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Expert Rating

Volkswagen ID. Buzz

(2022 - present)

Expert Rating

New car score:

82
%
A

Used car score:

78
%
A

Expert Rating report card

Media Rating:

78
%
A

Safety Rating:

89
%
A

Eco Rating:

100
%
A

Reliability Rating:

-

Running Costs:

75
%
A

How are our Expert Rating scores calculated?

Expert Rating

New car score:

82
%
A

Used car score:

78
%
A

Expert Rating report card

Media Rating:

78
%
A

Safety Rating:

89
%
A

Eco Rating:

100
%
A

Reliability Rating:

-

Running Costs:

75
%
A

Summary


The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is an upmarket people carrier and the largest model in the all-electric ID. family, which arrived in the UK in the second half of 2022.

With exterior styling that harks back to the original Type 2 Microbus of the 1960s, the ID. Buzz has been widely praised for its unique looks, which stand out from its people carrier rivals.

Described by What Car? as “a charming retelling of a classic for the modern era”, Parker’s Tom Webster argues that the Volkswagen “has some much-needed character in a class that is so often devoid of it.”

“The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a funky, practical, 250-mile nostalgia trip”, Carbuyer’s Tom Jervis explains. “Unfortunately, nostalgia costs money.” The car’s pricing starts at around the £60k mark – which is considerably more expensive than mainstream van-based rivals like the Peugeot e-Traveller and Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life, but cheaper than luxury rivals like the Mercedes-Benz EQV.

Auto Trader‘s Dan Trent adds that the ID. Buzz is not as practical as the slightly more spacious Volkswagen Multivan, and Autocar‘s Mark Tisshaw concludes that you may need to “take some night courses” to understand the car’s rather confusing infotainment.

However, “it trumps the myriad SUVs it competes with when it comes to space and family-friendly features”, says Richard Ingram of Auto Express. “Beneath the retro styling and functional cabin, there’s a really capable, compelling EV.”

As of May 2024, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz holds an Expert Rating of A, with a score of 82%. That makes it one of the highest-rated new car in our Index.

ID. Buzz highlights

  • More practical than upmarket SUVs
  • Competitive battery range
  • Attractive styling inside and out
  • Strong resale values

ID. Buzz lowlights

  • Expensive, base price and up
  • Van-based people carriers are more spacious
  • Confusing infotainment
  • Seven-seat models not yet available

Key specifications


Body style: People carrier
Engines:
electric, battery-powered
Price:
From £57,115 on-road

Launched: Summer 2022
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA


Media reviews


Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express

+

Auto Trader

+

Autocar

+

Business Car

+

Car

+

Carbuyer

+

Carwow

+

Driving Electric

+

Electrifying.com

+

Green Car Guide

+

Heycar

+

Honest John

+

Motoring Research

+

Move Electric

+

Parkers

+

The Sunday Times

+

The Telegraph

+

Top Gear

+

What Car?

+

Which EV?

+

Safety rating


Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2022
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 92%
Child protection: 87%
Vulnerable road users: 60%
Safety assist: 90%

Eco rating


Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of May 2024, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the ID. Buzz is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever takes place. Check back again soon.

Reliability rating

MotorEasy logo 600x167

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of May 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Volkswagen ID. Buzz to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively for us using warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the ID. Buzz, we’ll publish the score here.

Running cost rating

Clear Vehicle Data logo close crop

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Battery rangeAverageScoreVariationScore
EV models255 milesB252 – 258 milesB – B
Electrical efficiencyAverageScoreVariationScore
EV models3.3 m/KWhE3.3 – 3.4 m/KWhE – E
Insurance groupAverageScoreVariationScore
All models32C31 – 33C – C
Service and maintenanceCostScore
Year 1£238B
Year 2£475A
Year 3£806A
Year 4£980A
Year 5£1,321A
Overall£3,820A

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is not the most electrically efficient EV on sale (electrical efficiency is the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for petrol and diesel cars) and is less efficient than other ID models in the Volkswagen family. This means that battery range is not as good as it otherwise could be.

Insurance costs are average, which is not surprising given that the ID. Buzz is a £60K electric vehicle. The good news is that scheduled servicing and maintenance costs over the first five years are ikely to be excellent.

Awards


Trophies, prizes and awards that the Volkswagen ID. Buzz has received

2023

  • Carbuyer Awards – Best Large Electric Car
  • EcoCar Electrified Top 50 – Best Electric MPV
  • What Car? Awards – Car of the Year + Best Large Electric Car
  • What Car? EV Awards – Best Electric MPV

2022

  • News UK Motor Awards – Best-Designed Car
  • Top Gear Awards – Best MPV
  • Top Gear Electric Awards – Electric Car of the Year

Similar cars


If you’re looking at the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, you might also be interested in these alternatives

Citroën ë-Berlingo | Citroën ë-SpaceTourer | Mercedes-Benz EQV | Nissan e-NV200 Combi | Nissan Townstar | Peugeot e-Rifter | Peugeot e-Traveller | Tesla Model X | Vauxhall Combo Life Electric | Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric


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Volkswagen ID. Buzz recalls original Type 2 Microbus

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Buy a Volkswagen ID. Buzz


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The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is perhaps the most hotly-anticipated people carrier ever made, and its review scores indicate that its worth the hype.Volkswagen ID. Buzz