Is the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Really a Minivan?
The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz has sliding doors like a minivan, but is it actually an electric minivan? I spent time driving the ID. Buzz with my family and rounded up my thoughts on the floor of the 2025 Chicago Auto Show, where the ID. Buzz is on display for car shoppers to check out. So, how is the ID. Buzz like a typical minivan (Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Pacifica, Kia Carnival), and in what ways is it not?
Related: 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Review: This Sparks Joy
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Ways the ID. Buzz Is Like a Minivan
The clearest way the ID. Buzz is like a minivan is that it uses sliding doors, which are a hallmark of minivans; they won’t fling open in a breeze and are easily controllable with the press of a button to open and close during stressful school drop-off lines. But beyond that, the ID. Buzz has other minivan characteristics that will be welcome to people looking for an electric minivan.
- People room: There’s exceptional room and comfort for all occupants in the ID. Buzz, and even more so in the third row than in most minivans, with its generous, more comfortable leg and headroom.
- Cargo room: The ID. Buzz’s distinctive shape allows for a massive cargo area, just like a minivan, that can be nearly as purposeful as a pickup truck. However, it takes a lot of effort to fully use the cargo area. So it’s a minivan, yes, but more like an old Dodge Caravan where you had to remove the third row for the most cargo room instead of simply folding it flat like with modern minivans.
- Child-safety seats: There’s no shortage of room for child-safety seats, which fit exceptionally well the second and third rows, and the third row has all the desired attachments of Latch anchors and top tethers.
Ways the ID. Buzz Isn’t Like a Minivan
Obviously, look at it — it’s a freakin’ reincarnated VW Microbus! The ID. Buzz’s cool factor is off the charts compared to a regular minivan. If you’re an early buyer, you won’t be able to take a drive without receiving a thumbs-up, wave or being asked “Is that a VW bus?” Unfortunately, some of that excitement wears off once you start wanting to use it like a normal minivan.
- Driving position: The ID. Buzz’s driving position is delivery van-esque, and it’s one of the most unique driving positions of almost any new car available.
- Difficult entry/exit: Despite its low body height, it’s not as easy to get into the ID. Buzz as a minivan because the step-in height is high and more SUV-like, so it isn’t great for smaller kids or adults needing easy entry/exit. It’s actually kind of awkward.
- Cargo space behind third row: When all seats are in use, there’s not as much cargo space behind the third row as in a normal minivan. Plus, there’s a very high cargo load-in floor with the flat folding floor and raised shelf. The shelf and third-row seats are removable for an expansive cargo area behind the second row, but each seat weighs over 60 pounds.
- It’s electric: If you’re looking for a fully electric minivan, this is your only option. But the ID. Buzz’s range is limited to around 230 miles depending on if it’s rear- or all-wheel drive, so it’s best used as an around-town van rather than for family road trips or road-trip adventures.
- Higher price: The ID. Buzz starts at $61,545 (including $1,550 destination) in its RWD configuration, which is a similar price to a top range Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid that has a small electric-only range for short distances and gasoline-electric hybrid for longer distances. The $50,000-60,000 range is also where top trim levels of the other minivans land, though you can also get much more affordable versions in the $40,000-50,000 range.
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Is the ID. Buzz a Good Minivan?
The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz is not a typical minivan. It has great space for passengers in all three rows of seats, but when those seats are in use, there’s limited cargo space for family road trips. It’s also not the easiest for small kids or adults to get in and out of. However, rarely is the stylish choice also the most practical choice, and that also goes for the ID. Buzz. You just have to determine how much practicality you really need from a minivan.
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