Volkswagen ID. Buzz Life 7-seat LWB 86kWh Pro (2022 - )

Do motors give you a buzz anymore? Did they ever? Even if anything automotive usually bores the pants off you – I bet you’ll love the VW ID. Buzz LWB seven-seater. Why? Its looks are ace. Well, my kids were embarrassed by it, saying it was “like the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine”. I could see where they were coming from – sort of. But nearly anyone over 20 loved it, judging by the nods of approval. 

One guy in a BMW queuing in the lane beside us wound his window down and exclaimed, "Mate, that's so cool!" He wasn’t being sarcastic, either. Mind you, that compliment made my offspring slide down in their seats to avoid further embarrassment. To be fair to them, the Buzz in ‘Life’ trim we had on test was a ‘Lime Yellow’ colour. You could spot it from space. 

Anyway, the ID. Buzz’s family resemblance to the legendary VW Type 2 campervan of the 1960s is unmistakable. It's not a camper inside - it just has seats - seven in the case of the long wheelbase (LWB) version tested here - but it looks so like the classic Type 2 on the outside. The most significant difference is that this 21st-century VW is electric - but we'll come to that in a minute.
 

As mentioned, the ID. Buzz is a homage to the unforgettable VW bus, with its retro looks combined with cutting-edge tech.

Inside, the current model has a lovely graphical interface and straightforward menu navigation for the Infotainment system. Furthermore, numerous functions can be controlled using a voice assistant. These include features such as the background lighting, driving profile selection, navigation or the panoramic sunroof with smart glass. The VW also has a head-up display, which projects information, like speed or navigation instructions, onto the windscreen.

Two versions are available - the standard wheelbase and, as already stated, the extended long wheelbase (LWB), reviewed here, with a 4,962 mm length - both maintaining the old-school proportions and appearance synonymous with Volkswagen.

The ID. Buzz LWB has ‘normal’ doors at the front and sliding rear doors at the rear. It also has short body overhangs and a dramatic V-shaped front bonnet, complemented by LED lights - these interactive IQ.LIGHT headlights offer fabulous visibility and greet you with a light animation as you arrive. The VW also enjoys a Cd value of 0.29 for improved aerodynamics. Five two-tone paint finishes allow you to create your own statement, too.

In essence, the ID. Buzz merges nostalgic design with innovative technology. Whether you choose the standard wheelbase or LWB, this modern Volkswagen bus will get heads swivelling and your kids pretending not to know you when you turn up in it for the school run.

Oh, yes - I nearly forgot. The VW has an inductive charging tray for smartphones on the dashboard panel. It also houses eight onboard USB-C ports. Surprise, surprise, my kids loved that bit about the bus.
 

The ID. Buzz LWB gets a bigger 86kWh battery, compared with 79kWh for the standard versions. Its output is 286PS, and it has an electric drive motor on the driven rear axle. 

The lithium-ion battery integrated into the vehicle floor lowers the VW's centre of gravity and reduces body roll to a minimum. The turning circle is small due to the large wheel housings and the compact front axle, measuring 11.8 metres for the ID. Buzz LWB. This all makes the VW a piece of cake to drive. You forget you're in a long-ish vehicle as the steering is light, and it goes where you point it. 

The VW threads through town centre traffic without issue and sits steadily at motorway speeds. The only time I became aware of its size was when it came to parking. A reversing camera makes slotting it into a supermarket parking bay easy, but I steered clear of town centre multi-storey carparks. The last thing I wanted to do was scrape the side, the roof, or a wheel within the confines of such a concrete structure.

You can select from various drive modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Individual. For increased brake regeneration, you shift to 'B' on the gear selector, which is on the steering column. Getting to 62mph only takes 7.9 seconds – and the top speed is 99mph – so it's easy to feel you're in a car rather than a bus-like vehicle on the open road. 

As well as urban areas, motorways and dual carriageways, the Buzz is fun to take for a spin along rural routes – and the seats are so comfy that you can spend time at the wheel without feeling knackered. 

No matter how agile the Buzz feels, it's still a heavy vehicle – so if you've been belting along, you need to press hard on the brake pedal to stop on a sixpence. 
 

The large ID. Buzz LWB can be configured as a five-seater with a three-seat bench (2/3) and a six-seater (2/2/2). But, as stated, this version is additionally available as a seven-up vehicle, as tested here, with a three-seat bench in the second row and two chairs in the third row (2/3/2). The seats in the second row can also be moved by 200mm in the LWB.

You and your front passenger are seated upright and relatively high up. Adjustable armrests on the inner sides of the front seats are factory-fitted. The flagship seven-seat version features 12-way electrical adjustment and has a massage and memory function. The ID. Buzz's high dash panel matches the elevated seat position, another characteristic feature of VW bus models.

The LWB offers a luggage compartment in the typical Volkswagen bus format. In the five-seater, when loaded to the edge of the backrests, the volume is 1,340 litres. If the large ID. Buzz is packed to the first row of seats; the volume swells to 2,469 litres. This turns the cargo area into a load compartment big enough to take at least two bikes.

Even if seven people are on board, Buzz's third row of seats can still accommodate a volume of 306 litres behind it. And if you're not driving with everyone on board, you can easily fit two bikes in the seven-seater version by folding the seats. The ID. Buzz swallowed my bike in the boot, and my daughter's cycle slotted into where other passengers would otherwise sit.

Depending on the seating arrangement, the VW can also be kitted out with a long or short Multiflex board (including two folding boxes). When the rear seats are folded down, the board creates a second loading level and a flat load area.
 

The official range for the electric ID. Buzz LWB is 286 miles. If you drive sensibly, expect more like just over 200 miles in the real world. I stayed in Eco mode, avoiding the Comfort, Sport, and Individual drive settings. 

The 86kWh battery fitted to the LWB version of the ID. Buzz can be charged at a rate of 200kW at DC quick-charging stations. If you're lucky enough to have an 11kW 3-phase charger at your workplace, a 0-100% charge will take around nine hours. A 7kW home charger will take over 12 hours. 

During journeys, a thermal management feature pre-conditions the battery before charging stops, allowing the VW to charge quickly, especially on long trips. The battery is heated to the optimal temperature, enabling faster energy acceptance and reducing charging times by several minutes, particularly in winter. If the Buzz’s Electric Vehicle Route Planner is active, pre-conditioning starts automatically en route to the nearest rapid-charging station. It can also be started manually via the Infotainment system.

Volkswagen offers a three-year or 100,000-mile warranty on the ID. Buzz. That’s not generous these days, especially when the likes of Kia offer seven years. Still, you also receive three years of paint care and twelve years of body protection. The battery guarantee is for eight years or 100,000 miles. And, for peace of mind, roadside assistance with unlimited mileage is thrown in for three years.
 

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz Life LWB 86kWh Pro 286 PS, to give it its full name, is pretty expensive to buy, but, wow, you'll love owning it. The seven seats make this a real winner for large families – and like most electric vehicles, it's quiet and quick; plus, in the UK, you can live with the 200+ mile range it offers. 

The VW looks so different from what else is on the road – that's good in my view, but my kids would disagree. You can also easily spot it in the supermarket carpark – especially if you go for a lairy colour. That’s assuming you find a car park that isn’t the equivalent of a concrete tomb. I really wouldn't fancy my chances of getting in and out of some tight multi-storeys unscathed if I owned this funky Dub.