you a bit of cubby space under you that wouldn't be available if you went for the floor.
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Both the ones I've seen around here in the UK are taxis. Ideal for getting small groups to City Airport or Gatwick.
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or people who want to maximize cargo space in general, whether it be for work or play.
edit: if they are removable with a wrench, then that's good enough for me.
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I am shocked by the lack of removable seats. Even my families first model year Plymouth Voyager(1985) had them The ability to put all of the home improvement supplies for a project was a huge part of owning the van.
I can understand no stow and go type seating, but not being removable? That is just a very odd design choice.
I got to see one in the flesh a couple of weeks ago and the photos really don't show how large it is. It more than 6 feet tall and looks more like a commercial full size van than a mini van(think more like a GMC Safari/Chevy Cargo van size). It was nice inside, but huge.
I can understand no stow and go type seating, but not being removable? That is just a very odd design choice.
I got to see one in the flesh a couple of weeks ago and the photos really don't show how large it is. It more than 6 feet tall and looks more like a commercial full size van than a mini van(think more like a GMC Safari/Chevy Cargo van size). It was nice inside, but huge.
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Brought my VW in for service, took a look at the Buzz. They marked it up $10K, on top of the $65+K price tag. Could also be why I've seen so few on the roads. It is one of only two models shipped over from the Fatherland, perhaps that is why it costs more?
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Anticipat3
Smack-Fu Master, in training
The biggest problem with this vehicle wasn't mentioned in the article: There's no heat pump, only a resistive heater. If you have to run the heat, you're going to dip well below 2 mi/kWh and your range will drop dramatically.
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I'd like to say that if I had unlimited money I'd want one of these for car camping.
But in reality if I had unlimited money I'd probably get a Lightning and an Airstream.
But in reality if I had unlimited money I'd probably get a Lightning and an Airstream.
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ok, so obviously with the battery pack "stow & go" type seats were not possible (a -la the Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth vans) or the "folds into the floor" 3rd row in my old Honda minivan (and the "get ready for hernia surgery" removable 2nd row seats)
but if Honda could engineer those 2nd row seats to be removable, AND meet all the crash safety rules: why couldn't VW?
The non removable seats & the OMG Canadian price point stopped me dead:
I wanted this thing, badly.
The use models I had in my mind for this thing depended on being able to "yoink" the seats.
(and "grab a wrench" does not strike me as quite what "removable" might really mean )
The korean '9-series' vehicles don't do the job.
And the backup idea on the used PHEV Pacifica is indeed the plan, and then put a couple hundred in the bank every month for the repair bills LOL (99% sure the Pacifica's seats are removable
but if Honda could engineer those 2nd row seats to be removable, AND meet all the crash safety rules: why couldn't VW?
The non removable seats & the OMG Canadian price point stopped me dead:
I wanted this thing, badly.
The use models I had in my mind for this thing depended on being able to "yoink" the seats.
(and "grab a wrench" does not strike me as quite what "removable" might really mean )
The korean '9-series' vehicles don't do the job.
And the backup idea on the used PHEV Pacifica is indeed the plan, and then put a couple hundred in the bank every month for the repair bills LOL (99% sure the Pacifica's seats are removable
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IIRC, they are fold-flat.(99% sure the Pacifica's seats are removable
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Not me reading Jonathan's reviews just to peep where in DC he chooses to take the photos this time.
Sold my car years ago and don't have charging at work or any parking near my house, so if I do get a car, it'll be a beater ICE one. Still like reading these.
Sold my car years ago and don't have charging at work or any parking near my house, so if I do get a car, it'll be a beater ICE one. Still like reading these.
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True for the third row, which these days folds flat into the trunk. But middle row being removable is pretty standard in a conventional minivan.
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We drive about 80% miles electric on the 30-33 mile battery PHEV 2023 Chrysler Pacifica. Although with the plugin models, you're not getting the 3rd row into the floor, it's still pretty nice if you need an option that's not fully electric
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Our local VW dealership is using one as their in-house taxi when people drop their car off for service.
It was fun to sit in, but it doesn't seem worth the price. The windows felt a bit weird, there was lots but they weren't that tall.
They start at 80k up here in Canada land. The Pacifica plug in hybrid starts at 62. Now EV != Plug in hybrid. But that's a steep lift.
It was fun to sit in, but it doesn't seem worth the price. The windows felt a bit weird, there was lots but they weren't that tall.
They start at 80k up here in Canada land. The Pacifica plug in hybrid starts at 62. Now EV != Plug in hybrid. But that's a steep lift.
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I just happened to listen to a podcast this morning that mentioned that there was no second-row armrest between the seats, and that the only cupholders were the two in the front and one in the far back, on one side. And James Riswick, the host who had reviewed it, opined that that those things speak to a certain lack of attention to design detail and meeting the expectations and needs of minivan buyers at work in the Buzz, which is also indicated by these two observations from Gitlin's review:
Look. Sure, it's cute and the third row is very roomy and it's the only game in town in you want a three-row EV that's not crossover-coded. But that's not enough. It needs to compete on the details, like cupholders and grab handles and removable seats, not just the broad outlines. VW does not seem to be taking this market seriously, even with its EV business struggling hard, even with this being its de facto flagship/halo product in the US these days. Looks only take you so far if there's nowhere for your kid to stash their drink, so they prop it up on the seat and look surprised when it tips over four seconds later and pours Gatorade on your nice "Copper" upholstery. Hyundai and Kia are not fucking around, and unless you really love those two-tone vibes, the EV9 and Ioniq9 are better family EVs, and the Sienna and Odyssey have the minivan game down to a fine and uncompromising art.
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Capacitive touch buttons? No thank you!
Looks like I'm keeping the Odyssey for another year.
Looks like I'm keeping the Odyssey for another year.
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The third row is very easily removable, but unfortunately the second row is not removable outside of permanent modifications (see, for instance, Peace Vans).
One other thing this review did not touch on is the infotainment system, which is an unintuitive mess, especially if you're used to a Tesla. Supposedly they are partnering with Rivian to get better software into VW cars, but I'm guessing that will only affect cars going forward and not be backported to existing cars.
There's a lot to like with this car, but here are some more minor annoyances:
- The driver-side window control cluster doesn't have a toggle for each window
- There is no "camping" mode to keep climate controls on all night, even while plugged in
- Regenerative breaking does not come to a complete stop, so no one-pedal driving
- Regenerative breaking mode is not tied to a user profile, so you have to select it each time you start driving
- Driving mode (eco / comfort / etc.) is not tied to the user, and resets to "comfort" each time you start the car
- The onboard cameras cannot be used like a dashcam or for a "sentry" mode
- There is no auto-lock on walk-away feature; remember to use your fob to lock it!
So many of these things can be fixed in software, so hopefully VW values their customers' long-term happiness with the car!
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And yet more little clues that VW is not taking this market or this product seriously enough. I don't think they really get it. North America has always been a habitual afterthought for them, but EVs seem to be shaping up to be afterthoughts too.
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I've seen a few of these on the roads in the past few months.
They're very striking looking, which I'm sure is the point. There are some things I don't like (non-removable seats, only two across in the back row), but overall, it seems like a fine effort.
Too bad it (and every other new minivan) are unobtainably expensive for me and my family, at least at this point. Our Odyssey is still going strong at 170k miles.
They're very striking looking, which I'm sure is the point. There are some things I don't like (non-removable seats, only two across in the back row), but overall, it seems like a fine effort.
Too bad it (and every other new minivan) are unobtainably expensive for me and my family, at least at this point. Our Odyssey is still going strong at 170k miles.
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Is it removable with, e.g., latches or levers?
I find Tesla's setup to be infuriatingly unintuitive, so I suspect this is an artifact of familiarity more than anything else. Not that you're objectively wrong or anything, your experience is valid - but if you're used to Tesla's very idiosyncratic UI design decisions, most other cars are going to be weird for you.
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VW has been busy the past years introducing several updates here and there in their MQB lineup and that has been showing up in sales.
The ID3, 4, 5 and even 7 have all lately been selling pretty well in Europe (having competitors shoot their feet also helps).
But the Buzz doesn't seem to have benefited much. The deal still needs some sweetening.
The ID3, 4, 5 and even 7 have all lately been selling pretty well in Europe (having competitors shoot their feet also helps).
But the Buzz doesn't seem to have benefited much. The deal still needs some sweetening.
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Weight is an issue for efficiency accelerating from a stop, but once moving, it's less of a problem.
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Attachments
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As a household with both an Audi and a VW EV, I assure you they do not.
Lesson learned. Gonna try a used Lucid next I guess.
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The Buzz really needed a new battery/charging tech generation update before it arrived. C&D testing reported an abysmal 190mi~ range in their colder range. Price is only for the space benefits and limited hippy techno bumming down the coastlines or cross state.
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So many misses on this vehicle, and obvious ones. From non removable seats to resistive heating. I bet this doesn't outsell the cybertruck, when it should appeal to a consumer audience ten times the size.
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I mean, okay, sure, but that's almost worse; not only did they neglect to include them as part of the permanent design, they're charging some penny-ante $98 to add a clip-on piece of plastic later. It's unserious as hell.Regarding the second row cupholders: those are a $100 add-on.
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The materials and feel were disappointing at this price segment. The utility was less than class leading.
I likely would have paid this for a Sienna XLE electric; but the Buzz doesn't hold up to that standard (also: they appear to still lack one-pedal driving)
I likely would have paid this for a Sienna XLE electric; but the Buzz doesn't hold up to that standard (also: they appear to still lack one-pedal driving)
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I agree. I only knew that because for some reason I decided to visit their site yesterday and see what one would cost me. The answer was "way too much."
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I do this with Porsche's configurator, and the answer is always the same as yours even before I get happy with the paint-to-sample colors and red seatbelts and rear axle steering and so on. But if I happen to pull a winning Powerball ticket, this fool and his money will soon be partying with my new best friends down at the Porsche dealership.
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There are plenty of YouTube reviews that can illustrate it better than my explanation, but basically you pull a strap that unlatches the seat, then it glides out on wheels.
Maybe you're right, but I find that VW's settings for things are spread out across multiple categories. For instance, to switch to a device for bluetooth audio, I need to go to one menu to select bluetooth as the input source, then to another ("radio/media", I think) to select the actual device. Furthermore, I find that undeserved prominence is given to infrequently accessed or unnecessary-while-driving things in the menu, such as setting the color of the ambient lighting or configuring the voice assistant.
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