Used Volkswagen ID Buzz 2022-present review

You might think the Volkswagen ID Buzz was designed solely to look good in a Cornish beach car park, but it’s actually a thoroughly practical electric MPV that can easily fit into family life.

Yes, really. The ID Buzz is a car you can buy with your head and your heart, which is why we made it our Car of the Year in 2023. It has a vast, van-like interior with endless space and flexible seating, plus it can be had with up to seven seats. This depends on the version you choose, though, because short-wheelbase (SWB) and long-wheelbase (LWB) versions are available.

If you want an ID Buzz for the sole purpose of turning heads, its retro-inspired design will certainly do that. The exterior design harks back to the VW Type 2 campers of the 1950s and '60s, as does the optional two-tone paintwork. The interior, on the other hand, is a thoroughly modern affair, because it shares infotainment and dashboard components with the Volkswagen ID 3 and Volkswagen ID 4.

Since its launch in 2022, the ID Buzz has slowly but surely made its way into the used car market, and there are now plenty of five-seater SWB versions to choose from. The LWB and GTX versions are less available, however, since they were only launched in 2024.

Engines: The ID Buzz is available with a single 201bhp electric motor that drives the rear wheels. In our tests, it managed a 0-60mph sprint in 9.5sec; that’s not as quick as a Tesla Model Y RWD, but it’s more than quick enough for a car of this type. It also delivers power in a smooth, linear fashion, which makes it very easy to drive.

On 2024 models, regular versions of the ID Buzz get a 282bhp electric motor that powers the rear wheels. In SWB form, it delivers a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds, while the larger LWB version can achieve the same sprint in 7.9 seconds. Considering the ID Buzz’s bulk, those figures are pretty impressive.

If you want even more pace, a 335bhp, four-wheel drive GTX version was also added to the line-up in 2024. The addition of a second motor on the front axle helps to drop the acceleration time to 6.1 seconds in the SWB and 6.4 seconds in the LWB.

The battery options vary depending on the age and length of ID Buzz you choose. For SWB cars produced between 2022 and 2024, the ID Buzz features a 77kWh (usable) battery that delivers an official range of 258 miles.

For 2024 cars onwards, the SWB version gets a larger 79kWh (usable) battery that provides an official range of 282 miles, while the LWB version gets a larger 86kWh (usable) battery for a longer range of 290 miles. The GTX versions have the smallest range, with 254 miles for the SWB and 280 miles for the LWB.

Ride and handling: There is a slight novelty to the driving experience of the ID Buzz. For one, you sit up very high, with plenty of glass giving you fantastic all-round visibility. Looking forward, the windscreen is also massive, plus there are large quarter lights, which can give you the impression you’re looking out of a bay window.

However, when you look past that, the ID Buzz is a very pleasant car to drive. The suspension set-up is very supple, which means it absorbs lumps and bumps well (even with the optional 21in alloy wheels fitted). It’s far more comfortable than a Kia EV6 and Model Y.

Considering its height and boxy shape, the ID Buzz handles corners impressively. The floor-mounted battery helps to keep the centre of gravity down, plus there’s plenty of grip, which helps the car handle corners tidily.

Amazingly, refinement is also very good, with minimal wind and road noise entering the interior. That’s not bad for a car that’s essentially a box on wheels.

Interior and practicality: The ID Buzz’s interior is very similar to VW’s other ID electric cars. The design is very minimalist, which means most of the controls are integrated into a 10.0in touchscreen (which could be upgraded to 12.0in as part of the Infotainment Package Plus on earlier cars). In 2024, a larger 12.9in touchscreen was added on all models, which also housed a new infotainment system.

Unfortunately, the infotainment system in early cars is frustrating to use. The layout isn’t that intuitive, plus the system is often slow and laggy. The touch-sensitive volume and climate controls below the screen are also fiddly to use, and they’re not backlit, so it’s difficult to see them while driving at night.

Thankfully, the infotainment system on 2024 models onwards is much better. It’s still not perfect, but the system is much quicker to use, plus the sliders are backlit.

Interior quality isn’t the ID Buzz’s strongest suit. Nearly all of the plastics are hard and scratchy (bar some padding on the doors for your armrest). On the plus side, the interior is bright and airy, and there are multiple colour options available for the seats.

No matter which version of the ID Buzz you choose, all versions are extremely practical. The SWB model can be had with five or six seats, plus there’s an enormous amount of space in the front and back, even for those more than six feet tall. Five adults can sit very comfortably in the five-seater version.

In the LWB model, which comes with seven seats as standard, space is even better. There’s a bit more leg room in the second row, plus the third-row seats are just as comfortable as the seats in the second row, with no shortage of head or leg room.

In all versions, the second-row splits, folds and slides forward and backwards in a 60/40 configuration. Unfortunately, the second row seats can’t be removed entirely like in a VW Multivan (but the third row of seats can be in LWB models).

Unsurprisingly, the ID Buzz’s boot is massive. In SWB models, there’s 1121 litres of space, which means you can fit up to 16 carry-on suitcases below the load cover. By comparison, a BMW iX3 can take eight and the Jaguar I-Pace can manage seven. The LWB version gets even more room, with 1340 litres of space.

Trims and equipment: There are four trim levels available in the ID Buzz: Life, Style, GTX and 1st Edition. Life is very well equipped for an entry-level trim, with 19in alloys, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel coming as standard.

Despite this, we'd recommend going for the mid-level Style trim. It adds 20in alloys, electrically-operated side doors (with opening windows), a powered tailgate, matrix LED headlights and the Multi-flex boot board. GTX adds 21in alloy wheels and a panoramic glass sunroof.

At launch, a 1st Edition version of the ID Buzz was offered. It comes with ambient interior lighting and electrically adjustable front seats (with memory), as well as some unique styling details, such as play and pause symbols on the accelerator and brake pedal.

If you're interested in finding a used Volkswagen ID Buzz, or any of the other electric cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices for a used ID Buzz start from around £40,000 for early 2022 Life cars with low mileage. Expect to pay between £42,000 and £45,000 for 1st Edition cars with two-tone paintwork and higher mileage. Expect to pay upwards of £45,000 for 2023 and 2024 models. Currently, only SWB versions are available on the used market – LWB and GTX models are too new.

To keep up to date with used ID Buzz prices, use our free valuation tool to make sure you are getting the best deal.

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Efficiency

The SWB versions of the ID Buzz have a maximum charging speed of 185kW, which means a 10-80% top-up takes around half an hour. That’s similar to the Model Y, but slower than an EV6, Genesis GV60 or Hyundai Ioniq 5, which can manage the same charge in around 20 minutes. A full (0-100%) charge using a regular 7kW home charger will take around 12 hours. The LWB versions can charge at up to 200kW, but because of the bigger battery, the charging times are similar to the SWB.

Insurance and servicing

The ID Buzz sits in insurance group 31, with higher spec models moving up to group 33. That’s pretty normal for an electric car at this price point and it shouldn’t be too expensive.

For servicing, Volkswagen includes three years of servicing and the car’s first MOT in the car’s purchase price. The ID Buzz is due a service every two years or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Safety

The ID Buzz was awarded five stars out of five for safety when it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2022. It scored very well in the child-occupant protection category, as well as adult protection. All versions come with automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist protection, lane-keeping assistance and road sign recognition as standard.

Warranty

Every new ID Buzz comes with Volkswagen’s three-year/60,000-mile warranty. That’s fairly standard for the class, but it’s not quite as good as Kia's seven-year cover.

Along with the standard warranty, the battery gets an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty to ensure it retains 70% of its capacity (this is transferable between owners).

Reliability

It's a little too early to accurately predict the used Volkswagen ID Buzz's reliability, but click on the link to check out our specific reliability page and find out what we know so far.

Engine

The SWB ID Buzz with the 201bhp electric motor and 77kWh battery should provide more than enough space and performance for most needs. And while the official range isn’t quite as good as the Model Y Long Range (331 miles), it is decent for an electric car of this size and price point.

Specification

The entry-level Life version of the ID Buzz comes with plenty of kit as standard, but we recommend stepping up to the mid-level Style version. It gives you useful features such as electrically-operated side doors (with opening windows), a powered tailgate and a Multi-flex boot board.

In terms of options, there are several available, including two-tone paintwork, a 230V plug socket and a retractable tow bar. The Infotainment Package Plus option also adds an upgraded navigation system, a Harman Kardon sound system and a head-up display.

Our favourite: Volkswagen ID Buzz 77kWh Style

The ID Buzz doesn’t have any direct rivals, other than van-based electric cars such as the Citroën e-Berlingo. That car is more affordable on the used market than the ID Buzz, but it doesn’t offer the same level of style, practicality, space or comfort. The official range for the five-seater version is also lower than that of the ID Buzz at 213 miles.

So, what else is there? Well, at this price point, there are many electric SUVs to choose from. And arguably, the most notable of those rivals is the Tesla Model Y, which has a spacious and practical interior, as well as a longer official range for the entry-level RWD version (283 miles). Usefully, it comes with the benefit of Tesla’s Supercharger network, which is great if you regularly do long journeys. Unfortunately, it isn’t the most comfortable electric SUV; the ride is firm and unsettled, particularly at low speeds.

A Kia EV9 is a good option too, although it is more expensive than the ID Buzz as a used buy. It has a spacious interior, with the option of six or seven seats, as well as a comfortable ride. The official range is competitive too, at 349 miles for the rear-wheel drive entry-level model.

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