By Alison Strachan
I’ve now had over eight full EVs and a few gas hybrids out on the road for review.
I’ve also taken two out that are not available in Canada just yet, but are due on the market here in the next 12 months. You’ll have to wait for those, but what I ended up going out with this past week can be characterized as a multi-purpose vehicle that is filled with nostalgia and, as they said back in the day, “groovy”.
Image courtesy of Bridgewater VW website
As a child, trips to the beach and to and from school were often in a red and white VW bus owned by a friend’s parents. This past week, I went out in VW’s latest EV entry, the ID Buzz. There is no comparison to what I was carted around in as a child.
Buzz is missing the sewing machine sound motor of the past and the hard seating of its minivan predecessor. It’s a complete overhaul based on efficiency, comfort, and a cool van-entry of EV to the North American market.
This vehicle hugs the road and its curves with the precision you would expect of a much different vehicle. My driving experience, was on back country roads as well as highway. This vehicle oozes performance and has instant torque. Buzz can call on its 282 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque the moment you hit the pedal.
Anyone who drove the grandparent vehicle of the ’60s and ’70s will know the importance of this in merging down the on-ramp to a highway.
Interior shot of the ID Buzz. Notebook photo
Assembled in Chatanooga, Tennessee, Buzz uses the same modular electric drive platform (MEB) as the ID 4 which I’ve reviewed for readers previously. The MEB system is a collaborative initiative used in models of Audi and Volkswagen as well as in other European automakers but also with Ford through partnership.
It’s got regenerative braking built into its system. If you haven’t read my explanation of how this works, it’s simply that Buzz converts braking energy into useful battery power while it’s on the go. When you brake or take your foot off the pedal, that kinetic energy is accumulated and stored for later.
For those who need to know, the vehicle architecture consolidates electronic controls and reduces the number of microprocessors, advances the application of new driver-assistance technology, and somewhat alters the way cars are built by the VW Group, according to WardsAuto.com
What stands out is how comfortable I have become with the MEB system in the last two trips out in an ID.4 and now the Buzz. It’s an easy vehicle to get used to through its intuitive systems and helps those new to the EV world understand how far collaboration has driven the market for VW.
Returning from my road trip, I noticed a tractor-trailer arriving with a load of ID.4 at the VW outlet. Where I would see one or two US-plated ID.4’s on the South Shore during the height of tourist season before, I now personally know a handful of local owners who made the transition from gas to EV seamlessly and with no regrets.
Up front view at Bridgewater VW. Notebook photo
My “intelligence”, and I admit 100 per cent internet intelligence on this, there are about 50 ID Buzz’ available in Metro and any one of these vehicles can reach market in other parts of the province in a matter of hours as I’ve mentioned in previous articles.
I can’t give you a straight answer on the cost to get it off the lot and into your parking space at home because it’s going to depend on whether you are looking for 4-Motion or 2-wheel drive and accessories, but the basic internet information is that it’s somewhere in the 80K range. Rebates are unavailable unless they are incentives provided by the dealership.
But this fast charging (less than half an hour on a DC), good ranging (375 +/-), and fun vibes vehicle should fill a gap in the EV market for larger families, on-the-go families juggling soccer and hockey and more. I think it’s also going to appeal to businesses such as real estate professionals, couriers, and tour companies as well as folks just wanting to reconnect with their past and maybe even a few camping types.
The seats are not the bench seats of old. The interior of this vehicle has a luxury feel with uncluttered detail. No gimmicks are needed to sell this unit. It’s a standout with a high rating from me, but as with all folks considering the EV switch, talk to your dealership about your driving habits to determine whether it’s the vehicle for you.
Notebook photo
If you’re on the South Shore, keep an eye out for the flower power model I got out in. It’s certain to be at events throughout the summer and by all means give this vehicle a try.
