Even as I was de-icing the frozen windows, I had the warm summer sun, sea and waves in my heart as I climbed aboard Volkswagen’s new ID Buzz.
With deliveries beginning this week, VW has managed to combine the free-spirited feel of the original hippy campervan from the 1960s and ’70s with the green high-tech, zero-emissions electrics of the 21st century. And it’s really fun.
But it certainly isn’t cheap. A first edition model released in June retailing for £62,995 sold out three times.
Re-generation: The VW ID Buzz is an electric version of its hippy-era Camper
There are now two launch models: the Life, which runs on 19-inch wheels and costs from £57,111, and the higher-spec, fully-stocked Style, which runs on 20-inch wheels and is priced at £61,915, albeit with Extras, mine is £65,465 road tested with an orange and white interior.
The rear-wheel drive ‘bus’ has a 204 hp (150 kW) electric motor powered by a 77 kWh lithium-ion battery and connected to a direct-drive single-speed automatic gearbox offering rest at 62 mph in 10.2 seconds to a top speed of 90 mph, and with a decent 255-mile range.
It has two conventional doors at the front, two van-type sliding doors at the rear, and a large power lift-up hatch at the rear. There’s a large, raised, flat trunk with ample space below, and the 60:40 split rear bench seats fold down.
The interior is elegant, light and uncluttered with soft touch moldings and contemporary ‘Silver Birch’ veneer.
It has two conventional doors at the front, two van-type sliding doors at the rear, and a large power lift-up hatch at the rear.
For its size, the Buzz is agile and highly maneuverable with a tight turning radius similar to that of a taxi.
The biggest complaint is that VW tries to be too smart with smart technology.
Sit in the seat, hit the brake and everything lights up
The interior is elegant, light and uncluttered with soft-touch moldings and contemporary ‘Silver Birch’ veneer
VW has managed to combine the free-spirited feel of the original hippy motorhome of the 1960s and 1970s with the zero emissions electric of the 21st century.
There are three driving modes: eco, comfort and sport, which is quite energetic.
There’s a large, raised, flat trunk with ample space below and the 60:40 split rear bench seats fold down
Mastering the basics is a doddle. The remote alerts the car of your approach. Sit in the seat, hit the brake, and it all powers up. Flip the controller by the steering wheel forward and off you go. Back to reverse. Press to park.
Then it gets more complicated. My biggest complaint is that VW tries to be too smart with smart technology (a fault I first found with the VW Golf and its slider). It’s nice to have 1001 brilliant features, but if accessing them through overly complex screen menus annoys you (as I did), you’ve failed. Some simple easy to use knobs for basic functions would be helpful.
In desperation, I resorted to voice control to access some features after endlessly scrolling in circles through dead-end screen options. It’s a distraction and potentially dangerous. Fix it up!
For its size, the Buzz is agile and highly maneuverable with a tight turning circle similar to that of a taxi, and it achieved a five-star safety rating in the EuroNCAP crash test this month.
There are three driving modes: eco, comfort and sport, which is quite energetic.
It’s nimble, makes a decent lick down the highway. You can increase the resistance for single-pedal driving and generate more load on board.
A VAT-free commercial version of the Buzz already exists, priced at £38,125 and eligible for a £5,000 grant. Also in the pipeline is a seven-seater long wheelbase version, a 4X4 and a suitably equipped campervan including the ‘California’ variant for new and reborn 21st century hippies, adventurers and surfers.
I can not wait.
Opel reinforces the Mokka zero emissions
Vauxhall has beefed up its zero-emissions Mokka Electric with a new 54kWh battery that increases its range by around 20 per cent compared to the previous 50kWh version, to 252 miles.
It also features a more powerful 156-hp electric motor (up 20 hp) that allows it to accelerate from 0-62 mph in less than 10 seconds, with its top speed electronically limited to 93 mph.
Vauxhall has beefed up its zero-emission Mokka Electric with a new 54kWh battery
Orders open in March with deliveries later in the spring.
It comes standard with an integrated 11 kW charger suitable for home charging via a wall box, supports fast charging up to 100 kW and can be charged to 80% in 30 minutes. The improved battery is also more efficient, requiring 15.2 kWh of electricity to cover 62 miles (100 km).
The Mokka was the first Vauxhall available with a fully electric powertrain.
Share or comment on this article:
Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them, we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.
