volkswagen-id-buzz-long-term-test-report-4

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

ID. BUZZ

Our favourite trim. Adds larger 20in wheels, a powered tailgate, additional ambient interior lighting, matrix LED headlights and the multi-flex board for the boot to everything you get with entry-level Life trim.

Style

The car Volkswagen ID Buzz Style SWB 77kWh Pro Run by Stuart Milne, digital editorWhy it’s here We want to find out if a more traditional MPV format can still make for an appealing and practical family car. And more importantly, if the funky styling can win over diehard petrolheads.Needs to Offer effortless practicality to families, yet be the consummate commuter car

<hr />Mileage 9823 Price £63,715 Target price £63,715 Price as tested £68,255 Official range 255 miles Test range 260 miles<hr /><h3>27 November 2023 – Cracking up</h3>We all love chips, but when they’re in the middle of your windscreen they’re not nearly as tasty.In my <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/volkswagen-id-buzz-long-term-test-report-3/n26339">last report</a>, I mentioned how Autoglass came out to repair a small chip in the windscreen of my <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/idbuzz/mpv/review/n24946">Volkswagen ID Buzz</a>.That was on the Monday; two days later a rock was flicked up on the M25 motorway, causing another far larger chip with star-shaped cracks which grew at an alarming rate. This time, though, it was immediately apparent that no amount of repair resin would fix it – something that was confirmed during a second Autoglass visit. So, as you read this, the Buzz has been whisked off to my local Volkswagen dealer for a £342.50 replacement screen (plus labour) – a surprisingly small cost considering the sheer size of the glass, and its integrated heater element.

Interestingly, the chap from Autoglass said that in his experience, taller vehicles are more prone to stone chips. But while lower, sleeker vehicles tend to get fewer chips, those that they do are often more serious.For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/volkwagen-id-buzz-long-term-test-3/n26339">Read more about our long-term Volkswagen ID Buzz &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

<h3><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/long-term-tests">Read about more long-term test cars &gt;&gt;</a></h3><hr />Buy a new car with What Car? Like the sound of the Volkswagen ID Buzz? If so, check out the latest<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen/idbuzz/mpv/deals"> Volkswagen ID Buzz deals</a> available through our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals</a> service. Our network of What Car? approved dealers use our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-target-price/n1433">Target Price</a> discounts (the most our mystery shoppers think you should pay) as the basis for their savings.

The car Volkswagen ID Buzz Style SWB 77kWh Pro Run by Stuart Milne, digital editorWhy it’s here We want to find out if a more traditional MPV format can still make for an appealing and practical family car. And more importantly, if the funky styling can win over diehard petrolheads.

Needs to Offer effortless practicality to families, yet be the consummate commuter car<hr />Mileage 9823 Price £63,715 Target price £63,715 Price as tested £68,255 Official range 255 miles Test range 260 miles<hr /><h3>27 November 2023 – Cracking up</h3>We all love chips, but when they’re in the middle of your windscreen they’re not nearly as tasty.In my <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/volkswagen-id-buzz-long-term-test-report-3/n26339">last report</a>, I mentioned how Autoglass came out to repair a small chip in the windscreen of my <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/idbuzz/mpv/review/n24946">Volkswagen ID Buzz</a>.That was on the Monday; two days later a rock was flicked up on the M25 motorway, causing another far larger chip with star-shaped cracks which grew at an alarming rate. This time, though, it was immediately apparent that no amount of repair resin would fix it – something that was confirmed during a second Autoglass visit. So, as you read this, the Buzz has been whisked off to my local Volkswagen dealer for a £342.50 replacement screen (plus labour) – a surprisingly small cost considering the sheer size of the glass, and its integrated heater element.

Volkswagen ID Buzz long-term test: report 4

<h2>What we're looking for </h2><ul><li>Long range and ultra-fast charging capability</li> <li>Luxurious and comfortable interior</li> <li>Smooth ride and capable handling</li> <li>Lots of high-tech driver aids</li> <li>Strong performance and great refinement</li></ul>

Large Electric

A less than cracking time with the VW ID Buzz leaves a chip on our windscreen

Volkswagen ID Buzz long-term test: report 4        

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition. In fact, it&nbsp;tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from a tiny EV (the Ami) through to the C3 small hatchback and&nbsp;the large van-based&nbsp;Spacetourer MPV.

Its range of SUVs are all badged Aircross, and like the rest of its range place emphasis on comfort, not speed.

CITROEN

If you want a new car but would rather not spend much, Dacia is a great place to start your search.

This budget brand builds some of Britain’s cheapest new cars, including the Sandero hatchback. And don’t think cheap automatically means corners have been cut, because the Sandero has been commended at the annual What Car? Car of the Year awards on numerous occasions.

Other Dacia models include the&nbsp;higher-riding Sandero Stepway, seven-seat Jogger, and rugged Duster SUV. And while these cost slightly more than the Sandero, they’re still priced aggressively enough that they’re really only competing directly with used cars.

Dacia manages this by borrowing mechanicals and technology from its owner, Renault, to minimise development costs.

DACIA

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

MAXUS

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

VAUXHALL

CADDY

CADDY CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA

CARAVELLE

GRAND CALIFORNIA

MULTIVAN

TOURAN

When the Volkswagen ID Buzz was launched, it's fair to say we'd never seen anything like it before. Well, we had – but nothing that runs on battery power.

You see, the ID Buzz is an electric MPV that recalls the loveable looks of VW's Type 2 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-campervans/n26020">campervans</a> (even reviving the distinctive two-tone paint job). But rather than put-putting around driven by a petrol or diesel engine, it&nbsp;runs on a near-silent motor powered by a sizeable battery pack.&nbsp;

Just to be clear, you can't buy an ID Buzz camper&nbsp;just yet. Currently,&nbsp;you can have either a standard-wheelbase (SWB) model&nbsp;with five or six seats, or a long-wheelbase (LWB) version that comes as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seater</a> as standard. Plus, if you&nbsp;want the fastest Buzz in town, there's a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/4x4s-for-off-roading/n26188">four-wheel-drive</a> GTX model with two electric motors rather than one.

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/epJGqy8Ihlk" width="560"></iframe>

Given that the standard-wheelbase Buzz won&nbsp;our 2023 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/new-car-awards">Car of the Year Award</a> partly thanks to its astonishing practicality, the Buzz LWB will be tough to beat in that respect.

So how does each VW ID Buzz variant&nbsp;compare with key rivals, from five-seat <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUVs</a> including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/ix3/4x4/review/n22236">BMW iX3</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/i-pace/estate/review/n122">Jaguar I-Pace</a>&nbsp;to electric seven-seaters such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev9/estate/review/n26277">Kia EV9</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n26918">Peugeot e-5008</a>? Read on to find out...

The ID Buzz electric MPV is available with seven seats and offers excellent family practicality

Volkswagen ID Buzz

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals.

The best of the breed offer sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test cycle.

NEW REVIEWS:

Volkswagen ID Buzz long-term test: report 4

A less than cracking time with the VW ID Buzz leaves a chip on our windscreen...

27 November 2023 – Cracking up

Read more about our long-term Volkswagen ID Buzz >>

Read about more long-term test cars >>

New Volkswagen ID Buzz GTX: four-wheel drive and 335bhp

Volkswagen ID Buzz long-term test: report 8

Volkswagen ID Buzz long-term test: report 7

Volkswagen ID Buzz long-term test: report 6

Volkswagen ID Buzz long-term test: report 5

Volkswagen ID Buzz long-term test: report 3

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