This afternoon, I sighted my first Volkswagen ID. Buzz electric bus parked along Shirley Ann Place in my humble neighborhood of University Heights. Until the encounter, I was thrilled about VW bringing back the minibus, which is one of my all-time favorite vehicles.
But this thing is ugly (and pricey). And all electric? Not hybrid? When I think of the evocative freedom to travel that a minibus imbues, limited range between charges squashes ambiance and purpose behind it.
VW claims 234 miles per charge for rear-wheel models. All-wheel: 231 miles. But in testing, Car and Driver reports: “We fell short of those estimates, with the AWD ID. Buzz achieving a result of 190 miles and the RWD ID. Buzz achieving 180 miles”.
That means a whole lot of driving breaks for road warriors setting out for a mountain adventure or on a cross-country tour. Assuming 80-90 percent recharge per 30 minutes, minimum two charging stops would be required to drive from San Diego to Tucson, Az. That would add another hour or more driving time compared to a gas-powered vehicle.
You can always find a place to gas up. Charging could pose a challenge across vast stretches of highway with few towns, or not at all. Where’s the, ah, buzz in that?
The new minibus is available locally, starting at $68,083. The one in the Featured Image lists as Energetic Orange w/White Upper”. What can I say? I prefer the iconic classical VW bus in the companion photo.
I used Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra for both captures. Vitals, first: f/2.4, ISO 50, 1/2500 sec, 115mm (film equivalent); 2:23 p.m. The second: f/2.4, ISO 12, 1/200 sec, 23mm (film equivalent); 4:58 p.m. They’re both composed as shot.