Car review: Volkswagen ID Buzz

Posted 21 April, 2026 Dylan Campbell

It makes sense that a born-again Volkswagen Kombi is all-electric, given the views of the tie-dyed t-shirt wearing, Beach Boys-basting drivers who embraced the original in the 1960s.

While more Kombi in spirit than name, Volkswagen’s new all-electric ID Buzz people-mover is now on sale in Australia, offered in four versions.

There’s a short wheelbase five-seater with a 79kWh battery pack and up to 422km of range; a long wheelbase 86kWh seven-seater with up to 452km of range; and a more powerful flagship, all-wheel-drive seven-seater that can travel up to 450km.

For environmentally aware tradies, there’s even a utilitarian cargo model with a three-up bench front seat and room for a pallet in the back.

Only available as an EV, the ID Buzz can be topped up from 10 to 80 percent charge in 26 minutes at a public DC fast charger.

Appealing to original Kombi fans, there are 13 colour options ranging from surf-inspired light turquoise to eyeball-searing tennis ball yellow, to Cherry Red.

The Interior

The ID Buzz invokes the 1960s with its exterior, but the interior is straight out of 2026. The vehicle has a simple design focused around a large 12.9-inch central touchscreen, clearly displaying Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly.

A smaller 5.3-inch screen behind the steering wheel gives you key info like range and your speed.

It’s hard to not wish Volkswagen had extended the retro touches to things like a knob for the volume and a dial for the air-conditioning, but you get used to using the screen.

As a mostly urban family runabout, the ID Buzz would be superbly practical with its gargantuan 1340-litre boot. Choose the long-wheelbase model and even adults in the third row have ample space, making this electric van a terrific seven-seater.

On the road

The first thing you notice when driving the ID Buzz is the enormous, wide and flat windscreen making you feel like you should be putting Cactus Beach into the GPS system.

A high, almost bus-like seating position grants a commanding view. You’ll be trying to spot yourself in shop windows as you drive past or catching the abundant smiles and turning heads as the ID Buzz radiates good vibes everywhere it goes.

The ID Buzz drives like almost every other EV ever made which is to say it’s smooth, refined and quiet – and very easy to drive.

Two powertrains are available, one with a single, rear-drive electric motor offering 210kW and 560Nm; and a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version with a grunt-packed 250kW and up to 590Nm.

Even the single-motor version is brisk with its instant electric torque, giving you the flexibility to safely zip across intersections and away from the lights.

Final word

If you need a people-mover, the head might tell you to get a silver Kia Carnival as the top-spec GT-Line Hybrid is about the same price as the entry-level ID Buzz. But buying the reborn electric Kombi would be a no-brainer for the heart.

While the real-world range of about 400km could make Christmas road-trips a tad tricky, as a suburban runabout, you’d always look forward to a drive in the ID Buzz. It also might give you an excuse to wear the old, tie-dyed shirts and give the kids a vehicle they’ll still be talking about in 20 years.