The Volkswagen ID. Buzz offers an estimated range of up to 234 miles. However, a trip to Detroit demonstrates that this vehicle can accomplish much more than one might assume.
When Volkswagen dropped the ID. Buzz Initially, most of us were captivated by the large van's vintage design — even I, InsideEVs' self-proclaimed curmudgeon. However, once the initial excitement of owning this retro-style electric van faded, it wasn't long before my more logical perspective started to surface. To scrutinize the van’s technological features with greater discernment.
Certainly, the van can seat up to seven people and theoretically seems like it would make for a decent road trip vehicle. However, its non-aerodynamic design, significant curb weight, and comparatively modest advertised range suggest otherwise. Despite this, I stayed doubtful; after all, how do you truly define a road trip? For instance, does that include trying to recreate the " Explore America with your Chevy. Is it about picturesque road trips across the nation? Or, is it making short visits to another state just to see a relative you somewhat dislike but don't want to alienate?
In my view, the ID. Buzz’s features appear to align perfectly with what I’m looking for. that So during the time the ID. Buzz was mine, I went on a short road trip—driving from my place in Columbus, OH, up to an area just north of Detroit, MI.
Honestly, I don’t think it did too badly.
( Full Disclosure: Volkswagen provided me with a 2025 ID. Buzz Pro S for a week.
This rear-wheel-drive model features a single motor with a 91 kWh battery (86 kWh usable capacity) providing an estimated range of 234 miles according to the EPA ratings. Should you wish to purchase an exact replica of this vehicle, it would cost you $66,040, which includes the delivery charge.
Many automotive journalists typically handle vehicle pickups and returns through a third-party fleet service when they receive loaner cars for testing purposes. Here in central Ohio, I'm located somewhat farther from the closest such fleet company compared to my peers working with publications based in areas closer to these services. Car & Driver or Automotive News Still, I remain within the Detroit circle of service for a press vehicle, despite being 213 miles distant.
I completely understand that 213 miles might seem like an easy feat for many electric vehicles. However, you may be astonished to find out which models can manage this distance on a single charge and which cannot. The journey consists mainly of highways and rural routes, with average speeds typically exceeding 60 mph, which isn't ideal for electric vehicles that usually perform better at lower speeds. he Genesis GV70 Electrified managed the trip effortlessly. So did the Kia EV9 and the Rivian R1S , even in the cold rain.
Nonetheless, under optimal circumstances with mild temperatures and bright sunshine, the Lexus RZ450e struggled to exceed a range of 140 miles. Before requiring a recharge, unsurprisingly, the Fiat 500e with its 42 kWh battery managed roughly 115 miles of range, which actually stands out as quite commendable for a car designed primarily for short trips rather than long journeys.
Therefore, shouldn't the ID. Buzz's range of 234 miles suffice?
I began my journey slightly north of Columbus. The previous evening, I hadn't charged the van at all, leaving me with roughly 42% battery power. So, I drove approximately 20 miles north to Delaware, Ohio, where an EV Go charging station was located, aiming for a full recharge up to 100%. It took around 45 minutes to go from 36% to 100%; pretty decent time-wise. However, I won't consider this as part of my official "charging stops" because it added just a short detour to my overall route.
The distance to my new destination is 189 miles, which includes an initial segment of 24 miles from where I originally started out. The rest of the journey followed the same path as before. My travel would involve navigating through rural routes and highways with a base speed limit of approximately 60 MPH. In Michigan, however, most stretches maintained higher limits between 70-75 mph.
I'd love to embellish this post with tales of the difficulties faced during a three-and-a half-hour drive, but I can't. The closest thing to an issue was my oversight about the temperature difference between Detroit and Ohio; it was much cooler at 39 degrees Fahrenheit in Detroit compared to the comfortable 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) back home. This chillier weather significantly boosted my energy usage.
By the time I reached the “Welcome To Michigan” sign, the car’s average consumption sank a mere 0.1 miles per kWh, down from 2.8 miles per kWh. The drop also caused the onboard navigation to ask me to consider adding a charging stop before reaching my destination. As it turns out, I didn’t even need to.
I maintained the same speed as all the others while driving the ID. Buzz, without making any compromises regarding velocity or adapting to traffic conditions. As expected, it performed flawlessly throughout the entire 189-mile trip. My average speed was around 64 mph, with the vehicle achieving approximately 2.7 miles per kilowatt-hour. Upon returning it to the fleet manager, it still had 14% battery life remaining, indicating roughly 40 miles of range were left. Assuming this estimate held up, the ID. Buzz would have been capable of covering an impressive distance of nearly 229 miles, placing it within just six miles of its officially stated range.
Some might argue that this constitutes a poor long-distance score, suggesting that my trip highlights how unprepared electric vehicles (EVs) still are. However, I disagree with both perspectives. For many individuals, such as myself, traveling around 200 miles in one go represents an upper limit. If needed, after approximately 45 more minutes, the ID. Buzz would be prepared for yet another 200-mile excursion. Extending this route from Detroit could lead all the way to Toronto or nearly reach Chicago. Essentially, what amounts to a complete eight hours of driving takes only slightly longer compared to using a gasoline vehicle.
I won’t deny that the legitimate worries regarding charging infrastructure are irrelevant in this case. Undoubtedly, they matter. For instance, there’s a significant gap without functioning stations between Columbus and Detroit. Without operational DC fast chargers, several electric vehicles I've traveled with on this path wouldn't have completed the journey. However, such chargers are available. Thus, where does the issue lie?
There's still quite a journey ahead of us. However, as I drive my electric vehicle over longer distances more frequently, I'm increasingly certain that the issue isn’t with the car itself or that we need more battery range which would be utilized sparingly.
Contact the author: Kevin.Williams@InsideEVs.com
Related Articles
- Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S: We Have It for the Week, What Would You Like to Learn About It?
- 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz: Cold Weather Range and Recharging Evaluation
- Winter Road Trip with Volkswagen ID.Buzz: 'An Absolute Disaster'
- The VW ID. Buzz Exceeds Its EPA Range Rating in Actual Driving Conditions
Post a Comment