This is the first car of mine, that makes me smile when I approach it and drive it. People turn their heads when we drive by and so many positive comments. We converted it ourselves to a camper version. Thanks for a great channel and all the best from Denmark 🙂
HI! Don't you think it sucks, that the car doesn't have camper mode to have the AC running if you sleep in the van? Also if you want 220V outlet, it's only 150W which is only usable for a laptop or so. not for cooking. while alle the korean and a lot of chinese cars have 2 to 4kW outlets! VW has completely lost the plot!
@@Angusoksen Yes not ideal, but doable...I use a Multivan ehybrid as Camper and just use a cable on the campside...close the door on passenger side...no problem for the cable...and with this I have AC inside the van...but since this is electric car (the ehybrid, too), you always have heating and cooling in such a car...BUT...you have to use a trick...close the security belt and load a bag on to the driver seat (which you will do during night anyway to free the sleeping area) and it is still switched on...since EV...no noise at all. And finally I use a big Li Battery inside to load and charge anything else...which I need for other situations anyway.
@@Angusoksenon the German buzzforum there‘s a home assistant automation that will keep the heating/cooling running for a homemade camping mode. The lack of real AC outlets is a shame. The current workaround is to use a large battery pack that’s charged on either the ac or 12v dc outlet.
I have the German version (standard wheelbase, 78 kWh usable) for 2 years now. The car is incredibly good and the range is not really a huge problem because the charging speed is excellent. We have already 50000 km on the car and took it on several roadtrips across Europe. For a family, the car is perfect in terms of space and comfort. The biggest problem in my opinion is the (very) high price and the poor efficiency in the colder season. But I do not regret the purchase. All the best to all from Germany 😊☀️
Here's my idea for a TV ad VW should run. A very conservative-looking (sour puss) senior couple is shopping for a new car; they look at all the popular old-folk brands, like Buik, Cadalac, and Oldsmobile but then they see the ID Buzz and they freeze. In the next scene they're dressed like hippies, gathered around a camp fire with other old hippies, playing guitar and smiling. In the final scene we see the silhouette of the van on a low hill top with the moon in the background; the van is gently rocking.
This thing has absolutely no connection whatsoever to the old Bulli / type 2. That was simple to maintain and repair and it was very inexpensive. It was what young people wanted to get because it was so cheap and the older ones they could afford looked just like the then current model year Bulli / type 2. This bus is near the top of the price point for anything similar. It is in no way friendly to the do-it-yourself crowd. This is the anti-bulli/Type 2 vehicle.
@BatteryLife tested the charging of this battery pack in the ID.7 Tourer Pro S and achieved 10-80% in approximately 25 minutes with peak over 200kW and the curve was above 100 kW up to 75%.
I love my id buzz . Been driving it for 1.5 year now and I just love it. Its like driving a small barn door but indont care. The range is more than enough for me 🙂👍
@@Wasabi9111 No..."Batterylife" tested this on an ID7...23km difference in range in Winter. I am happy that this is only a 1k € option, since only helpful for people...a little bit...if they drive daily long distances in Winter. Otherwise you preheat the car and battery while plugged in in front of your house instead, to compensate this missing heat pump for most of your daily driving.
I am buying one, as I think this car is good for my daily city drive for the family. I don’t highway much, so the mileage isn’t a problem. Ideally in 10 years, we’ll have new tech so I can always replace and get a new battery.
As a person who is old enough to have had an original VW micro bus in the 1970’s. Bought a beat up used one for $50. Had fun with it for a few weeks but on a trip to the Jersey shore the engine blew up. 😂The buzz brings back a lot of memories. But I have to just pretend I’m in one when driving the ID.4.
I had a 5 hippies in a van adventure with one one those back in the 70s as well. The motor blew up in Moncton, New Brunswick, so we camped out at the dealership for the 2.5 days it took to get a new one installed. The I.D. Buzz is so disappointing for me, mainly due to terrible range. I limit my i4 to 80% SOC since I own it outright. Knock off another 20% of range for cold weather and there ain’t much left in the Buzz. VW should hire Lucid for help with efficiency.
@@hardykornfeld1733 Depends on your needs...the route is the goal. ;-) there are used ID Buzz in Germany with upto 105k km...in 2 years...seems range is no issue for some people. And this ID Buzz in Europe has even less range with 77kwh...instead of 86kwh, like in the long Version.
I honestly wonder if they priced it that way so dealers wouldn't be jacking up the price. Tamp down the enthusiasm and a couple months after release they start offering rebates.
Amazing walk-through, great to see the Dune interior! I like the way MEB drives, and I think the Buzz is the best vehicle on the platform. I would much rather have this than the EV9 from a driving perspective. MEB drivetrain has been proven to be pretty solid as well. I like the Tesla charging strategy (arrive dead), the only caveat is the ability to precondition the battery properly in low temperatures. The headlights on the Buzz are amazing. Travel assist is pretty good. Great air conditioning. No start button needed (great getaway-factor). Class leading third row. According to the spec sheet, the phone charger is ventilated as well now. Big software improvements! I agree with you on range, it will take a heavy heavy hit on the US highway 😬Unfortunate that it is so expensive, and still feels cheap. VW didn't really need to bring it over, it seems like a bit of a risk. Happy that they did and I hope to see at least some in the US! And where is camp/dog mode, absolutely insane. This one will take a hit because the Rivian exist as well, I think there is a crowd overlap there. It is a van though, in that category it is class leading 😁 BTW: I will ship you the 21"s
Timing is really bad. A couple of years ago they would have had many suckers buy this but now aren’t going to pay these crazy prices for such a lackluster product. VW is in big trouble.
Great addition to the format with the conversation with Myriam.... two knowledgable EV enthusiasts. awesome stuff! The new SWB model in Europe does come with 6-seats captain conf. and 3-zone climate and opening rear windows... all for a premium, but only limitation is the battery size (79kwh net) and not coming with 7 seats.
Why is the battery so small on such a big vehicle? This could have been a fantastic road trip vehicle, but the short range just kills it. I actually think the price would have been fine if it had 20% more range.
This is the real killer on this vehicle. For this price they should be putting a true 350 mi US highway range battery in it. Look at the sizes of battery that Chevy is putting in the Equinox EV, for much less money. Or the Kia EV9 around the same price. The reality is Volkswagen does not want to sell this vehicle because they lose quite a lot of money on them. And this is because they still have not figured out how to produce batteries at a competitive cost. This is a loss leader PR vehicle, an electric halo car, a throwback nostalgia billboard to buff up the VW brand. Draw people into the dealership to maybe catch a glimpse of one while they sell you a Tiguan. My dealer had a ton of ID4s a year ago but now it's all Atlas and Tiguan 98%.
@@EPeltzerNo way they spent years developing this so they can build them as showroom lures. That’s silly. I think their problem is that they took too long to develop it (I don’t know why it took two years to go from short to long wheel base), and now the range and tech is nearly out of date. If they do a refresh on these in a couple of years, I expect they would boost the battery considerably…so maybe lease instead of buy?
Two things. 1) you and Miriam make a great car reviewing team--usually the people you work with are not on the same level of car nerd as you are but she's right there with you. 2) thank you VW for hiring some real software nerds and NOT requiring them to run every single decision by 6 layers of bosses. You want fast, cool UI? You gotta let the nerds be in charge! Love to see that this thing is finally on shore in the US. Maybe in a few years once they're available on the used market I can grab one!
It’s seems to be the best available minivan option for wheelchair accessibility. ♿️ I’d remove the 2nd row seats and mount a powered folding ramp on the passenger side. As with any new vehicles you have to make the best of the spec you can get and hope for upgrades asap. My order is already in motion.
Every maker does some sort of this nonsense. Can't get bench seating in the upper trims of any manufacturer. It's what killed it for me on the EV9. They made the 3rd row only good for 2 people, not 3. Add captain's chairs in the middle and you're lugging around a two and a half ton barge with one more seat than a Forte. Toyota does the same thing with the Grand Highlander with the top powertrain, no bench. It's only available as an option on the lower ones...makes no sense, what does an engine have to do with seating configuration.
I would imagine it has to do with weight. U.S. regulations for cars have certain weight limits before they can no longer be classified as passenger cars (it may be 6,000 lbs). If VW has the vehicle weight more than the limit they can no longer count it the same way towards their clean air vehicle credits.
They shouldn’t have cheaped out on the battery capacity at this price point. At $70k, put a 100 kWh usable and have it charge at peak of 250 kw and match the same charging speed 10-80% and then you have a nice electric spacious road tripper.
I tried customizing mine on the website and mine came to $89,620 Canadian money. And I don’t think that’s including tax. That was for the 1st ED 4motion
If you think of it as a van, then it's a bit hard to swallow the price. But if you compare it to the other 3 row EVs, it's a pretty decent bargain (not a statement abou the driving mechanics). It's going to have more space for passangers than it's SUV contemporaries. The range is always a concern for EV folks, but most of the time on road trips you get out of the car every 3 hours or so anyway (kids, bathroom breaks, eating, stretch your legs). So this would be fine. Range anxiety only really exists if you live in desolate places (which most Americans don't).
LOL I don't know why I guess so happy when anything from the out spec network of channels comes out and the batteries included podcast absolutely amazing
For all of the people living in the past, let's get a reality check: I have a 1968 Bus with the original bill of sale. It was $2,759. Today, that's $25,400. I have a 2003 Eurovan I bought in 2003. Original bill of sale, $32,500. Today, that's $55,700 When I was in Germany two years ago I priced out an equivalent T6.1 (like my 2003) and at the time, it came out to $80K USD. Today, that's $86,200. So for all of you old timers, get out of the past and how cheap things were. The T series is a premium vehicle and has been for a long time. This is not the 1960's.
@@cbotten106 - People in the US seem to think that the bus was some sort of cheap vehicle. It became a cheap vehicle because they needed big repairs (especially the engine) and mostly abandoned them. Thus, they were cheap. This is not counting that most rusted away in 10 years. Thus worth less.
I was thinking the same thing. While the original concept was way back in 2001, the Buzz concept from 2017 is what really lead to this. About 8 years to get it to market. And people thought it took Tesla a long time to get Cybertruck on sale!
Weight makes no big difference...only stop and go, would make a difference, since you need to accelerate again and again...but usually you are driving long distance with constant speed...in this case...no big difference.
Ok Kyle, from the side, the windshield to hood looks totally fine -love the approach angle 😂. Also, the 20” wheels look great. I have no lust for the 21”.
Great walkthrough. I really wanna see a 70mph range test with this loaded with a family, a dog, and luggage. That's gonna be a primary use case and I'd bet it doesnt hit 170 miles, 150 in colder weather.
With the smaller battery of the original European model you‘ll get around 200mi on a full charge at that speed with a fully loaded car at ISA temperature and with reserves to look for an alternate charger.
Why didn't they put the charging port in a good location for Superchargers???? Rear left or front right is the way to go. I know the V4 chargers have longer cords but why not put the port in a better place?
Kyle, I appreciate this video and you mentioning price and range. For me there is another thing and its that we have been waiting for this vehicle since the concept came out which feels like forever!! the excitement that I had when I saw the concept has long gone after waiting so long. You have mentioned before how cool it is that Hyundai/Kia are throwing out new models at a fast pace. I understand the nostalgia, but I lost the excitement by waiting soooooooo long.
Its a neat car. I just hope they add a larger battery and lower the price a tad bit worh a lower trim level or something. EV9 exists and its arguably better in many ways
Guys... I know this will come as a shocker, but VW managed to sell 35,000 copies of this car in 2023 globally, where they're priced comparably (or cheaper) to the U.S market.
I know you already said it, but the range on this is an instant DOA. We wanted a van for more comfortable long road trips with kids and dogs. Guess we'll shove into our Y as always.
I love everything about this, but the battery and range just killed it for me. I was hoping that the LWB would give us a 300+ range (similar to the EV9 base model) but was sad to see the early numbers. That being said, I am going to keep an eye on these and hope that they bring out a bigger battery for it in the future. Still an incredibly cool vehicle!
FYI ... the updated SWB and LWB version in Europe has all the good stuff missing from the previous model: 286hp, more efficient motor, slightly bigger battery, rear windows, and ventilation, etc. 🙂
Thanks for the review and amazing content like always, I would definitely grab an EV9 over this, my friend’s EV9 does over 300 miles true highway range even when it’s a HUGE SUV and charges very fast and has a three row with Captain Chairs for the 2nd row. Very comfortable ride!
@@Pamlicojdjdj1487 exactly KIAs right now are leading with some of “the best build quality vehicles ” and VW, AUDI, BMW & Mercedes are baby seater vehicles, Toyotas, Lexus and Hondas run good but build quality is too cheap,
For me, I'm not willing to go for something below 300mi of range, since that gives about a usable 240 on a roadtrip. Where I live, I have a couple "spans" on my typical 2x/year road trip where I would have to nearly hypermile a vehicle with a 250mi range to make it between the stations. Mountains and not a ton of EV infrastructure makes for an interesting road trip.
Why do CCS ports have a separate cover for the DC pins? I’ve been searching for a while and just find a bunch of Tesla arguments in forums. Can anyone explain?
Remember that it's just J1772 on top, It's a very old standard. They did not expect people to be doing much DC charging. So the CCS bottom part got a cover because it wasn't supposed to be used frequently.
VW did this with the bug remake, whereas the original bug was inexpensive and easy to maintain, the remake was expensive, much larger and complicated -- bypassing the market that had made the original bug popular for decades. Seems they are making the same mistake with the van, it's not simple and is too expensive. What will the hippies buy? They can't afford this.
with current 7 seats EV vans - there is no cheap and simple solution possible - the Hippies who made it and enjoy their retirement will all buy it! guaranteed 🙃
The only people buying this are not buying it because it's affordable. Also, VW, including all Manufacturers, are tired of making mass market cars with little to no margins with way less maintenance requirements where they used to make their money. They are realigning the business model and likely charging what they should have been for decades. I don't like paying more but it will be a win for customers. The cars may be more expensive, but they are going to be more unique and or you'll get more for that money.
You really don't know what you're talking about here. The VW Beetle release in 1998 is identical to a golf with a different body on top. Servicing it and operating costs are literally identical.
Another fantastic review, love the insight and depth. I’m less concerned about the price and more concerned about the cheap materials. The only thing I disagree with is the rear button, not sure why people get so upset about this. On the other hand no bench on 4motion is a non started for me.
I saw the long Buzz in the summer when there was a press event on the Messe Hannover (Germany). All the Buzzes came along the way i usely went with my Dog or when i take my daugther to her horse. There looking so nice. Someone in my neighborhood has bought one, i talked to him and he is satisfied with the Buzz. From Hannover to the coast it is less than 200 km (125 miles)
In Canada - $80,000 RWD, $86,000 4motion. Plus 5 to 15% Sales tax depending on province. And whatever else the dealer can get for doing some paperwork, also known as document fee, or as I call it, additional dealer profit.
Since you drive extremly slow in US...there is more an issue in Germany, without a speed limit ;-)...limited to 145km/h anyway, which is sufficient for US, but extremly slow in Germany. You can find used ID Buzz in Europe...even with the smaller Battery...with 100k km and only 2 years age...seems range is no issue for some people.
10:15 that port looks like it's designed to let water drain out, which is good to see. I haven't had any trouble with water getting into other charging ports, but presumably it could cause problems if it pools and freezes in there. I'm not sure how that's actually managed in other cars beyond just being covered.
I have watched this video several times, also sent a message to my VW salesman, but so far he has not answered, I guess there is some kind of embargo for any quotes or driving impressions. Would love to get one yesterday!
Correct, but people are complaining about 60k. 111kWh I think will still come but only if they sell these in some numbers. Releasing the big pack now would have meant 100k+ MSRP (which I would have gladly paid).
I thought i was going to like this, but the more i read about it the more i realize its not what im looking for. Lets hope the Scout will be closer to what I'm looking for, or else I'm crossing anything german off for my next EV choice.
I really want one. My only real question is how large that back gate swings up and out. Not sure it would work with my garage if I ever backed it in... And I usually back in my cars to get them closer to where my charger is.
I'm guessing the HVAC presets were designed to be easily accessed by voice command. The names are simple to remember and would cut down on HMI interaction. Instead of tapping through menus to find get the right combination of temp/fan/location, you could simply touch the voice command button and say "warm feet" and the car handles the rest.
Questions for Kyle and Myriam: do you think it’s weird that the orange accents in the Dune interior are not color matched to the exterior paint color? If you get a Blue and White Buzz, you still get the orange accents. Bothers me but you guys seem stoked? Also, I really worry about the glass roof letting way too much sun and heat in here in California. How did you guys feel about that? I do like the idea of camping in it and going to sleep under the stars in there! So…trade offs. Also no camper mode (not everyone has dogs) is nuts.
I can live with the high price but not the lack of range. If they get the range north of 270 the next few years I will buy one. I need to replace an old 3 row suv.
This is the first car of mine, that makes me smile when I approach it and drive it. People turn their heads when we drive by and so many positive comments. We converted it ourselves to a camper version. Thanks for a great channel and all the best from Denmark 🙂
I would love to buy the ID Buzz California Camper over this version
HI! Don't you think it sucks, that the car doesn't have camper mode to have the AC running if you sleep in the van? Also if you want 220V outlet, it's only 150W which is only usable for a laptop or so. not for cooking. while alle the korean and a lot of chinese cars have 2 to 4kW outlets! VW has completely lost the plot!
@@Angusoksen Yes not ideal, but doable...I use a Multivan ehybrid as Camper and just use a cable on the campside...close the door on passenger side...no problem for the cable...and with this I have AC inside the van...but since this is electric car (the ehybrid, too), you always have heating and cooling in such a car...BUT...you have to use a trick...close the security belt and load a bag on to the driver seat (which you will do during night anyway to free the sleeping area) and it is still switched on...since EV...no noise at all.
And finally I use a big Li Battery inside to load and charge anything else...which I need for other situations anyway.
@@Angusoksenon the German buzzforum there‘s a home assistant automation that will keep the heating/cooling running for a homemade camping mode. The lack of real AC outlets is a shame. The current workaround is to use a large battery pack that’s charged on either the ac or 12v dc outlet.
I’ve been driving an i3 for six years. I can’t wait to get into the bus!! Practical dream car for me 🙂
I don't think i3 will fit in buzz :)
as a current owner of i3 I think this LWB would a great addition to my garage :D
I have the German version (standard wheelbase, 78 kWh usable) for 2 years now. The car is incredibly good and the range is not really a huge problem because the charging speed is excellent. We have already 50000 km on the car and took it on several roadtrips across Europe. For a family, the car is perfect in terms of space and comfort. The biggest problem in my opinion is the (very) high price and the poor efficiency in the colder season. But I do not regret the purchase. All the best to all from Germany 😊☀️
Nice walk-through and I enjoyed the collab with Myriam.
"Where's my dog mode" should be asked to every company that hasn't released a dog mode yet
How about you take care of your slave pet instead of stuffing it in a car all day
🙄
Idk why it’s so hard lol
@@Drumox why don’t you take care of your slave pet instead of leaving it in a car all day?
Starting to get why people get cats, dog owners are obnoxious
Here's my idea for a TV ad VW should run. A very conservative-looking (sour puss) senior couple is shopping for a new car; they look at all the popular old-folk brands, like Buik, Cadalac, and Oldsmobile but then they see the ID Buzz and they freeze. In the next scene they're dressed like hippies, gathered around a camp fire with other old hippies, playing guitar and smiling. In the final scene we see the silhouette of the van on a low hill top with the moon in the background; the van is gently rocking.
This thing has absolutely no connection whatsoever to the old Bulli / type 2. That was simple to maintain and repair and it was very inexpensive. It was what young people wanted to get because it was so cheap and the older ones they could afford looked just like the then current model year Bulli / type 2.
This bus is near the top of the price point for anything similar. It is in no way friendly to the do-it-yourself crowd. This is the anti-bulli/Type 2 vehicle.
@BatteryLife tested the charging of this battery pack in the ID.7 Tourer Pro S and achieved 10-80% in approximately 25 minutes with peak over 200kW and the curve was above 100 kW up to 75%.
Thanks.
I love my id buzz . Been driving it for 1.5 year now and I just love it. Its like driving a small barn door but indont care. The range is more than enough for me 🙂👍
Why don't they equip US models with heat pumps?
What?! This doesn’t have a heat pump? That winter range will be useless.
@@Wasabi9111 No..."Batterylife" tested this on an ID7...23km difference in range in Winter.
I am happy that this is only a 1k € option, since only helpful for people...a little bit...if they drive daily long distances in Winter.
Otherwise you preheat the car and battery while plugged in in front of your house instead, to compensate this missing heat pump for most of your daily driving.
I am buying one, as I think this car is good for my daily city drive for the family. I don’t highway much, so the mileage isn’t a problem. Ideally in 10 years, we’ll have new tech so I can always replace and get a new battery.
As a person who is old enough to have had an original VW micro bus in the 1970’s. Bought a beat up used one for $50. Had fun with it for a few weeks but on a trip to the Jersey shore the engine blew up. 😂The buzz brings back a lot of memories. But I have to just pretend I’m in one when driving the ID.4.
I had a 5 hippies in a van adventure with one one those back in the 70s as well. The motor blew up in Moncton, New Brunswick, so we camped out at the dealership for the 2.5 days it took to get a new one installed. The I.D. Buzz is so disappointing for me, mainly due to terrible range. I limit my i4 to 80% SOC since I own it outright. Knock off another 20% of range for cold weather and there ain’t much left in the Buzz. VW should hire Lucid for help with efficiency.
@@hardykornfeld1733 Depends on your needs...the route is the goal. ;-)
there are used ID Buzz in Germany with upto 105k km...in 2 years...seems range is no issue for some people. And this ID Buzz in Europe has even less range with 77kwh...instead of 86kwh, like in the long Version.
Small Battery, slow peak charging, 70k without tax credit, 230 mile range. Don't expect many to sell.
I honestly wonder if they priced it that way so dealers wouldn't be jacking up the price. Tamp down the enthusiasm and a couple months after release they start offering rebates.
I used my morning to watch your video. Amazing stuff Kyle! I'm really loving the colors on the Buzz!
The ccs port is designed to drain water better, maybe?
right
Came here to say this.
Agree, drainage
Yeah, I'm pretty certain it's for water/debris egress.
Amazing walk-through, great to see the Dune interior! I like the way MEB drives, and I think the Buzz is the best vehicle on the platform. I would much rather have this than the EV9 from a driving perspective. MEB drivetrain has been proven to be pretty solid as well. I like the Tesla charging strategy (arrive dead), the only caveat is the ability to precondition the battery properly in low temperatures. The headlights on the Buzz are amazing. Travel assist is pretty good. Great air conditioning. No start button needed (great getaway-factor). Class leading third row. According to the spec sheet, the phone charger is ventilated as well now. Big software improvements!
I agree with you on range, it will take a heavy heavy hit on the US highway 😬Unfortunate that it is so expensive, and still feels cheap. VW didn't really need to bring it over, it seems like a bit of a risk. Happy that they did and I hope to see at least some in the US! And where is camp/dog mode, absolutely insane. This one will take a hit because the Rivian exist as well, I think there is a crowd overlap there. It is a van though, in that category it is class leading 😁
BTW: I will ship you the 21"s
I need people to buy this so there will be some used ones for me in like 5-7 years😊
Why is it so expensive? Why doesn't it get enough range?
Because it's a brick on wheels and not an aerodynamic bullet like the model x.
@@Demobot1 you missed the joke
VW executives thinks that the ID BUZZ would be another NewBeetle cash cow... Now they're blaming the MEB platform for their shortsightedness.
Think about this for the price of this, you could get it used to Tesla Model Model X Plaid with 1000 hp
@@BryceLovesTechI could buy a low mileage Plaid X for under $60…
I drove one in Germany and was impressed by the smooth and sporty drive feeling. And you‘re sitting elevated like in a Multivan with a great overview.
Need a scooby doo mystery machine wrap on it
Like yesterday, Shag!
Timing is really bad. A couple of years ago they would have had many suckers buy this but now aren’t going to pay these crazy prices for such a lackluster product. VW is in big trouble.
I think they aren’t planning on selling many of these in the US. But I like that they at least offer it in case some people are interested.
VW sold almost 3 times more ID Buzz than Model S and X combined in Europe in 2023.
Crazy prices? Then who's buying all those Teslas? There are many crazy people in the world.
Great review! Looking forward to your driving impressions!
Great addition to the format with the conversation with Myriam.... two knowledgable EV enthusiasts. awesome stuff!
The new SWB model in Europe does come with 6-seats captain conf. and 3-zone climate and opening rear windows... all for a premium, but only limitation is the battery size (79kwh net) and not coming with 7 seats.
Why is the battery so small on such a big vehicle? This could have been a fantastic road trip vehicle, but the short range just kills it. I actually think the price would have been fine if it had 20% more range.
This is the real killer on this vehicle. For this price they should be putting a true 350 mi US highway range battery in it. Look at the sizes of battery that Chevy is putting in the Equinox EV, for much less money. Or the Kia EV9 around the same price. The reality is Volkswagen does not want to sell this vehicle because they lose quite a lot of money on them. And this is because they still have not figured out how to produce batteries at a competitive cost. This is a loss leader PR vehicle, an electric halo car, a throwback nostalgia billboard to buff up the VW brand. Draw people into the dealership to maybe catch a glimpse of one while they sell you a Tiguan. My dealer had a ton of ID4s a year ago but now it's all Atlas and Tiguan 98%.
Should definitely be a 400+ mile vehicle
@@EPeltzerI seriously doubt volkswagen made a vehicle that they "don't want to sell". Makes zero sense.
@@EPeltzerNo way they spent years developing this so they can build them as showroom lures. That’s silly. I think their problem is that they took too long to develop it (I don’t know why it took two years to go from short to long wheel base), and now the range and tech is nearly out of date. If they do a refresh on these in a couple of years, I expect they would boost the battery considerably…so maybe lease instead of buy?
Big facts on all accounts
Two things. 1) you and Miriam make a great car reviewing team--usually the people you work with are not on the same level of car nerd as you are but she's right there with you. 2) thank you VW for hiring some real software nerds and NOT requiring them to run every single decision by 6 layers of bosses. You want fast, cool UI? You gotta let the nerds be in charge!
Love to see that this thing is finally on shore in the US. Maybe in a few years once they're available on the used market I can grab one!
Im just curious as to why we can't have AWD and 7 seats?
I hope they add that option after launch along with better interior trims
@yesloow For me, it's a real deal breaker. Since I bring the kids with me to Costco when I do large grocery runs.
It’s seems to be the best available minivan option for wheelchair accessibility. ♿️ I’d remove the 2nd row seats and mount a powered folding ramp on the passenger side. As with any new vehicles you have to make the best of the spec you can get and hope for upgrades asap. My order is already in motion.
Every maker does some sort of this nonsense. Can't get bench seating in the upper trims of any manufacturer. It's what killed it for me on the EV9. They made the 3rd row only good for 2 people, not 3. Add captain's chairs in the middle and you're lugging around a two and a half ton barge with one more seat than a Forte. Toyota does the same thing with the Grand Highlander with the top powertrain, no bench. It's only available as an option on the lower ones...makes no sense, what does an engine have to do with seating configuration.
I would imagine it has to do with weight. U.S. regulations for cars have certain weight limits before they can no longer be classified as passenger cars (it may be 6,000 lbs). If VW has the vehicle weight more than the limit they can no longer count it the same way towards their clean air vehicle credits.
I don't mind the hood being a bit further out than the windshield. I do have an issue with the battery size though..
They shouldn’t have cheaped out on the battery capacity at this price point. At $70k, put a 100 kWh usable and have it charge at peak of 250 kw and match the same charging speed 10-80% and then you have a nice electric spacious road tripper.
I tried customizing mine on the website and mine came to $89,620 Canadian money. And I don’t think that’s including tax. That was for the 1st ED 4motion
They didn’t, it’s a big battery but its a brick so wind resistance is likely killing the range.
That j1772 inlet has those holes/cutouts for water/dirt drainage.
If you think of it as a van, then it's a bit hard to swallow the price. But if you compare it to the other 3 row EVs, it's a pretty decent bargain (not a statement abou the driving mechanics). It's going to have more space for passangers than it's SUV contemporaries. The range is always a concern for EV folks, but most of the time on road trips you get out of the car every 3 hours or so anyway (kids, bathroom breaks, eating, stretch your legs). So this would be fine. Range anxiety only really exists if you live in desolate places (which most Americans don't).
LOL I don't know why I guess so happy when anything from the out spec network of channels comes out and the batteries included podcast absolutely amazing
For all of the people living in the past, let's get a reality check:
I have a 1968 Bus with the original bill of sale. It was $2,759. Today, that's $25,400.
I have a 2003 Eurovan I bought in 2003. Original bill of sale, $32,500. Today, that's $55,700
When I was in Germany two years ago I priced out an equivalent T6.1 (like my 2003) and at the time, it came out to $80K USD. Today, that's $86,200.
So for all of you old timers, get out of the past and how cheap things were. The T series is a premium vehicle and has been for a long time. This is not the 1960's.
Let's hope the reading glasses were on and they saw that^^^tough love.
@@cbotten106 - People in the US seem to think that the bus was some sort of cheap vehicle. It became a cheap vehicle because they needed big repairs (especially the engine) and mostly abandoned them. Thus, they were cheap. This is not counting that most rusted away in 10 years. Thus worth less.
My 2021 VW Multivan (the predecessor of this vehicle) cost AU$68K.
9 years? Sorry, Volkswagen first showed a new microbus concept way back in 2001. 23 years Kyle 23 years!
And they still fell short on a crapload of specs and capabilities. This thing is a meme.
They'd have been unstoppable through the mid 2000s if they'd launched a bus on the heels of the beetle.
@@otm646 they never stopped selling the Transporter / Multivan /Caravelle. You could even get them with the two tone Color combo
I was thinking the same thing. While the original concept was way back in 2001, the Buzz concept from 2017 is what really lead to this. About 8 years to get it to market. And people thought it took Tesla a long time to get Cybertruck on sale!
I love this bus!
The Bus remake has been teased for 20+ years🙄
Interesting to see the range fully loaded!
The range is anything but fully loaded.
Weight makes no big difference...only stop and go, would make a difference, since you need to accelerate again and again...but usually you are driving long distance with constant speed...in this case...no big difference.
It'd be great if you could show what matrix headlight looks like on the receiving end. Everyone only shows what it looks like from the driver's seat.
looks like the CCS port is designed that way to drain water from pooling in the holes.
I have to say, the design of this car is very unique, and I really like it☺
Ok Kyle, from the side, the windshield to hood looks totally fine -love the approach angle 😂. Also, the 20” wheels look great. I have no lust for the 21”.
Would have been a home run of a vehicle if it were priced correctly. It’s outrageously expensive.
I actually prefer the 20” wheels. It looks more proportional. Body color inserts would be nice.
Great walkthrough. I really wanna see a 70mph range test with this loaded with a family, a dog, and luggage. That's gonna be a primary use case and I'd bet it doesnt hit 170 miles, 150 in colder weather.
With the smaller battery of the original European model you‘ll get around 200mi on a full charge at that speed with a fully loaded car at ISA temperature and with reserves to look for an alternate charger.
makes me feel young again watching this :)
I would buy one of these. I love how it looks like the original bus.
Love instant kW meter and preconditioning info. It needs Supercharger access ASAP.
Why didn't they put the charging port in a good location for Superchargers???? Rear left or front right is the way to go. I know the V4 chargers have longer cords but why not put the port in a better place?
@@jonathanmyers961probably a design decision made years and years ago. Good point.
Kyle, I appreciate this video and you mentioning price and range. For me there is another thing and its that we have been waiting for this vehicle since the concept came out which feels like forever!! the excitement that I had when I saw the concept has long gone after waiting so long. You have mentioned before how cool it is that Hyundai/Kia are throwing out new models at a fast pace. I understand the nostalgia, but I lost the excitement by waiting soooooooo long.
Modern EV youtube review: "It's not as bad as you think." and "JOY"
Its a neat car. I just hope they add a larger battery and lower the price a tad bit worh a lower trim level or something. EV9 exists and its arguably better in many ways
Guys... I know this will come as a shocker, but VW managed to sell 35,000 copies of this car in 2023 globally, where they're priced comparably (or cheaper) to the U.S market.
They're usually smaller and more expensive than in the US!"
@@kraenk12 Ack.... sorry I meant (or more expensive)!
I know you already said it, but the range on this is an instant DOA. We wanted a van for more comfortable long road trips with kids and dogs. Guess we'll shove into our Y as always.
If you're EV camping, every 50 miles of range makes a huge difference. We have to do lots of planning and adjusting for our Gen1 quad R1S
For 60k should be a least 300 miles range 😊, great content Kyle 👍
I love everything about this, but the battery and range just killed it for me. I was hoping that the LWB would give us a 300+ range (similar to the EV9 base model) but was sad to see the early numbers.
That being said, I am going to keep an eye on these and hope that they bring out a bigger battery for it in the future. Still an incredibly cool vehicle!
FYI ... the updated SWB and LWB version in Europe has all the good stuff missing from the previous model: 286hp, more efficient motor, slightly bigger battery, rear windows, and ventilation, etc. 🙂
Hey guys, where is the driving review that was promised?
Maybe because they wrecked the car…
@@genmilk?? For real ??
I think the breaks in the charging port are water drains - makes sense really!
I really enjoyed the simplicity and cleanliness of the two window switches in my ID.4. Wonder why that's so difficult?
When will the camper with the pop up roof appear
Because that will help with the range.
imagine what that price would be
@@craig8638don’t drive with the roof open 😂
@@theseb1979 shoot I didn’t think of that
"Later this decade". But a brittish company does retro fits
When did VW add themselves to the NACS list? Never seen the announcement on this.
Thanks for the review and amazing content like always, I would definitely grab an EV9 over this, my friend’s EV9 does over 300 miles true highway range even when it’s a HUGE SUV and charges very fast and has a three row with Captain Chairs for the 2nd row. Very comfortable ride!
@@Nimbus_2k But it is a KIA
@@Pamlicojdjdj1487 exactly KIAs right now are leading with some of “the best build quality vehicles ” and VW, AUDI, BMW & Mercedes are baby seater vehicles, Toyotas, Lexus and Hondas run good but build quality is too cheap,
@@Nimbus_2k oooh ok😂
Yeah, EV9 is the way to go and it's not close.
@@TheCapn23 we compared it to a 2024 Model X and the EV9 still so much better
EPA's MPGe rating for this brick is only 83 MPGe combined city/highway.
I want one. I also can’t wait for you all to do a road trip from coast to coast in one.
Love the wheels on this one.
And btw - working in Norway I simply see dosens of those daily - majority being a cargo vans.
they need to add at least another 50 miles to that range.
For me, I'm not willing to go for something below 300mi of range, since that gives about a usable 240 on a roadtrip. Where I live, I have a couple "spans" on my typical 2x/year road trip where I would have to nearly hypermile a vehicle with a 250mi range to make it between the stations. Mountains and not a ton of EV infrastructure makes for an interesting road trip.
Thanks Great Video
Why do CCS ports have a separate cover for the DC pins? I’ve been searching for a while and just find a bunch of Tesla arguments in forums. Can anyone explain?
Who knows! They could’ve used that extra plastic for a couple more window switches 😂
Remember that it's just J1772 on top, It's a very old standard. They did not expect people to be doing much DC charging. So the CCS bottom part got a cover because it wasn't supposed to be used frequently.
Could use NACS connector and what's the charging speed
Charging speed is 200 kWh.
I haven't used window switches like that but I like the concept. Saves switches.
VW did this with the bug remake, whereas the original bug was inexpensive and easy to maintain, the remake was expensive, much larger and complicated -- bypassing the market that had made the original bug popular for decades. Seems they are making the same mistake with the van, it's not simple and is too expensive. What will the hippies buy? They can't afford this.
with current 7 seats EV vans - there is no cheap and simple solution possible - the Hippies who made it and enjoy their retirement will all buy it! guaranteed 🙃
Those Hippies of the 60 and 70 own things like Ben and Jerry's. I think they could afford a fleet of them.
The only people buying this are not buying it because it's affordable. Also, VW, including all Manufacturers, are tired of making mass market cars with little to no margins with way less maintenance requirements where they used to make their money. They are realigning the business model and likely charging what they should have been for decades. I don't like paying more but it will be a win for customers. The cars may be more expensive, but they are going to be more unique and or you'll get more for that money.
There are a lot of “Hippies” that are seniors now and can afford this.
You really don't know what you're talking about here. The VW Beetle release in 1998 is identical to a golf with a different body on top. Servicing it and operating costs are literally identical.
Have you received any updates on the stop sale order on the ID4?
Another fantastic review, love the insight and depth. I’m less concerned about the price and more concerned about the cheap materials. The only thing I disagree with is the rear button, not sure why people get so upset about this. On the other hand no bench on 4motion is a non started for me.
I don't know why, but I have a feeling this will sell better than expected.
I saw the long Buzz in the summer when there was a press event on the Messe Hannover (Germany). All the Buzzes came along the way i usely went with my Dog or when i take my daugther to her horse. There looking so nice. Someone in my neighborhood has bought one, i talked to him and he is satisfied with the Buzz. From Hannover to the coast it is less than 200 km (125 miles)
Need a caper version with a sink fridge and pop up sleeping area
Sadly we wont get the Cargo version
that's an impressive third row, that price is wild tho
They had all this time and still no nacs. I also heard no heatpump. Is this true? If so not good either.
In Canada - $80,000 RWD, $86,000 4motion. Plus 5 to 15% Sales tax depending on province. And whatever else the dealer can get for doing some paperwork, also known as document fee, or as I call it, additional dealer profit.
Can’t wait to see the 10% challenge on this one. That will really let us see how it stacks up as a road tripper.
Plugged in to the nat gas power station in the background 😎
Anyone know the measurement of the width of the cargo opening? Wondering how hard it would be to throw a sheet or two of plywood in this thing.
If it can't fit a 4x8 sheet flat on the floor (seats down) what is the point?
Range is adequate for Germany but not the open roads of the USA
For Germany has no open roads after all. What's the word in German for highway again?
@@ScottBergerMN Autobahn. Since you asked.
@@ScottBergerMN I think that word is sarcasm.
Since you drive extremly slow in US...there is more an issue in Germany, without a speed limit ;-)...limited to 145km/h anyway, which is sufficient for US, but extremly slow in Germany.
You can find used ID Buzz in Europe...even with the smaller Battery...with 100k km and only 2 years age...seems range is no issue for some people.
Capacitive buttons closely clustered together don’t work well for accessibility reasons. Accidental button presses are a problem.
always love seeing Myriam, i need to go see her next time im stateside, and i didn't realise Kyle was on her pod
10:15 that port looks like it's designed to let water drain out, which is good to see. I haven't had any trouble with water getting into other charging ports, but presumably it could cause problems if it pools and freezes in there. I'm not sure how that's actually managed in other cars beyond just being covered.
Loads of folks on the Consumer Reports video were complaining that they’d been shown a shot of a CHAdeMO port. 😂
I have watched this video several times, also sent a message to my VW salesman, but so far he has not answered, I guess there is some kind of embargo for any quotes or driving impressions. Would love to get one yesterday!
I swear there was talk from VW during the unveiling that a 111 kWh version was in the works for the Buzz.
Correct, but people are complaining about 60k. 111kWh I think will still come but only if they sell these in some numbers. Releasing the big pack now would have meant 100k+ MSRP (which I would have gladly paid).
how did you get the orange one? I checked the VW site and they're not offering the orange color
Can you remove 2nd and 3rd row seats for extra cargo space?
Only third...but with the second false floor, you can achieve a flat floor folding the second row.
I thought i was going to like this, but the more i read about it the more i realize its not what im looking for. Lets hope the Scout will be closer to what I'm looking for, or else I'm crossing anything german off for my next EV choice.
Not interested in either. And my dog’s name is “Scout.”🐶
I really want one. My only real question is how large that back gate swings up and out. Not sure it would work with my garage if I ever backed it in... And I usually back in my cars to get them closer to where my charger is.
I'm guessing the HVAC presets were designed to be easily accessed by voice command. The names are simple to remember and would cut down on HMI interaction. Instead of tapping through menus to find get the right combination of temp/fan/location, you could simply touch the voice command button and say "warm feet" and the car handles the rest.
oh snap looking forward to this
The shorter euro spec is better for me. Will the short base ever come to NA?
That's insane about the lightning, especially considering Europe has way safer lighting standards. The US still allows combo red stop/turns
Anyone who drives at night also knows the headlight aiming and cutoff standards are still crap on loads of newer vehicles.
@@EUC-lid I swear they don't even set the aim from the factory
Looks like the CCS design is to allow water moisture to run out
No dog mode but you activate ac via app every 30 minutes and deactivate the alarm via checkbox when leaving the car. Its a workaround dog mode.
There‘s a way to automate this via home assistant.
Questions for Kyle and Myriam: do you think it’s weird that the orange accents in the Dune interior are not color matched to the exterior paint color? If you get a Blue and White Buzz, you still get the orange accents. Bothers me but you guys seem stoked?
Also, I really worry about the glass roof letting way too much sun and heat in here in California. How did you guys feel about that? I do like the idea of camping in it and going to sleep under the stars in there! So…trade offs.
Also no camper mode (not everyone has dogs) is nuts.
I can live with the high price but not the lack of range. If they get the range north of 270 the next few years I will buy one. I need to replace an old 3 row suv.
westfalia camper will be epic!
With that huge roof, it may have been cool to have built-in solar panels .
Does the rear window work? maybe i missed that