After 4 Years of Waiting, My New ID. Buzz Is Everything I Hoped For, And Everyone Else Seems to Love It, Too

There was a time when the Volkswagen Bus wasn’t just a mode of transportation, it was a statement. A rolling testament to counterculture, surfboards, and questionable life choices made on the Pacific Coast Highway. Now, like a phoenix rising from an electrically charged battery pack, the VW ID. Buzz has landed in the United States, dripping in nostalgia, dressed in bold two-tone paint schemes, and humming with the soft whirr of progress. And against all odds, it’s not just an EV, it’s a vibe. Volkswagen, the company that practically invented the vanlife aesthetic before it was a hashtag, has returned to its roots, rebooted for a world obsessed with lithium-ion and lane-keep assist.

A Nostalgic Reinvention of an Icon

Few vehicles in recent memory have stirred such an emotional response before they’ve even hit the road. In a Facebook group dedicated to the ID. Buzz, a user named Donna Conklin King, summed up what many are feeling: 

“I bought my Buzz at the end of December after waiting 4 years for it to finally come to the US. Still in love with it.

I am constantly stopped and complimented on it. It turns heads.” 

It’s more than just a proud owner post, it’s a cultural snapshot. In her accompanying photo, she leans confidently against her orange-and-white Buzz, a retro spaceship amidst a sea of beige conformity. The ID. Buzz doesn’t whisper for attention, it shouts joyfully, unapologetically, and the crowd turns to listen.

Make no mistake, the ID. Buzz is more than a retro rehash, it’s a cultural callback aimed squarely at the hearts of the nostalgic and the style-conscious. Hipsters, vintage van lifers, and Gen Xers chasing the echo of their tie-dye-soaked youth have latched onto it like bees to a lavender oat latte. Why? 

Bold Colors and Retro Charm of the ID. Buzz

Because unlike the ocean of monochromatic anonymity that defines modern automotive design, the Buzz feels alive. Its bold color schemes, Lime Yellow, Energetic Orange, and Bay Leaf Green, aren’t just hues; they’re statements. And when parked beside the endless parade of grayscale crossovers, the ID. Buzz looks like it just rolled off a Wes Anderson set.

Key Features and Specifications of the VW ID. Buzz

• The ID. Buzz combines modern electric vehicle technology with a design reminiscent of the classic Volkswagen Microbus, featuring a prominent front-mounted logo and optional two-tone paint. ​
• The vehicle offers flexible seating configurations, accommodating up to seven passengers in the long-wheelbase version, with ample cargo space when seats are folded. ​
• Equipped with a rear-axle electric motor producing up to 210 kW (286 PS) and a battery capacity of up to 91 kWh, the ID. Buzz delivers a range of approximately 261 miles (420 km) on the WLTP cycle. ​

Volkswagen, let’s not forget, created this segment. The original Microbus was the Swiss Army knife of free spirits, a chariot for the peace-loving, surf-chasing, do-it-yourself generation. Ask any Baby Boomer with a weathered passport and a dusty photo album, and the odds are good that they’ve got a story that begins with “my old Bus” and ends somewhere between Big Sur and a questionable decision in Joshua Tree. The Buzz doesn’t just acknowledge that legacy; it embraces it. It’s retro enough to earn a nod from the past but modern enough to survive the demands of the present.

Captivating Personality of the ID. Buzz

And it’s not just design that sets it apart, it’s personality. The Buzz is a conversation starter in a world where most cars blend into the background. Ironically, many of the same people who wouldn't dare buy a red car out of fear of a speeding ticket will gush over your tangerine-colored EV in the grocery store parking lot.

That contradiction is the point. The Buzz doesn’t hide from attention, it thrives on it. It’s not trying to be faster, sleeker, or more aggressive than the next car. It’s trying to be more interesting, and in 2025, that’s a radical idea.

Volkswagen’s EV Journey: Historic Milestones and Innovations

• Volkswagen's engagement with electric vehicles dates back to the 1970s, when concerns about oil shortages led to the development of the T2 Camper with an electric drive. ​
• Between 1992 and 1996, Volkswagen produced the Golf III CitySTROMer, its first production electric car, with 120 units sold. Remarkably, about 50 of these vehicles are still operational today. ​
• In 2020, Volkswagen introduced the ID. family, a new generation of purely electric vehicles based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB), marking a significant step in the company's commitment to electric mobility.

Still, not everything is sunflowers and serotonin. As Donna shared in the same thread, when asked if she’d taken any long road trips yet, her reply was telling: “Not yet. Nothing further than 2 hours. Afraid of getting stuck w/out battery charger.” There it is, the electric elephant in the room. For all its charm, the Buzz is still bound by the realities of America’s inconsistent charging infrastructure. It’s a spiritual successor to the ultimate freedom machine, now ironically tethered to range anxiety and charger availability. The dream of spontaneous cross-country trips is still a few charging stations short of reality.

Modern Innovation Meets Classic Cool in the ID. Buzz

Some owners, too, wish Volkswagen had held tighter to the original formula. The Buzz is wider, heavier, and undeniably more modern than its predecessor. Gone are the clattering air-cooled engines and rudimentary simplicity. In their place, touchscreen interfaces and parking sensors, improvements, yes, but ones that feel more Silicon Valley than Haight-Ashbury. The Buzz may wear a vintage outfit, but underneath, it’s a highly engineered, highly digital machine, one that occasionally feels more curated than soulful. Nostalgia purists might grumble, but progress doesn’t often ask permission.

And yet, despite the criticisms, the ID. Buzz continues to win hearts. Because this vehicle isn’t about zero-to-sixty times or Nürburgring lap records, it’s about connection. It's about stories. It’s about rolling into a parking lot and turning heads for all the right reasons. It’s about being stopped by strangers who just want to know more about the oddly charming spaceship you’re driving. As an EV, it’s competent. As a cultural artifact, it’s brilliant. Volkswagen didn’t just bring back the Bus; they brought back emotion, and in a market defined by soulless design and synthetic experiences, that may be the most revolutionary thing of all.

Image Sources: VW Media Center, Facebook Group (Volkswagen ID. Buzz) 

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.