America Finally Gets A Cool Volkswagen Van!
It’s happening! It’s finally happening. America is finally getting a cool Volkswagen van. We’ve been mulling over the VW I.D. Buzz for over a year now. While it was touch and go for a little while, VW has confirmed that the 2024 Volkswagen ID Buzz is like Eddie Murphy: coming to America.
Updated: 7/4/23
The Volkswagen I.D. Buzz is coming to America
This is good news. There are decades of build-up behind this van coming here. The I.D. Buzz is stylized and loosely based on the original VW bus from the 1960s. Except, this new electric version comes with 282 hp in the single motor configuration instead of the roughly four horses that came in the original one. If you opt for the double motor, that number goes up to “about 330 hp,” according to VW. We still don’t have 0-60 mph times yet, but something tells me it will not only be more than any other VW van we’ve ever driven, but it’s also probably going to be faster than the Europ-spec van.
What’s the difference between the U.S. and European spec VW I.D. Buzz?
Again, we don’t know the 0-60 mph spec for the U.S. version but the European I.D. Buzz does its sprint in a sluggish 10.2 seconds. For now, the other markets in the world get the shorter wheelbase, two-row version, but we got three rows, American style. The European model tops out at 90 mph. The American VW van tops out at 99 mph, which feels a touch, well, slow—no big deal.
What is the Volkswagen I.D. Buzz interior like?
VW is taking comfort, style, and convenience as top priorities. The seats alone have more tech than the entire original VW vans. The front two seats are perforated faux leather with 12-way adjustments. These seats also have dual armrests, ventilation, massaging, and memory positioning. The second-row seats also have heating. Despite all the amenity details, VW hasn’t given any specific interior dimensions yet.
The second and third rows are accessed by dual sliding doors. There’s also a powered tailgate that can be opened and closed by waving your foot under a sensor under the rear bumper. The second row also has a removable console.
The third row is more spacious than expected, but headroom is limited for taller riders. VW also prioritized cargo by making the back row a 50/50 split. You can remove the rear seats for major storage. What’s really cool is that the seats only weigh 30 lbs a piece, so removing them should be pretty simple for most people.
One of the coolest features in a vehicle this large is the panoramic glass sunroof with electrochromic dimming. Following the glass roof’s lead, the VW van has all the tech you could want, like customizable ambient lighting, wireless charging, eight USB-C ports, one 110V outlet, and 12-volt charging in the back of the hatch area.
There are also plenty of driver assistance features like road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, rear traffic alert, pedestrian and cyclist detection, voice commands, lane centering, and a head-up display.
The Volkswagen I.D. Buzz is very exciting, and it is the realization of many drivers’ dreams to find out that Americans can now buy one.
