It takes about 30 seconds of silently gliding alongside the streets and previous the cyclists of Copenhagen, Denmark within the Volkswagen ID. Buzz to appreciate this automotive is one thing particular. Passersby whip out their telephones, youngsters level and smile, and for a second I am not driving any outdated van. I am driving an icon.

That’s, pun supposed, by design. Volkswagen did this 25 years in the past with the New Beetle, and it’s straightforward to attract a straight line between the ID. Buzz and that first brush with retroism from 1997. Not solely do these two automobiles revive basic designs, however they each prominently function the mechanicals of a much less thrilling product. Time is a infamous problem for these retro efforts and there are some clear shortcomings with VW’s newest halo product (as there have been for the Beetle), however an early style of the Buzz forward of its 2024 North American on-sale date has me hopeful VW’s newest revival will fare higher than its final.

ID Identification

In case the “ID” within the identify does not give it away, the Buzz is an in depth relative of VW’s different fashionable EVs. It rides atop the identical MEB structure (or Modularer E-Antriebs-Baukasten within the unique German), however the “M” is the necessary a part of “MEB.”

Calling it a van on high of an ID.4 sells the Buzz brief – engineers prolonged the wheelbase to 9.8 toes and stretched the entrance and rear observe to 65.9 and 65.7 inches (8.8, 3.4 and 4.2 inches greater than VW’s electrical CUV). The longer wheelbase improves cabin area, and the stretched rear observe expands cargo quantity. The broader entrance observe permits a 36-foot turning circle, which is not far off the ID.4 (31.5 toes), regardless of the elevated size. Talking of that size, an even-longer-wheelbase mannequin continues to be to return as the one Buzz variant destined for North America.

Whereas VW made architectural adjustments, the ID. Buzz’s powertrain elements are way more acquainted. The 77.0-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery (82.0-kWh gross), lone rear-mounted electrical motor, and single-speed automated transmission are a direct match to what carried the primary VW ID.4’s to our shores a number of years in the past. Ditto the output, at 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque. Charging charges match the ID.4 too, with 11.0-kilowatt functionality onboard and 170-kilowatt speeds at a DC quick charger. Vary sits at 249 to 262 miles on the WLTP scale; just like the ID.4, anticipate the ultimate EPA numbers to be down a bit in comparison with these European figures.

Slip into the cabin and it is clear this can be a member of the ID household. You may see the identical 5.3-inch digital instrument panel, which appears to drift atop the steering column. The twisty-knob gear selector migrates from the suitable aspect of that display screen to only behind the steering wheel, which makes use of the identical terrible touch-capacitive controls first rolled out on the ID.4. A ten.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is normal, though a 12.0-inch show is optionally available – each setups run an up to date model of the ID.4’s frustratingly awful working system that’s far faster to reply.

Be A Bulli

Look, off-the-shelf elements and modular architectures are nothing new on this enterprise (particularly within the Volkswagen Group). The broader query is that this: Is the ID. Buzz a worthy successor to the many years of Volkswagen vans that got here earlier than, particularly the enduring Kind 2 Microbus (or Bulli, in Germany)?

Sure… And no.

I am not going to sit down right here and write that the Buzz is ugly, lovely, or one thing in between; you may make up your personal thoughts. However the one different time I’ve skilled the delight, pleasure, and curiosity that the ID. Buzz instilled within the public was behind the wheel of a 1967 Kind 2. There isn’t any arguing that the spirit and character of the Kind 2, the factor that makes youngsters smile and former hippies completely satisfied, is current right here. And it is current from behind the wheel too, regardless of completely fashionable trappings.

In contrast to a standard crossover, the ID. Buzz’s excessive seating place calls for each driver and passenger step up on the door sill and slide into the snug, supportive entrance seats. The commerce off is large quantities of headroom and legroom, together with an upright, commanding seating place. Oh, and the color-matching inserts on the seats are unbelievable.

Cubbies abound – the sprint splits horizontally, with shelving spanning the width of the sprint beneath the beltline. There are small cabinets within the door panels, too. A fold-out cupholder extends from the underside of the middle stack, whereas a middle cubby has two extra spots for drinks (or a detachable ash tray in my tester, as a result of Europe). And if you happen to watched our reel (above), you realize all in regards to the hidden ice scrapper and bottle opener.

From the entrance thrones, the deep sprint spreads out forward into an expansive and spectacular ahead view. Designers lowered the touchscreen in comparison with ID.4 to emphasise the openness out the entrance, though the energetic security system’s forward-facing digital camera does jut up annoyingly from the underside of the window and by no means actually leaves the driving force’s eyeline.

The A-pillars stretch far ahead together with large entrance quarter home windows to imitate the wraparound really feel of the unique Kind 2. However slim rear glass and the dearth of over-head home windows a la the 21-window Bus imply the cabin does not really feel fairly as ethereal as Volkswagen’s iconic fashions. Nonetheless, I will take the probably dramatic enchancment in crush efficiency from the metal roof.

VW hasn’t launched any inside measurements, however the second-row bench routinely improves on different ID merchandise. The seats are flat and properly padded, however the trump card is the slider, which strikes the 60/40 bench in fore and aft. Passengers can recline the seats on the identical break up, and with solely a small affect on the sizable cargo space. The long-wheelbase ID. Buzz that VW ultimately brings to North America ought to enhance in each areas.

Soft Cruising, Coming Quickly(ish)

After I examined a 1967 Kind 2 a number of years again, I discussed classes the Buzz might be taught from its predecessor. A type of was to not fear about efficiency. And boy howdy, was Volkswagen paying consideration.

At current, the ID. Buzz waltzes to 62 miles per hour in a torpid, manufacturer-estimated 10.2 seconds. The one electrical motor’s 201 hp and 229 lb-ft has to encourage a 5,500-pound van, or half a ton greater than a rear-drive ID.4. If that is the Buzz VW presents in North America, the German automaker will likely be promoting the slowest all-electric car in the marketplace, full cease.

And but, it seems like a car that is simply highly effective sufficient for European roads – the preliminary burst of all-electric torque fades shortly, however the Buzz scoots to and stays at 35 fortunately. In reality, its comparatively slim profile (slightly below six toes from door to door) and zippy low-speed efficiency makes this van kinda entertaining round Copenhagen. The high-regen B setting is an efficient accomplice in city areas, arresting pace through accelerator modulation, though the Buzz lacks a correct one-pedal driving mode.

However on the huge Øresund Bridge, which connects Denmark and Sweden by highway and rail, the Buzz struggles with increased speeds. The listed max in accordance with VW is 90 mph, however I used to be solely in Denmark for about 48 hours. Joking apart, the Buzz will do freeway speeds, but it surely requires way more accelerator stress than I am used to giving. I switched out of B and into the low-regen coasting mode, hoping that the Buzz would not be combating in opposition to itself, but it surely made little distinction. Ditto biking by way of the three drive modes.

Then once more, as I wrote in summer season 2020, “Electrical motors have super efficiency potential, however the Microbus’ character actually lends itself to relaxed cruising.” And on that entrance, the Buzz performs admirably. Regardless of the slim footprint and slab-sided physique, the Buzz feels secure and completely satisfied crossing the massive bridge from Denmark to Sweden.

On the cobblestones round Copenhagen, the steering is remoted and predictable in the way it responds to the uneven floor. Greater impacts, particularly these restricted to 1 aspect of the automotive, do have a tendency to indicate off the inherently much less inflexible physique of a van, as there’s some shuddering. Nonetheless, the Buzz is definitely extra snug and compliant on quite a lot of surfaces than the already soft ID.4.

We’re over a yr away from a US on-sale date for the ID. Buzz, and VW hasn’t even unveiled the model of this van that may come to North America. So whereas there are issues I did not love about this automotive throughout my transient take a look at in Copenhagen, take them with a grain of salt. There’s merely lots of time left for Volkswagen to handle them. For instance, a dual-motor mannequin that matches the ID.4’s 295 hp will seem and supply the form of efficiency American drivers anticipate. Enhancements in software program, too, ought to yield a extra spectacular vary determine by the point the EPA will get its arms on a North American mannequin.

However the issues that the ID. Buzz does properly in Europe – serving as a reinterpreted icon that gives a halo impact for VW’s different EVs, being the roomiest EV in the marketplace, and packing a soft driving character – aren’t going to vary. The ID. Buzz executes within the areas that matter. Within the locations it falls brief, there’s time to handle them. In different phrases, there’s nearly zero likelihood this spectacular van will likely be worse when North American gross sales begin. However there’s an excellent likelihood it will likely be even higher.