The Combi is a story that has lasted 72 years at Volkswagen.

From the first T1 released in 1950, to the last Multivan unveiled last year, the saga of Volkswagen vans seems set to continue.

With the forced march of electrification in recent years, however, there was a gap to fill between the thermal Transporter T6.1 and the plug-in hybrid Multivan.

This is now done with the ID Buzz, Volkswagen's new 100% electric combi.  



If ID refers to the manufacturer's electric range (ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.6), Buzz is a reference to the "Bulli", one of the many nicknames associated with the T1, the precursor of the Transporters.

And let's talk about him precisely, because the ID.Buzz is a direct wink, a neo-retro version of the one who was one of the pioneers of modern utilities.

Already on the outside, the chubby silhouette and the short overhangs are an assumed link of paternity.

At the front, we find the same V-shaped separation as on the original Combi, with an exaggeratedly prominent logo, as at the time.

Not to mention the many two-tone paints to dress the bodywork.

But, beneath its tough looks, the ID.Buzz benefits from a low center of gravity and optimized aerodynamics.



A well-thought-out utility

In the passenger compartment, there are generous volumes (thanks to the short overhangs).

On this Cargo version, two europallets can be placed behind the front seats (three as standard, two as options), for a total load volume of 3.9 m3, and a payload of 648 kg.

This is one of the advantages offered by the MEB platform, which is fitted to all ID models: a perfectly flat floor and a low loading sill.

It is fitted as standard with a sliding door on the passenger side and two hinged doors at the rear.

A tailgate and a sliding door on the driver's side are available as options.



At the wheel, the ID.Buzz Cargo behaves like a sedan.

Its very short overhang at the front gives it a reduced turning radius: 11.1m, that is to say the same as that of a Golf!

A very pleasant handling on the winding roads of our test, it sneaks so easily that we forget to be driving a utility!

This driving pleasure is of course no stranger to its electric motorization, which offers just as much silence in operation as effective times.

The electric motor that drives it produces 204 horsepower and sends its power to the rear wheels.

This is, again, a nod to the first Combi, which borrowed this architecture from the Beetle.




Autonomy and record charging time

First utility designed specifically to run on electricity, the ID.Buzz Cargo promises a range of 416 kilometers, and a recharge from 5 to 80% in just 30 minutes.

Its 77 kWh battery allows fast charging up to 170 kW.

To overcome the main problem of electrical technology, charging, Volkswagen's WeCherge service provides access to more than 235,000 terminals in Europe, and especially to Ionity superchargers, an ultra-fast charging network with 414 stations in Europe.

In France, the VW ID.Buzz cargo starts at €47,990 excluding tax.


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