Volkswagen ID.Buzz - long-term review

Rarely, in EV land, is the more-powerful ‘performance’ variant the one we’d recommend. How times change, eh. Not that it’s stopped manufactures from trying to sell us stiffer suspension and a few more horsepower for significantly more pounds. Problem is most standard EVs already feel pretty fizzy off the line and up to 40mph – where they’re destined to spend 95 per cent of the time – so all bigger wheels, wider tyres and extra/more potent motors achieve is trashing the range, and potentially the ride.

Naturally, when VW offered us the chance to swap out our standard seven-seater Buzz for the more-powerful one, we ignored this completely and bit their arm off. For a mere £3,700 more than the ‘Style’ seven-seater, we now have a GTX also in long-wheelbase form, but with a six-seater configuration. That means two captain’s chairs rather than a bench in the first row, which frees up floor space, creates a corridor to the back row and keeps an air gap between the kids.

Enhancements over pauper-spec on the outside include new front and rear bumpers, a smattering of GTX badges and larger 21in wheels. Inside, there’s more heavily bolstered massage seats up front in black ‘ArtVelour’ and darkened tones for the rest of the cabin too – a godsend for letting you ignore muddy scuffs and jammy fingerprints for longer. A huge panoramic glass roof can be switched from clear to opaque by swiping the panel next to the rear-view mirror – truly the party trick that keeps on giving.

The only two options fitted are the Cherry Red/Mono Silver split paint job (£2,791) – which I thought I’d hate because white for the upper-half is more obviously retro… but it works – and a retractable tow-bar (£980), which is more relevant than it seems with a towing capacity of 1,600kg. We’ll have to give it a go and see how catastrophic the effect of hauling something is to the range.

The big news though is around 50 per cent more power, and four-wheel drive, thanks to an extra motor on the front axle. The number aren’t silly – 335bhp and 413lb ft torque, 0-62mph in 6.4s (a 1.5s cut) – but when you’re motivating nearly three tonnes of slab-sided metal with the aero properties of a birthday cake, any help is gratefully received. The battery is still 86kWh, the WLTP range dips slightly to 280-miles (from 286) and peak charging speed is up to 200kW.

Initial impressions are promising: it looks smarter, is more practical and plush inside, and while the extra power is by no means transformational it does give it a fleetness of foot than any van-shaped vehicle has no right to possess. First serious challenge – can it make it to Normandy without a charging stop? More on that soon.