Should you consider this seven-seat electric cool-mobile? (Volkswagen ID.Buzz Pro LWB 2025 Review)

The retro-cool Volkswagen ID.Buzz electric people mover has finally arrived in Australian showroom over 20 years after being teased by 2001’s Microbus concept.

Chasing Cars’ contributor and Volkswagen fanatic Nathan Ponchard takes the Pro Long Wheelbase version for a full test on Aussie terra firma. He tells us what he likes and doesn’t like about the ID.Buzz and, importantly, assesses whether the cool factor actually translates into a solid, contemporary electric family hauler.

The seven-seat extended wheelbase version is joined by a go-fast GTC variant, a SWB five-seater as well as the commercial-focused Cargo. And the big daddy Pro LWB clocks in at $91,290 before on-roads, plus four grand for the must-have two-tone paintwork.

Time codes:
0:00 - Intro
0:26 - Two-tone love
0:55 - Local line-up
1:13 - Design
1:54 - Wheels
2:19 - Interior
3:30 - Style package
4:14 - Range
4:33 - Row two
5:30 - Glass roof
6:32 - Row three
7:01 - Cargo space
7:43 - On road
8:02 - Outputs
8:39 - Ride and handling
10:22 - Drivability
11:02 - Sound
12:14 - Expensive?
13:23 - Value
14:15 - Popular
14:28 - Verdict

As always, we don’t accept advertising from car manufacturers, and we’re powered by Budget Direct.

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[GCMicro]

That is a crazy price for that range I feel like. Although for the vast majority of use cases (non-road trips and long trips without easy access to a charger) I can see how it would be popular as an every-day people mover with that interior.

[amirrezarezaie]

Are cars getting ridiculously expensively, or am i just getting poorer?

[whiskeybluez]

Xpeng X9, superior tech, excellent design, premium cabin materials and superb built quality, latest tech battery, better range, better warranty for less $$$.
VW, you're seriously ill and you don't even know it

[Fantic]

$120, 000+ for the top spec with options is pretty outrageous. You can buy a propper camper van or motorhome for that money.

[julianwhitta]

Jeez, Ponch, it’s weighty - 2500 kg before you put people in it. Ticks the retro references box without getting silly; smart interior (VW really do interior packaging very well); and such a good-looking thing. Pricing is a little eye-watering, but that’s the story with so many EVs right now. Still, I think I love it.

[simonmanners]

I would hate to think what insurance would cost on this thing.

[copaloadofthis]

Given the amount of equipment in this van, it is still attainable for the more well-heeled buyer. The original Kombis were fairly bare-boned compared to todays' offering.

[dosoffbeats]

Need the round headlights ...plus the peace and love paint job...

[BradGryphonn]

If it had an ICE option, I might buy one. Oh, and round headlights.

[hugowells]

Hopefully they release a camper version

[andau]

off the topic, but does anyone know where was this filmed? The beach looks so nice!

[timfudy]

The Chinese Zeekr MPV will undercut this massively.

[stephenchurcher]

I don't think too many surfers will be buying at that price

[pky]

This is what I wasn't sure about looking around but does this do V2L/V2H?

[fred]

In the older versions, you could seat 3 adults in the 3rd row. The boot was bigger too. I wonder if the space has been sacrificed to crumple zones (safety)?

[stuartslyper]

$91, 000!!! What ever happened to “the people’s car”?
For $50k this would be a great car for many families rather than a novelty for a few wealthy people. Not every car company can become a small volume luxury producer.

[WilliamOwyong]

VW with the ID Buzz are showing they either just don't get it or they want EVs to fail. Yes the van is pretty, but that's all it has going for it when you put it up against its rivals. VW have moved too slowly with getting this to market and the asking price reflects that.
Having said that, at least you had the gorgeous backdrop of my hometown of Newcastle to do your review. The coastal drive from Honeysuckle up to the top of King Edward Park, then around up to Merewether Baths is always enjoyable.

[YugambehCountry]

What a Sales pitch. I’m sure these promo YouTube videos are on the take. Really, really ridiculously expensive for the ‘People’s Wagon’. Volks Wagen have got to be dreaming to maintain the title people’s car.

[brankojerbic]

Great design, inside out and its got heritage but the crazy prices for cars today are not just isolated to Vw. I watched a review on a Kia EV9 for $120k 🤣 🤣 for a Kia ?

[JohnWickFour]

Watching this only to pass time while waiting for the id4 in 2024....