First Drive: Volkswagen ID. Buzz Is at a High Price

That’s probably by design. The ID. Buzz is what people in the marketing world call a “halo” product. It’s too pricey or niche for most people to actually purchase, but it’s compelling enough to attract attention to a brand as a whole. In practice, that means most families heading to a Volkswagen dealership will drive home in a new Atlas or a Tiguan even if they post photos on Instagram of their kids posing in front of the ID. Buzz on the showroom floor.

But we’re not here to judge automakers’ business plans. We’re here to help you judge whether the ID. Buzz could fit your needs (or budget), which is why we plan to purchase an ID. Buzz of our own once it becomes available in dealerships. In the meantime, to get some initial impressions, we rented a midrange Pro S Plus AWD model directly from Volkswagen. CR members can read our initial thoughts below.

Once our Buzz arrives, we’ll drive it for 2,000 miles to make sure everything works properly. Then we’ll put it through more than 50 tests at the CR Auto Test Center, including empirical measurements of acceleration, braking, handling, child car seat fit, and usability. We’ll also measure its EV driving range. In the end, it will get an Overall Score based on our road test results, survey responses about brand reliability, and what safety features come standard. CR members will have access to the full road test results as soon as they’re available.

What we drove: 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S Plus AWD electric minivan

Powertrain: 335-hp, dual electric motors; 91-kWh battery; 1-speed direct drive; all-wheel drive

MSRP: $67,995

Options: AWD, premium audio, captain’s chairs, panoramic glass roof ($1,495), two-tone exterior ($995), Flexboard elevated cargo floor

Destination fee: $1,550

Total cost: $72,035