At long last, we North Americans get to learn what all the buzz is about. While the two-row, short wheelbase Volkswagen ID.Buzz debuted in Europe two years ago, we’ve been over here impatiently waiting for our market’s three-row, long-wheelbase version to take a bow. The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz has finally landed, and to great fanfare. VW even arranged for a convoy to wind its way down San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street, recreating an iconic scene from the original Microbus era.
As the new age of the VW Bus begins on our side of the Atlantic, here’s my immediate first impression: your ownership experience will go better if you’re an extrovert. I’ve rarely fielded so many comments, questions, thumbs-ups, and photo requests from complete strangers on a test drive, especially on a vehicle that costs less than six figures.
My favourite such moment came in a non-descript park in downtown San Francisco, where I was snapping a few photos of a Buzz painted in Mahi Green. A gentleman sat himself down on a bench nearby, looked it over and exclaimed, “Yo, that car looks like Yoda, man!” His tone instantly reminded me of Fillmore, the VW Bus from the movie Cars who wears a very similar exterior paint colour and enjoys partaking in “organic fuel.”
What a wonderfully apt way to set the stage for a vehicle that’s bound to become a modern icon.
What type of vehicle is the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz?
The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz is a battery electric vehicle with van proportions. Volkswagen wants you to think of the ID.Buzz not as a minivan but as an entity unto itself, an emblem of nostalgia wrapped up in unique functionality that’s distinct from everything else on the road. But…
Is the VW ID.Buzz a minivan?
The Volkswagen ID.Buzz is really very minivan-like. It’s got power sliding side doors and a power liftgate, a low and flat load floor, and more interior space than just about anything else on the road. On the other hand, it doesn’t look like a traditional minivan from the outside, so onlookers may not perceive it as one. If you ask me, the fact that the ID.Buzz resembles a minivan isn’t a bad thing. Lots of people would be better served by a minivan than an SUV anyway. If the ID.Buzz’s styling and cachet converts some of those people, they’ll be better off for it. Plus, the Buzz performs far better than the average minivan, and it’s got a lot more going for it otherwise.
How much electric range does the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz have?
There are two drivetrains available for the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz. Interestingly, the difference in range between them is negligible. In its rear-wheel drive (RWD) version, the ID.Buzz has 377 kilometres of electric range. With all-wheel drive (AWD), it comes with a range of 372 km.
The ID.Buzz has two regenerative braking modes. The standard D drive gear is light on regenerative braking and is ideal for rural roads and highway driving. Braking in B mode is much more noticeable, making it better for hill descents and heavy traffic. While B mode doesn’t permit fully one-pedal driving—you will need to press the brake at the end of deceleration to hold the ID.Buzz in place—the car will prompt you to shift into B in conditions where it would be helpful, which is a nice touch. Between these two modes, the ID.Buzz provides a good balance between coasting and efficient energy recovery.
Unlike some EVs, the ID.Buzz doesn’t give a great deal of feedback on how your acceleration, driving style, or braking habits impact its ability to retain range. This is more likely to bother electric vehicle owners coming from other brands than those for whom the ID.Buzz will be their first EV.
How quickly does the 2025 VW ID.Buzz charge?
With its 200 kW maximum charging rate, the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz will recover energy to its 91 kWh battery pack (86 kWh of which is usable) from 10% to 80% in 26 minutes. With Level 2 overnight charging, the ID.Buzz will go from 10% to 100% in 9 hours at an 11 kW charger and 15 hours at a 7.2 kW charger.
How much power does the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz have?
The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz is RWD by default, an homage to the original rear-engine, RWD VW Microbus. The RWD 2025 ID.Buzz makes 282 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque from its single electric motor and goes from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in 7.8 seconds. In AWD models, a second motor is added to the front axle. This version adds another 99 lb-ft of torque to the ID.Buzz’s output and brings the horsepower total to 335 hp. With AWD, the ID.Buzz will sprint to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds.
We sampled both drivetrains in San Francisco, and I was surprised to find the RWD version a tad more fun to drive than the AWD version despite its lower power. It’s lighter for one thing, at 2,771 kilograms versus 2,840 kilograms with AWD. It’s also just a little easier to maneuver thanks to a 11.4-metre turning radius (as opposed to 13 metres in the AWD version). Range is nearly identical between the two drivetrains, so most Canadians will give this performance up in favour of putting power to all four wheels. But if you live in a place where a good set of winter tires would do the job, you may find the RWD version of the Volkswagen ID.Buzz to be a better option.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz driving impressions
Performance-wise, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz exceeds expectations. This is largely due to its excellent steering, which gives it a much nimbler handling quality than you’d expect, especially with the RWD drivetrain. We tackled California Highway 1 through the Tamalpais Valley and left pleasantly surprised at how much fun the ID.Buzz is to trace through this twisty asphalt. Power output feels appropriate in both drivetrains, though the tighter turning radius of the RWD version does help its power feel more energetic when put to the ground.
Here’s another pleasant surprise: the ID.Buzz doesn’t feel top-heavy at all despite its 1,935-millimetre height. (That’s taller than a Chevrolet Tahoe, never mind the average minivan.) The ID.Buzz’s low 16.1-centimetre ground clearance and underbody-mounted battery both help with keeping it firmly planted on the pavement.
The one significant downside in the ID.Buzz is its suspension. The MacPherson strut front/multilink rear combination used here is a classic setup, yet it seems to crash over every road imperfection and transfer much of that shock into the cabin. Volkswagen doesn’t claim the ID.Buzz is a luxury vehicle in any way, but by the time you’re spending an ID.Buzz budget in the luxury world—or even on a large mainstream SUV—you’re often getting an air suspension and/or fancy dampers that mitigate these effects.
How much can you tow with a 2025 VW ID.Buzz?
The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz is rated at up to 1,587 kilograms (3,500 pounds) of towing capacity with AWD and 1,179 kilograms (2,600 pounds) with RWD. A Class II tow hitch is standard in Canada for 2025. This tow hitch is retractable, which keeps it out of sight when not in use.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz interior dimensions and storage
The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz is one of the most spacious vehicles on the road, and all this space translates to a ton of headroom. The ID.Buzz has 1,067 millimetres of headroom in the front row, 1,074 mm in the second row, and 982 mm in the third row when the optional panoramic sunroof is equipped. When it’s not, those figures come down to 1,032 and 1,042 mm in the first and second rows, while the third row remains the same. Since the battery is mounted below the interior floor, there’s no difference in these measurements between the two powertrains. This gives the ID.Buzz 13 cm more front-row headroom than VW’s Atlas midsize SUV and 20 cm more than the two-row Atlas Cross Sport.
The ID.Buzz also has a very high front-row seating position, which VW points out is a full 15 centimetres higher than in the Atlas. To that end, getting into a Buzz feels a bit like climbing into a midsize pickup. Some height- or mobility-challenged owners may find themselves longing for a grab handle.
But unlike most minivans and three-row SUVs, the ID.Buzz has very short front and rear overhangs—just like the original—and it’s less than 5 metres long overall. It keeps the look and smaller overall footprint while maximizing interior space. It’s a great balance.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz launches in fully loaded First Edition
Volkswagen is launching the ID.Buzz in Canada with a single trim, the fully loaded First Edition. This means amenities like heated front seats and second-row outboard seats are standard, along with 12-way adjustable and ventilated front seats with massage and memory functions. Three-zone climate control is also standard with two zones for the front row and a combined zone for the two rearward rows.
For the most part, the ID.Buzz has plenty of clever storage solutions. The centre console in the front row is removable, and with second-row captain’s chairs it can be clipped in two more positions to add storage for those passengers. Volkswagen expects many customers will buy a second console as an accessory so there’s additional storage available for both forward rows. This will be all but essential since the ID.Buzz’s most significant oversight is a complete lack of functional permanent cup holders in its second row. You could store a sealed bottle in the notch at the bottom of the door pockets, but with no armrest cup holders in sight, there’s nowhere in this space I’d want a clumsy teenager to set down an open cup from Starbucks. Adding the centre console between the captain’s chairs helps solve this problem somewhat, but it’s a serious issue if you opt for the second-row bench.
The third row space is very friendly, even for adults. It has more legroom than most three-row SUVs or minivans, and the seatback reclines in eight positions. On the left side, a bottle holder sits low for handy storage. Each windowsill has a cup holder, a storage tray, and a USB-C port.
Three interior colours are available for the ID.Buzz at launch: Dune, which is the light beige we’ve seen for the past few years, plus a deep brown called Cognac and a darker colourway called Moonlight. Fun Easter eggs are featured throughout the cabin such as the ID.Buzz likeness on the third-row armrest and the play and pause symbols on the pedals. Thirty colours of ambient lighting and the interactive ID.Light across the dashboard are both standard. In Canada, a heat pump is also standard equipment, which helps the cabin warm up more efficiently in cold conditions.
How many passengers can fit in the VW ID.Buzz?
For the First Edition, Volkswagen Canada is packaging the RWD drivetrain exclusively with a second-row bench, which provides seven seating positions. The AWD version is available only with captain’s chairs, which reduces the number of seats to six. While this is the specification at launch, Volkswagen Canada says it will change for future model years. The ID.Buzz’s third row always has two seats regardless of configuration.
The VW ID.Buzz is extremely car seat friendly. The 60-40 split second-row bench is equipped with three full sets of anchors, and both third-row positions have a full set as well. This means the Buzz can fit up to five LATCH-compliant car seats without resorting to a seatbelt. Both the bench and the captain’s chairs can be retracted to provide third row access while keeping car seats in place. If you’re looking for a practical bus for a large family or small daycare, you just found it.
How much cargo space does the 2025 VW ID.Buzz have?
The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz has 526 litres of cargo space available behind third row, 2,138 litres behind the second row, and 4,120 litres with all rear seats folded. Its total passenger volume is 4,635 litres with the sunroof equipped or 4,534 litres without it.
Volkswagen has excellent rear-seat cargo solutions. The seatbacks in both rear rows fold very flat and click into place so that the load floor remains as level as possible. The ID.Buzz also comes with an accessory the brand calls its Flexboard, a flat cargo cover that sits behind the third row above a pair of foldable fabric bins. This provides covered storage and a flat load floor all the way back to the liftgate. The Flexboard and bins are easy to remove, as are the third-row seats. Unless you’re a professional upfitter, Volkswagen doesn’t recommend removing the seats from the second row.
Can you sleep in the VW ID.Buzz?
Heck yeah, you can! With both rear rows folded fully flat and snapped into place, plus the Flexboard extending all the way to the liftgate, you could easily throw an air mattress on top of the whole deal and sleep very comfortably. (I’m already dreaming up all kinds of road trip possibilities based on this discovery.)
What colours does the VW ID.Buzz come in?
Eight colourways are available for the exterior of the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz in Canada. There are three monotone colours: Metro Silver, Deep Black Pearl, and Blue Charcoal. Skip these unless you plan to wrap your ID.Buzz or otherwise want it to look like a cargo van. The signature two-tone paint is available in five colours in Canada, all of which pair with a Candy White roof: Energetic Orange, Pomelo Yellow, Mahi Green, Cabana Blue, and Indium Grey. This paint job costs $1,500 extra, but the ID.Buzz is just not a Bus without it.
You may see photos of a red ID.Buzz with a silver roof floating around. This is a U.S. specification, and this colour combination is not on the order sheet for Canada. (It’s not a huge loss; it doesn’t look great in the real world anyway.)
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz technology features
Every 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz comes with a 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Wireless charging is also standard, though it’s a slot-style pad that doesn’t accommodate thicker phone cases, so you may find yourself making use of the eight USB-C ports in the cabin instead. One of those ports is very conveniently positioned on the front passenger door along with a storage pocket.
A head-up display is standard on the First Edition in Canada, and it’s a helpful feature. While the 5.3-inch digital instrument cluster telescopes with the steering wheel to remain visible, it sits low relative to the windshield. The head-up display makes it easier to monitor important information like speed while keeping your eyes on the road.
There’s no rear entertainment system available for the ID.Buzz. Instead, VW has integrated slots into the front-row seatbacks where you can slide in certain styles of phone or tablet cases to hold them in place. Since most people prefer using their own devices these days, this is a better solution.
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz safety features
The 2025 VW ID.Buzz comes standard with Travel Assist (a combination of adaptive cruise control with stop and go plus lane assist), automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, active side assist (blind spot monitoring), rear cross-traffic alert, and emergency assist, which brings the vehicle to a stop if the driver becomes incapacitated. Park Assist Plus with a memory function and traffic sign display are also standard, as is area view, which provides a set of camera views around the vehicle.
How much is the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz in Canada?
At launch, the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz is offered as a fully loaded First Edition in Canada. With rear-wheel drive and a second-row bench seat, it’s priced at $77,495. The only options available are the two-tone exterior paint ($1,500) and the electrochromic panoramic sunroof ($2,000). This price does not include the $2,500 destination charge. The AWD version, which also equips captain’s chairs in place of the second-row bench, is priced at $82,995. The same options and delivery charges apply.
When we first saw the long-wheelbase VW ID.Buzz last year, the big story was that a stripped-down two-row and five-seat version would be available exclusive to Canada. This version is not being offered at launch, but Volkswagen Canada confirms that lower-cost versions with fewer options are coming for future model years and this configuration is still on the table. On the other hand, we’re left questioning the value of buying a two-row version since the Flexboard is so useful and the third-row seats can easily be removed.
Is there a rebate for the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz in Canada?
The 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz is too expensive to qualify for federal or provincial/territorial EV purchase rebates in Canada.
When will the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz be available in Canada?
The first units of the 2025 ID.Buzz will begin arriving at Canadian dealerships in November 2024, though most of these earliest arrivals will be demo vehicles for dealerships. The 2025 ID.Buzz will be fully on sale in Canada in January 2025 with deliveries beginning shortly thereafter.
Is the Volkswagen ID.Buzz worth it?
The starting price for the 2025 VW ID.Buzz in its fully loaded First Edition form certainly generates some sticker shock. Volkswagen argues that its launch pricing isn’t all that far off fully loaded versions of some three-row SUVs, especially the large SUVs with which it directly competes on interior space. And while that’s true, the name Volkswagen literally translates to “the people’s car,” so it’s understandable there’s some frustration out there that the 2025 ID.Buzz is priced too high to be universally attainable.
VW says versions with less feature content are coming, so this launch pricing is likely a tool to temper early demand while production ramps up on one of the most hotly anticipated new vehicles in years. Even the most affordable versions are unlikely to dip much below $65,000 in Canada whenever they arrive, but at least that’s a price more people could contemplate.
For now, think of the ID.Buzz as a halo car, an aspirational vehicle that’s getting people excited about the Volkswagen brand again. Once those who can afford them start to snap them up and we see these out on the roads, we’ll quickly notice that the ID.Buzz sparks more widespread joy than any other vehicle on the road. And frankly, we could all use more of that these days.
Pros
✔ One of the most joy-inducing vehicles on the road
✔ Tons of interior space
✔ Excellent drive characteristics for its size
Cons
✘ Not universally attainable (yet)
✘ No permanent second-row cupholders
✘ Fully loaded First Edition is very pricy
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