Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX Electric LWB review: Electric 7-seater microbus that's refreshing and rejuvenating all at once

There is little doubt that the Volkswagen (VW) ID. Buzz is likely the most warmly welcomed electric vehicle (EV) we've driven. This car, affectionately labelled as the flagship GTX variant, is the hottest and fastest microbus ever created by VW. 

For the uninitiated, the ID. Buzz is a mix of a van and a Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) that got its naming from the lovable VW Type 2 'bus' and is the retro recreation we've all been waiting and hoping for. And, mind you, it's also probably one of the rare few EVs you may want to actually own and drive.

May want to drive an EV?!?!

See, nothing on the outside about the car puts us off. From the funky-retro good looks to the elongated size, the ID. Buzz GTX in its long wheelbase (LWB) form is anything but boring.

As a matter of fact, it's a glorious machine that's impressively close to the concept, and you can have it in a two-tone colour scheme, which in this case, is a fiery blood red and dark silver that befits the GTX moniker. 

And it's not just the GTX badges that you'll first come to notice. Up front, the van is tapered nicely to draw your eyes to the larger-than-life VW badge taking centre stage.

Elsewhere, you get LED strips running across the front and around the LED headlamps that help modernise the vehicle, while the back gets simpler but equally modern taillights that span the width of the rear.

Tip to tip, the GTX LWB measures 4,962mm, which is still shorter than the BMW 5 Series sedan. So if you think the car is too big or far too long to handle, it's really not.

Even along the narrower roads of Hanover, keeping the Buzz within the boundaries of its own lane despite sporting a rather wide dimension of 1,985mm is a walk in the park. 

Which is why you'll find electronic sliding doors on both sides for easy ingress and egress in tight spaces, with a small square portion of the huge window that allows you enjoy some fresh air whenever needed.

Inside is the place to be

Whatever the case, it's undoubtedly the interior that gets all the benefits of the car's dimensions. Here, it's a seven-seater configuration from the 2-3-2 layout. Space, especially legroom, is amazingly abundant in all three rows, thanks to the wheelbase of 3,239mm (250mm longer than the normal wheelbase variant).

You also get a useable 306 litres of boot space with all seats in place and 1,340 litres with seats six and seven folded flat. Fold down both second and third row and what you get is a completely flat load area of 2,469 litres — spacious enough to form a makeshift bed, if van-sleeping is your thing.

But the icing on the cake has to be the high-tech panoramic sunroof (largest in any VW vehicle to date) that can be switched electronically from a transparent to an opaque state and vice versa via a touch slider. Sure, not everything is perfect here.

For instance, there's a massive use of hard plastics all around, but they do come together to give you a vault-like feeling that'll last more than a decade. 

To the beach!

Behind the wheel, it's nothing short of stunning. It's clear this is the place VW invested the most, considering you get a lovely yet familiar multi-functional steering wheel, a new 12.9-inch screen that's highly customisable, as well as a pair of comfortable captain chairs (that come with arm rests).

More importantly, at the helm, there's a superbly clear and compelling view forward — a feature that's arguably the most important in any family car. Hence, piloting the ID.

Buzz GTX LWB that you see here is never a troublesome affair. With 335bhp and 560Nm of torque available from the word go, the family hauler is capable of getting from nought to the 100km/h line in a swift, stable and secure manner.

But you and I both will have to understand the fact that the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, GTX or not, is no sports car. Yes, it's quick and it handles surprisingly well for a biggish vehicle and has different driving modes (including Sports), but it remains to be a family hauler. 

For that, it surely excels. It's certainly a sophisticated vehicle by van or MPV standards. It is quiet on the move and it dances around with gusto, being an EV and all, but I suspect mashing the accelerator will not be the first thing on your mind with your family on board.

More importantly, it'll come to a halt quite easily as well. Brakes are well-modulated, with an option of a stronger braking regeneration when you toggle the gear shifter on the right signal stalk to 'B'. 

Unfortunately, as the car tested here hasn't gone through homologation, the figure for the WLTP range isn't confirmed. But based on the time we've spent with it in Hanover, Germany, the 86kWh battery pack should give the GTX an approximate range of about 400km to 430km on a full charge.

Take my money!!

There's a lot to like about the Volkswagen ID. Buzz GTX. It's quick, yes, but ironically it's not so much about the speed I'm into.

Instead, it's about how it makes me feel, which is nothing short of satisfying, cool and complete. It may be a modernised combi van, but there's certainly a lot more to like than, say, a modernised MINI.

The ID. Buzz GTX LWB will arrive in Singapore early next year and it'll come with a seven-seat configuration.

What we like

• Appealing on the eye
• Highly functional with seven seats on board
• Space is the royal order of the day for all seven occupants
• It's a 6.5-second car
• Handles well despite its sizeable proportions
• It's just plain cool

What we dislike

• It's not going to be cheap when it arrives in Singapore early next year, no thanks to COE prices

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This article was first published in sgCarMart.