UK Drive: Is the Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo the ideal urban load-lugger?

What is it?

Vans help the world to go around and in more recent years, we’ve started to see electric power being adopted by these load-luggers. Battery power can make a lot of sense for van drivers, too, particularly those who make shorter journeys in urban areas, where zero-emissions vehicles can help with tolls and clean air zone charges.

The ID.Buzz remains Volkswagen’s key electric commercial vehicle and with the Cargo, it’s been converted to its most practical form. We’ve been testing it out to see what it’s like.

What’s new?

The ID.Buzz Cargo was launched in tandem with the regular people-carrying van back in 2022 and since then, it has become a common sight on our roads. Bringing some of the old-school charm of Volkswagen’s classic ‘bus’ but with that all-important electric powertrain, the Buzz packs a lot of tech into a good-looking package.

As time has gone on, the ID.Buzz’s rivals have become more numerous, too, with the key competitor now being Kia’s PV5 with its rapid charge rate and cleverly packaged interior.

What’s under the bonnet?

We’re driving a 4Motion version of the ID.Buzz Cargo, meaning that all four wheels are powered by two motors, with one on each axle. Together, you get a very impressive 335bhp – more than many hot hatches – and that means a 0-60mph time of 7.6 seconds. Unladen, of course. With a 79kWh battery on board, the Buzz gets a claimed range of 261 miles from a single charge.

It’ll charge at speeds of up to 170kW, too, which will help to deliver a five to 80 per cent top-up in 30 minutes. You’re looking at an overnight charge to get a full battery via a conventional 7kWh home charger unit, too.

What’s it like to drive?

The ID.Buzz sits on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, which has been used on a number of its passenger electric cars like the ID.3 and ID.4. A by-product of this is the way the ID.Buzz Cargo drives – it’s a lot more car-like than you might expect from a van. Overall, agility is good, too, and it’s easy to park and position despite its length. Plenty of sensors and cameras help in this area.

Where the ID.Buzz does falter is in efficiency. Despite that claimed range, we only saw around 200 miles from a full charge and this falls quickly when you need to travel at speed. As a result, the Buzz feels more suited to local journeys rather than long-distance ones.

How does it look?

The ID.Buzz is easily one of the most striking options in the van market today, combining some of Volkswagen’s latest design touches with the inspiration of its classic buses. There are loads of eye-catching colours to choose from, while the Buzz’s relatively flat sides give plenty of scope for signwriting or further customisation.

It’s all designed with practicality in mind, of course, with the dual-opening rear doors providing good access to the back of the van. Plus, you get sliding doors on both sides of the van, so you’ll always be able to load or unload via the pavement wherever you stop.

What’s it like inside?

The forward part of the iD.Buzz Cargo is just like the ‘regular’ people-carrying version. There’s large central screen and a digital display ahead of you, while the gear selector’s location on the steering column means that there’s extra space lower down. There are loads of handy storage points, too, such as the horizontal space which is ideal for keeping your smartphone. The infotainment system has started to feel a little older now, mind you, and the touch-sensitive sliders for the heating and ventilation are more annoying to operate than traditional buttons or switches.

Space-wise, this short-wheelbase Cargo brings 3.9 metres cubed of capacity, while the whole car gets a maximum payload of 607kg. The Kia PV5, in contrast, gets a payload of up to 790kg, or 690kg for bigger-battery models.

What’s the spec like?

Prices for the Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo start from £42,269, inclusive of both VAT and the plug-in van grant, which lops £2,500 off the price. ‘Our’ 4Motion van in Commerce Plus specification bumped that up to £48,650, though if you do not need all-wheel-drive then the ‘standard’ model will be more than up to the task of most demands.

Standard equipment is decent, though, with a three-seater configuration up front coming alongside climate control, a heated windscreen and a 12.9-inch infotainment screen with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included. It’s just a shame that the Buzz doesn’t offer vehicle-to-load, as this feature allows users to power external devices – or charge up tools – using the van’s on-board energy supply.

Verdict

The ID.Buzz Cargo is a very viable option for drivers after a practical and cheap-to-run van. Of course, it’ll appeal mostly to businesses that can take advantage of the tax savings on a vehicle like this, but private owners may also see it as a solid basis for conversion or development.

It’s let down by its range and efficiency, but if you’re doing shorter journeys, then the Buzz Cargo could prove to be a very useful – and stylish – model to choose.