Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo review: The first electric van that’s cool and goes long distances
VAN drivers – do you want an electric van?
Up until now I dare say the answer is “no”, and rightly so.
They’re expensive, take too long to charge and if you need to venture to a different postcode, chances are you’ll be going home on foot.
But finally things are looking up.
Here’s the van that’s going to get workmen to think about going electric.
Yes, it is still expensive. Yes, it still takes an hour to recharge. But Volkswagen’s ID Buzz Cargo has the range to get you from Sheffield to Birmingham and back without causing headaches.
It’ll do around 252 miles non-stop, almost three times more than a Mercedes eVito at 93 miles.
And how cool does it look?
With or without the rainbow disguise on this prototype.
ID Buzz Cargo is the spiritual successor to the Type 2, the original VW commercial from the Fifties (Beetle was Type 1).
It just works
The van that spawned a gazillion buses and camper vans for hippies, hedge fund managers and everyone else in between.
Out of all the ID vehicles I’ve tried so far, this is the only one I’d have.
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I found it hard to fall in love with the ID cars — ID3 and ID4 — with their bubblegum interiors. But this thing is a proper piece of kit.
All the good bits of a Transporter but with no poo chute.
VW is starting with two versions: This panel van (ID Buzz Cargo) from £42k and a five-seat bus (ID Buzz) at £50k. Both are rear-drive, like the old T2, and use 77kWh battery packs.
In time, there will be a longer-wheelbase version with a bigger battery and all-wheel drive. Expect a seven-seat bus and a California camper van. Don’t expect them to be cheap.
Right, let’s get back to the prototype we tried ahead of the big reveal next week. It’s 20cm longer than a Caddy and 20cm shorter than a Transporter, so it sits between the two.
It swallows 4m³. Or two Euro pallets. Load length is 2.2m (plus another 45cm with a bulkhead hatch). Payload is 580kg.
You can have sliding cargo doors on both sides, swing-out rear doors or a tailgate, and two or three seats up front.
Driving impressions: Easy peasy. Just point and squirt. The turning circle is comically small. The steering is light but accurate. The body is well tied-down (batteries aren’t light). It just works.
Also, visibility is excellent. Partly because you’re sat high up, but also because the camera tech is split, top and bottom of the windscreen. The ID3 has one big clump at the top.
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Also, unlike an ID3, this has a proper dash with cup holders and shelves. And a more conventional steering-column stalk for the drive selector. Like a Merc.
The one carry-over from ID3 we really like is PAUSE and PLAY etched on the brake and accelerator pedals.
Select B-mode for harsher regenerative braking and you won’t bleed much range in city traffic.
Recharging from a wallbox at home will take around 11 hours. You’ll get 80 per cent juice in an hour on a public rapid charger.
So, there you have it.
The first electric van that’s cool and goes long distances.
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I can see VW getting a load of business from big fleets that like an identity, such as Pimlico Plumbers.
I can also see my mates queueing up for a used one in a few years’ time.
Key facts
VOLKSWAGEN ID BUZZ CARGO
Price: £42,000
Battery: 77kWh
Power: 201hp, 310Nm
Top speed: 90mph
Range: 252 miles
Payload: 580kg
Out: October
