Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo Review 2024

Vans aren't usually items that are bought with heart-over-head but for business owners wanting to get themselves noticed, there are a few real stand-outs. The Volkswagen ID.Buzz is one. Volkswagen launched the passenger version first, but does it work as a van? Find out in our Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo review.

The VW ID.Buzz Cargo is a full EV - there's no plug-in hybrid or conventional engine alternative - and it has just a single motor for now, though this will evolve in time as longer range models with larger batteries are planned. As it stands, it uses a 77kWh battery and a 204PS electric motor, powering the rear wheels. 

The 77kWh battery gives a range of up to 258 miles, which is well beyond what cheaper electric vans such as the Citroen e-Berlingo and Vauxhall Combo-e are offering.

The flip-side is that although the Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo may appear much bigger than those rivals - it isn't. It will only carry one Euro pallet and the payload of 607kg is actually less than that of a Citroën e-Berlingo. A Vauxhall Vivaro-e will carry twice as much.

Those models are purely functional though - the Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo is a van that will turn heads everywhere it goes and for sole traders and small businesses that's a massive benefit, as it's guaranteed to get you noticed. 

Underneath, the VW ID.Buzz uses the same platform as Volkswagen electric cars such as the VW ID.4 and while this is core to its payload limitations, it does also give the ID.Buzz Cargo impressive handling - it's fast, agile and car-like to drive. The interior is also extremely smart, well-made and extremely refined. 

It's surprisingly keenly priced. Not cheap, by any stretch, but equally not sold at such a premium that it becomes unappealing as a business purchase. 

Two models are available - the entry-level VW ID.Buzz Cargo Commerce with black plastic bumpers, steel wheels, front and rear parking sensors, air conditioning, a heated driver’s seat and a central 10-inch touchscreen. The VW ID.Buzz Commerce Plus adds body-colour bumpers, alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control and a heated windscreen among other features.

The VW ID.Buzz Cargo has a load space of 3.9m cubed, which is acceptable but not substantially bigger than that of a Vauxhall Combo or Citroën e-Berlingo, along with a maximum payload of 650kg.

The latter is perhaps the biggest downfall for an otherwise brilliant vehicle - the smaller Citroën e-Berlingo has a 751kg payload and from a functionality perspective it's probably the better van, if a van that does van things is your absolute priority. 

However, that somewhat denigrates the VW ID.Buzz Cargo's USP, which is its sheer presence and character. There are no other vans on the market with anything like the personality or image. And if you're operating in an urban area and want a van that turns heads and generates interest in your business, then it's a vehicle with a huge amount going for it. 

The VW ID.Buzz isn't the ideal machine for heavy duty work, though - for that, stick to the Volkswagen Transporter - but for light-to-medium duties and for marketing your business, it's hard to beat.

That said, it's functional, with good access from both side loading doors and via the barn-style rear doors, while the load bay is low and flat with multiple lashing points.

In addition, a useful tech feature found on the Volkswagen ID.Buzz is bi-directional charging, like you get on Kia and Hyundai EVs. This allows you to use the car's battery to power household electrical devices, slow charge other EVs in an emergency and even (with the right wallbox) power your home if you're caught in a power cut. 

Where the VW ID.Buzz scores over most rival vans is in its satisfying, car-like handling. It's unlikely that you're going to be hurling into corners with the enthusiasm of a racing driver, yet it will surprise you with its agility, grip and sharpness - but then, that's largely because it's a car with a van body.

Sharing a base that has to be good enough for the Volkswagen ID.3, Volkswagen ID.4 and Volkswagen ID.5 to sell as well as they do, the VW ID.Buzz Cargo delivers a supple ride even unladen and the 204PS electric motor is eager enough.

Visibility is good all-round, though it is a deceptively large vehicle, almost as long and wide as a Range Rover.

The battery pack has a usable capacity of 77kWh, with a rear-mounted 204PS electric motor driving the rear wheels. The torque output is 310Nm and it's quick enough for most - just don't expect it to take off like a Tesla.

Cargo models are three-seaters, but the layout is a bit cosier than in most medium-sized vans with fewer storage cubbies - it's no Ford Transit upfront, but it's functional enough, while those car origins mean an ergonomic layout.

Safety kit comprises lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with Intelligent Speed Assist, automatic emergency braking and pedestrian and cyclist detection as standard. You lose adaptive cruise control on the entry-spec VW ID.Buzz Cargo Commerce, though.