It’s not often that a new car comes along these days and truly captivates me. Generic, ‘samey’ SUVs and family hatchbacks struggle to stand out when the roads are already full of such vehicles. Heck, even today’s supercars struggle to elicit the same feelings of shock and awe as did their fabled predecessors.
But 2023 has already seen a duo of motors that, while hugely contrasting in their technical make-ups and intended purposes, share a cheerful feeling of adventure, a whole smorgasbord of character. Indeed, much of this has been achieved by both vehicles looking backwards - as well as forwards - for inspiration. I am talking about the Ineos Grenadier - the ‘Defender reborn’ - and, the subject of this blog, the Volkswagen ID Buzz.
Even non-enthusiasts will likely be able to spot that much of the ID Buzz’s design references the fabled VW Type 2 bus of the 1950s. You know, that rear-engined packaging marvel which soon became a favourite among hippies and festival goers. Well, the ID Buzz also draws its motive force from its rear, albeit in a very different manner. It is, of course, a full BEV (battery electric vehicle).
Now, you may be questioning whether the feeling of adventure and desire for long road trips which lie at the heart of the Buzz’s appeal are compatible with the obvious range 'issues' of an electric car. This is not the time or place for a cost-to-benefit analysis of ‘going electric’, but it is true that the ID Buzz is somewhat compromised in terms of its range. VW claims 255 miles from the car’s 77kWh battery but, during its recent road test, Autocar magazine could muster only around 200 miles.
If you are going to design a vehicle whose look apes that of a van, and which requires a relatively hefty battery to achieve a respectable touring range, you won’t end up with a low-slung, lightweight sportster able to make efficient use of every kilowatt of energy. Indeed, the ID Buzz is around 2.5 tonnes.
That’s enough negativity; time for another gaze at the Buzz. That oversized VW roundel, sitting within a V-shaped ‘bonnet’, clearly references the Type 2, ditto the slatted D-pillar. But VW’s designers have been clever. Not simply a lazy pastiche, the car manages to stand up as a modern design with a cheery nod to the past - not an easy line on which to tread.
You’d expect space, and, inside, the Buzz more than delivers it. A commercial variant will soon be available. For leisure use, the five-seater offers ample room for bodies and bags, helped greatly by its square silhouette and inherent EV packaging advantages.
The drive will probably not set your pants on fire, but I read that the Buzz makes for a comfortable, secure, refined experience whose on-limit understeer is most appropriate for a family-oriented vehicle. Sounds like family motoring perfection, right? Did I forget to mention that prices for the ID Buzz start at just shy of £60,000? I did? Good. Don’t want to sour things…
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