By Edward A. Sanchez — June 2, 2023
The long-awaited official debut of the long-wheelbase (LWB) Volkswagen ID. Buzz for the North American market has finally arrived. Much of it is as-expected. Same basic shape and packaging as the two-row European model, but mercifully, with more power, and more colors. Although yet unannounced, we’re also expecting the sticker price on the ID. Buzz to be substantial. Likely in the neighborhood of $60,000 or more. Initial units will be built at Volkwagen’s plant in Hanover, Germany. Eventual production at VW’s Chattanooga, Tenn., plant has been rumored, but not officially confirmed. Sales will begin mid-summer 2024 for the U.S. market.
Let’s get down to the specs. Initial first drive reviews of the two-row Euro-spec model noted the tepid performance offered by the 201-hp motor. Mercifully, the base powertrain in the N.A.-spec ID. Buzz is VW’s new APP550 motor, putting out 282 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. A 330-hp dual-motor drivetrain will be optional. VW is claiming a 0-62 (0-100 km/h) time of 7.9 seconds for the RWD configuration, a substantial improvement over the approximately 10-flat time of the short-wheelbase model with the 201-hp motor, shared with the RWD ID.4. The on-ramp sprint is cut down to just 6.4 seconds with the dual-motor setup.
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As expected, the LWB ID. Buzz gets a larger battery than its short-wheelbase counterpart, with a total capacity of 91 kWh (85 kWh useable). Range estimates were not mentioned in the initial release. Top speed gets a modest bump from 90 to 99 mph. The long-wheelbase model gets an additional 10 inches grafted into its midsection, giving it an overall length of 192.4 inches, and a wheelbase of 127.5 inches. Despite its breadbox shape, VW is claiming an impressive Cd of 0.29.
Moving to the inside, the U.S. spec model retains the clever front removable center console, which we admired when we saw the Euro-spec model at the L.A. Auto Show in 2022. Overhead is a variable-opacity PDLC (polymer-dispersed liquid crystal) glass roof, with the adjustable-opacity layer integrated between two sheets of glass.
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Both front seats are 12-way power adjustable, and all three rows have dedicated HVAC vents. The center bench seat can be moved fore or aft 7.9 inches, and can recline up to 16 degrees. Seven-passenger 2-3-2 seating is standard, with six-passenger center captain’s chair seating optional. A nine-speaker sound system is standard, with a 14-speaker Harmon Kardon system optional.
For keeping all the modern-day gizmos charged, there are eight USB-C ports, one 110V AC port, and a 12-volt port in the cargo area. The second and third row can be folded flat to make a continuous loading (or sleeping) surface, and the third row is removable for added cargo versatility.
Thankfully, the whimsically retro two-tone paint scheme option carries over to the U.S. model, with all the colors available on the Euro-spec short-wheelbase model, and several new ones, including Cabana Blue, Metro Silver, and Indium Grey.
So far, so good. The extended wheelbase and added versatility take nothing away from the appeal of the ID. Buzz, but only add to it. The only unknown is the price – and at an estimated $60,000+, it definitely won’t be cheap. But for those with a strong nostalgia for the original Microbus and live in affluent coastal areas (expected to be the ID. Buzz’s largest markets), for many, it’s a small price to pay.
(Images courtesy Volkswagen)
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