Writing as a proud auntie who has had three or more kids to tow around at a time, not to mention the added adults who belong to said kiddos, I’m always searching for a vehicle that can accommodate everyone while making me feel “cool.” EVs and Hybrid cars are my preference. I also want the kids to like riding in it. Since I’ve dreamed of an electric version of the classic VW Bus for a long time I was excited to finally see the VW ID. Buzz premiere.

My time with the Buzz was hosted by VW but all opinions and images in this post, unless noted, are my own. VW did not pay me for this review or any mention of the EV.

But does the all-electric 2025 ID. Buzz live up to the hype? Does it feel fun to drive? Is it functional to my lifestyle? I had so many questions when I had the honor of being invited to a test drive in San Francisco with Volkswagen USA.

Immediate Reaction to the VW ID. Buzz

My first moment with the Buzz was when I walked up to a line of them parked near San Francisco’s Lombard Street. I knew I’d soon get to drive a “Pomelo Yellow” Buzz and I was immediately giddy. It instantly felt fun just to look at. I felt my fingers itching to get behind the wheel.

Lombard Street with the VW ID. Buzz

The first step in our test drive was recreating this iconic San Francisco moment where VW buses all drove in a line down Lombard Street. It’s the most curvy, winding road in the city. And maybe in the country? The neighborhood was prepped well in advance and police escorted us. And that made for one incredible experience being part of automotive history in the making.

One thing I was worried about was braking. With the intense grade that Lombard Street has and the gravity that exerts on vehicles, I wondered how the Buzz would handle it. I knew I’d have to brake a lot. And I’d have to drive slowly. The Buzz handled it all with ease. And I was never stressed out in the moment of recreating that drive. We got to stop for some photos and videos as we were all parked on the street and it felt like the big deal it was. If you’re already into Volkswagen and have been for a long time, I think you will find – like I did – that the Buzz fulfills most or all of those warm feelings you’re looking for. It was like coming home when I sat in the cockpit of the Buzz, despite it being brand new to me.

Driving the Buzz around Greater San Francisco

San Francisco can be a difficult city to navigate for any driver. When you’re in a new-to-you larger vehicle, the stress amps up even more. Hills with steep grades, very narrow lanes, and intense intersections felt easier than I expected in the Buzz. Steering was precise, the turning radius is tight, and whenever I needed that oomph that is required to get up a steep hill or catch up with the person in front of you in a motorcade – the motor gave me the torque I needed. And then some! I also liked that my field of vision felt wide open and I didn’t notice blind spots or areas with less-than-ideal visibility.

Reaction from people we met as we drove around town

Mike and I drove our Buzz all around San Francisco, then north of the bridge into Marin and past Muir Woods. We stopped a lot for photos and to shoot video footage. Everywhere we stopped people approached us with smiles and questions. Passengers and drivers in vintage VW buses waved or pulled over to talk. We even had a police officer pause in his shift so that he could ask us questions and take a few photos of the Buzz. The smile on his face was electric. *pun intended* I think we talked to, or gestured with, over 100 people. Everyone was excited! It made me even more excited. It was the most positive and fun day I’d had in a long time and I was fired up!

How many people does the VW ID. Buzz seat?

There are at least two seating configurations available. And this is designed as a three-row vehicle. One configuration features a second row with two captains chairs and seats 7 people. The second features a bench seat for the second row and seats 8 people. A huge advantage is the added legroom in the Buzz. Because of the longer wheelbase and VW’s engineering prowess, no one in the vehicle should complain of cramped legs. It’s an industry-leading amount for every passenger.

So what’s it like for a mom or dad to drive?

My test drive partner was fellow LA resident Mike Danger. He’s a dad and a car reviewer for Kelley Blue Book. His video review of the vehicle is dynamite if you’re looking for that in-depth, family-based perspective. And he spends a lot of time addressing things like car seats that those moms reading this may want to know.

I also saw my friend Scotty Reiss during this test drive event. Scotty is the founder of “A Girls Guide to Cars” and her review claims the VW ID. Buzz means no more boring family cars. I may be a bit biased, but I do agree!

This paragraph from Scotty’s review stood out, “It’s fun to drive as much for the power under the hood as for the clever features, all at a price that won’t make you nauseous, though quite a stretch from the $2,500 that the 1967 model cost (which would be $23,000 in 2024 dollars).”

VW ID. Buzz is more than a family van, it’s an Adventure mobile

For aunties like me, and anyone who seeks adventure, the ID. Buzz is also an ideal choice. It’s built with flexibility and geared towards road-tripping or vanlife. And it will get even better when VW launches accessories. However, they aren’t ready to say which accessories will be offered. I’d love to see cute curtains, a kitchen setup, a rooftop tent, maybe a sleeping bag system, or a roof box. Perhaps even a partnership with brands like Yakima? We shall see.

Here are some of the details that I loved that support using the Buzz as an adventure mobile:

• All rows of seating behind the driver can fold flat or very nearly flat. [I couldn’t test the Captain’s chairs, only the bench seat.]
• Buzz Box removable center console with drawers. It also has moveable placeholders to change the size of the spaces on top to fit your belongings. One of them becomes a bottle opener, another an ice scraper!
• Flexboard cargo system in the trunk, which has drawers that slide out, in the Pro S Plus and 1st Edition models.
• Outlets and USB-C ports for all the devices and appliances you need when adventuring. Located all around so if all rows are full, there should be enough for each passenger. The official number from VW is 7. It felt like more! LOL! Also, there are Outlets in the trunk and under the passenger seat in front. There’s even a USB-C port for a dash cam near the top of the windshield.
• The plentiful interior room that could easily fit a mattress.
• Stargazing through the Electrochromic panoramic smart glass roof available on the Pro S Plus and 1st Edition models.
• Volkswagen Car-Net with Wi-Fi so you can take your work on the road if you’re a digital nomad.
• Thigh extension on the front seats so you’re extra comfortable on long drives. Not to mention lumbar massage, heat, and ventilation are all standard.
• 30-color ambient lighting! Just add a disco ball and the campground party is at your van.

What I loved

• It may not be THE old bus we love. [If you want that, get one and have it electrified like Ewan MacGregor did his VW Bug.] But it has a look and feel that plays homage to the classic bus, with the creature comforts of a modern EV.
• It drives smaller than it feels like it should, given how roomy it feels inside in the cockpit.
• Head-up display in the windshield.
• Pop-out cupholder in the front. When it folds up there’s more than enough room for a large purse in that space.
• Available interior colors, Dune [white] and Copper [camel brown] called to me. I’d be hard-pressed to choose between them.
• Cute face on the front of the Buzz with the lighted VW logo badge and the headlights that look like eyes.
• The amount of legroom!
• Features like wireless charging and massage seats are STANDARD!
• The amount of air vents and the three climate zones ensure all passengers feel comfortable.
• Approach lighting that flashes when you walk up with a key.
• Super smooth power-sliding doors can be opened by waving your foot under the sill.
• Power liftgate that opens with a kick under the rear bumper.
• Design details like an imprinted Buzz on seats and paneling.
• Longer doors provide better access to the third row than other minivans I’ve driven.
• Regenerative braking which replenishes the power as you drive in B Mode.
• More than respectable torque. It felt quick and responsive.
• A low center of gravity helps to offset the EV’s height so it feels stable even on winding roads. This is due to the battery pack under the floor between the wheels.
• If you want everything packed into the Buzz and you want it “top of the line,” you’re still coming in at about $70K. Other comparable vehicles with the same level of features cost more.

What I Didn’t LOVE

• The issue with keeping the power on while no one is in the driver’s seat. [Scotty covers this well in her review.]
• The trunk area Flexboard system is anchored in place and therefore isn’t easily movable or cannot be moved.

• No under-floor storage space due to the battery packs.
• The windows in the sliding rear door don’t go down. BUT! The cute square window cut into those windows opens and is perfect for sticking your head out to enjoy the breeze. Or allowing your dog to get some air.

• The only place in the vehicle that could be a bit problematic for visibility when driving is the rear window. It’s smaller than I thought it should be given how large the field of vision as a driver is in the rest of the Buzz.
• The screen between the driver and front passenger seems to be powered by a more “busy” system than previous VW models I’ve driven in the last few years [and the one in the ID. 4]. Meaning more stuff and more icons “junking up” the screen so it can take some getting used to looking at it while driving. However, when you activate Apple CarPlay, that’s as simple and as beautiful as always. I didn’t have the right phone to test Android Auto so I can’t address that.

Let’s talk cost

I think this is a well-priced vehicle for VW fans like me. But I have already seen pushback in the industry on what it comes out to cost-wise. I’ll let you judge for yourself. Here are the numbers I was given at the time of my test drive [mid-Oct 2024]:

*This could change. Consult your VW dealer for exact pricing.*

While the VW ID. Buzz price could top out at almost $70K, this is what a la carte extras will cost:

• Panoramic sunroof: $1,495
• That sweet two-tone paint that was on every model I test drove and which is in all of these photos I took: $995
• 4Motion, which is what they call All Wheel Drive, includes a second motor in the front and adds $4,500
• AWD gives you Captains Chairs standard but they cost $695 if you want them on RWD models

And finally…

Why do I think the VW ID. Buzz is the ultimate Auntiemobile? Because I felt cool while driving it. Yet it could still fit all the people I’d need to drive around when I’m with family. And it would still transform into my ideal adventure mobile on the weekends when I want to head out for a solo or couple’s road trip with my partner.