The long-wheelbase version of the retro-inspired EV offers more space and versatility for passengers and cargo. I have a confession to make: I love buses. Not the smelly, noisy ones that clog up city streets but the cool, vintage ones that evoke a sense of adventure and freedom. The ones that make you want to pack up your bags and hit the road with your friends or family, exploring new places and having fun along the way.
That's why I was so excited when Volkswagen announced the ID. Buzz the electric reincarnation of the iconic VW Microbus that debuted in 1950 and became a symbol of the hippie movement in the 1960s. The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is part of VW's ambitious plan to launch a whole family of EVs based on its modular MEB platform, which also underpins the ID.4 crossover and the ID.3 hatchback (not sold in the U.S.).
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz was first shown as a concept in 2017, and since then we've been eagerly awaiting its arrival in production form. VW has confirmed that it will launch the ID. Buzz in North America and Europe in 2024, but there's a twist: there will be two versions of the electric bus, one with a standard wheelbase and one with a long wheelbase.
The long-wheelbase version, which had its world premiere this week at an event in Germany, is called the Volkswagen ID. Buzz L (for long, obviously). It measures 205.5 inches long, 77.8 inches wide, and 77.4 inches high, making it 11.8 inches longer than the standard ID. Buzz. The extra length translates into more space and versatility for passengers and cargo.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz L can seat up to eight people in three rows of seats, or up to six people with a second-row bench that can be folded down or removed entirely. The third row can also be folded down or taken out, creating a flat load floor that can accommodate up to 106 cubic feet of cargo (with both rows removed). That's more than twice as much as the standard ID. Buzz, which can seat up to seven people or carry up to 48 cubic feet of cargo.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz L also offers more options for customization and personalization than the standard ID. Buzz. Customers can choose from different exterior colors, roof designs, wheel sizes, interior materials, and ambient lighting themes. There are also different equipment packages available, such as the Travel package that adds a panoramic glass roof, a head-up display, a rearview camera mirror, and a premium sound system; or the Active package that adds roof rails, a tow hitch, an air suspension, and an off-road mode.
But what about the driving experience? Well, the ID. Buzz L promises to deliver plenty of performance and range for an electric bus. It will be powered by two electric motors, one on each axle, providing all-wheel drive and a combined output of 295 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. VW claims that it will accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 99 mph.
The ID. Buzz L will also have a large battery pack with a capacity of 111 kWh (net), which VW estimates will provide a range of up to 300 miles on the WLTP cycle (the EPA estimate will likely be lower). The battery can be recharged from five to 80 percent in about half an hour using a fast-charging station with up to 125 kW of power.
