By: Krish Persaud
September 10, 2025
There’s no mistaking what the ID. Buzz is trying to do. It’s a modern reboot of one of the most iconic shapes in automotive history—Volkswagen’s Type 2 Microbus. With its two-tone Candy White and Pomelo Yellow exterior, short overhangs, and flat front, it taps into nostalgia while offering something entirely new underneath. This time, it’s fully electric, and it’s one of the most personality-rich EVs on the road today.
Our tester was the 1st Edition AWD, which brings a dual-motor setup producing 335 horsepower and 413 lb-ft. of torque. It sends power to all four wheels through Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, and uses a 91 kWh usable battery tucked into the floor. The ID. Buzz isn’t aiming for performance benchmarks, but it moves with confidence. Throttle response is instant—almost too sensitive at first—and it takes only a few minutes to recalibrate your foot. Once moving, acceleration is smooth and predictable, with no trouble merging or overtaking at highway speeds.
Despite its retro looks and generous proportions, the Buzz doesn’t feel bulky on the road. Visibility is excellent thanks to the upright glass and high seating position. The steering is light and consistent, and the brake pedal feels natural for such a large vehicle. While body roll is present, it’s well controlled. Adaptive Bilstein dampers smooth out rough pavement surprisingly well, and the four-wheel independent suspension does a great job of keeping the cabin settled—even on neglected city roads.
Inside, the Canadian-spec ID. Buzz 1st Edition seats six in a 2+2+2 layout. Second-row captain’s chairs come standard on this trim, and the third-row bench is removable to open up more cargo space when needed. The panoramic fixed glass roof and wide windows create an airy feel, making the cabin bright and welcoming. Materials are playful but smartly chosen, with light-coloured accents and configurable ambient lighting that ties in with the theme.
Tech-wise, a 5.3-inch digital cluster sits behind the steering wheel, while a 12.9-inch central touchscreen handles infotainment, climate, and settings. The interface is tile-based and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus built-in navigation and voice control. While it’s responsive and mostly intuitive, the lack of physical climate controls means you’ll need to poke around in menus for basic functions. The screen is centered on the dash, more like a shared tablet than a driver-focused setup—it works for this format, but takes a little getting used to.
Audio comes from a 13-speaker Harman/Kardon system, which sounds crisp and balanced. Highs are clean, and the midrange is strong, though the subwoofer doesn’t quite punch like some might hope. At regular listening levels, though, it feels right at home in this kind of vehicle.
One of the most charming aspects of the ID. Buzz is how much character it packs into the details. A motorized power outlet under the front passenger seat offers 110V and 150W of usable power—perfect for a coffee maker at the campsite or charging camera gear at a shoot. Power sliding doors, heated front seats, a heated windshield, and a heated steering wheel round out the comfort features, while the standard 20-inch Stockton alloy wheels tie the exterior together.
During our test week, we charged the battery from 60% to 100% using an Ivy Home Level 2 charger at 9 kW. It took just over four hours—reasonable for overnight top-ups. Volkswagen claims a peak DC fast charging rate of up to 175 kW. NRCan estimates a total range of 372 kilometres, and in our week of mixed urban and suburban driving during mild weather, we averaged around 355 kilometres per charge.
In Canada, the base MSRP for the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz 1st Edition AWD is $82,995, with our as-tested model coming in at $86,495. This includes the Candy White/Pomelo Yellow two-tone paint ($3,500) and the panoramic fixed glass roof. There are no option packages beyond paint and roof, since the 1st Edition trim comes fully loaded.
The ID. Buzz delivers something few modern vehicles can: personality without pretense. It’s functional, fun, and thoughtfully designed. From the way people smile and wave at it, to how comfortably it glides through traffic, it doesn’t feel like a compromise. It won’t be for everyone—especially at this price—but for those who want electric mobility wrapped in charm and creativity, it’s worth a serious look.
