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The What Van? Road Test: Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo (2022)
Date: Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Powertrain
With a keyless start, the ID. Buzz Cargo uses the same electric drive platform that underpins VW’s ID.3. ID.4 and ID.6 cars. Its motor is integrated into the back axle and delivers 310Nm from a standing start.
The battery can be charged from 5% to 80% of its capacity in around 30 minutes using a 170kW DC fast-charging system says VW. If you are charging from a three-phase 11kW AC wallbox then it will take 7.5 hours, increasing to 11 hours if you are using a 7kW AC wallbox.
The charging points are under a flap at the rear of the vehicle’s offside and the vehicle is supplied with a Mode 3 Type 2 32A 6m charging cable.
A dashboard display tells you how long it will be before the battery achieves 100% charge.
Driving
Bar a modest amount of wind and tyre noise, the ID. Buzz Cargo is almost eerily quiet, and VW’s meticulous build standards mean that nothing squeaks, creaks, groans or rattles. It handles well too, with zero body roll – integrating the battery into the floor means a low centre of gravity – although there were occasions when we felt the steering could deliver a bit more feedback.
As with so many light commercials, the ride is choppy when unladen, but grew calmer as we put more weight in the back.
There is no shortage of performance should you choose to exploit it, but the harder you press the accelerator pedal, the faster you deplete the level of charge in the battery and the van’s range.
Not that we suffered from range anxiety.
Departing with the battery fully-charged, we drove the ID. Buzz Cargo from Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire to Bath and back, a round trip of 130 miles.
When we got back to base, we had 109 miles of range left and the battery had 40% of its charge remaining. We did not stop to recharge the battery during the journey; there was no need to.
Admittedly the weather was mild, and we were lightly-laden. Cold weather and a heavy load would eat into the range.
We were happy with the level of capability we experienced though, and feel that ID.Buzz Cargo is perfectly able to handle short and medium-distance work without any need to plug it in en route.
Predicted official combined WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) range is 254 miles.
One aspect of the vehicle we found a little bit disconcerting involved low-speed manoeuvring. The driver sits a long way back from the heated windscreen – 68cm back to be precise – and there were times when we wondered where the van’s nose was.
Not that we were unduly worried. Front parking sensors are standard and Commerce Plus trim gets you Park Assist Plus with Memory Function, which can manoeuvre the vehicle into and out of tight parking spaces.
Front and rear body overhangs are minimal, and the turning circle is a tight 11.1m.
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