1. It's just a minivan. Not the most popular segment out there. 2. The interior is way too basic & has annoying controls. 3. It's EV-only. 4. It's got built-in VW (lack of) reliability. 5. Small range. 6. Ridiculous distance from windshield to driver is as bad as the old GM dustbuster vans. 7. WAY overpriced. 8. Add all those up: failure in the making.
I agree with all of that except the reliability. So many less parts, I haven't looked at the powertrain warranty but id imagine it's longer than the gas power VWs.
Let's see how the sales are since this is a niche product. I predict a flop since it's very expensive and there just isn't enough value for the money and the range is pathetic to say the least.
Who do they think their target buyer is at that price? This is quirky, sure, but they definitely missed the mark if this is supposed to appeal to the old VW Bus buyer. They’d probably sell more units even if they gave it the smallest, slowest engine they have, raised it an inch or 2 and give the poor thing a proper volume knob and gear selector. People want style, comfort and luxury but we also want simplicity.
Agreed. Volkswagen keeps making poor decisions. They developed the Touareg and Phaeton, and the Passat W8 to compete with luxury brands while having a mainstream badge (so much for "the people's car"), they tried to cheat with their diesels, and now they completely ignored hybrids and went straight for EVs.
We have in Europe for sale for almost two year now, waiting list is still insane. It even got longer with the introduction of GTX and LWB. There is even a long unofficial waiting list for the campervan, that is a version that is not even officially confirmed.
@@ericcarabetta1161 for an American use case, there is not enough range for other than city travel. A claimed 220 mile range is effectively about 150 miles (60% for battery longevity) without using any electricity sapping functions. Added to an expensive MSRP will make for slow sales once the initial buyers get their Buzz. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a long time classic VW fan… I was a day one reservation holder for the Manx 2.0. After years of waiting, they quietly announced a $75k price tag. I canceled my reservation and will look for an actual Manx for a fraction of the price.
This has to be about the polar opposite to everything the original VW Bus was meant to be. Not sure what market research said this would sell well, but I think it's going to flop hard, at least in the US.
Looks great to me, and has some nice character. However, I question how successful it will be in sales at such a high price. It should be $20K cheaper to sell well.
Also, it's not a bus. Its a minivan. There are no top skylight windows, or soft folding roof. Seems they missed a lot of esthetics on what made the old 1970 type2 bus so popular. No powertrain options sucks.
@thedopplereffect00 The good ol NTSB. Yeah, they suck the fun out of everything nowadays. But If a modern truck, or suv can have a full glass or panoramic roof, then they could have made it with the options as described above.
Style over substance. It will be popular briefly then vanish into irrelevance. Doesn't have One pedal driving. Does have really irritating haptic controls. Bass version is more expensive than the platinum trim on the Toyota sienna. Should be three across in the third row
Yes. The style over substance issue is huge here. The old VW bus was practically bigger on the inside than on the outside. That was what compromised the performance, but the performance here is compromised for no such benefit and in a way that’s not a good trade off. Also, the greenhouse was amazing, but this is a typical, modern cave car. I like the style and the flat seats, but otherwise? Meh. Also, thank the chicken tax for no cargo version. We need to end that nonsense.
This is a design I have waited to see make production since the 2002 Minibus Concept. Nice to see the design finally became a reality, ambient 20+ years later. Only downside, its EV only. They really could of done EV, Hybrid and ICE versions and really bring it back to market in full.
Time to take it on the trails with those great approach and departure angles! I think we are way past the peak for electric vehicles (compliance vehicles).
Who's going to buy this??? Vans are supposed to be trip vehicles. Make it little bigger. Hybrid or diesel with AWD would've been good if the price was under 45k
It won't sell at any numbers to even justify building it in the first place. They are missing the whole point of the VW van and what it was and what it should be.
Very cool, but as it becomes available it's slightly disappointing. As for the range, yea it isn't that great, but many of us EV owners are charging at home. We use our ID.4 as a secondary/commuter car and have only charged at a public charger once in 4000 miles. I think the most disappointing thing about it is the captains chairs in higher trims. Where do these designers get the idea that captains chairs are for only higher end trims. I hate captains chairs, give me the bench.
If it was about 45,000 and ran on Gas or Diesel I would buy one. They look great but 200 miles of range or less means the only people buying this are people with money to throw away so they can add it to their collection of VW busses. The good news is that because it’s an EV, as soon as people sell them back to the dealer after 1 year they will have depreciated down to 30k/50%😅
Vw really messed this up. Electric vehicles are not practical for the us market. This needs to be a hybrid with a 500 mile range. It would sell like hotcakes then.
Gas version with a 2.0 hybrid at 45k would sell like crazy. Evs are just not interesting for the masses yet. Specially at those crazy prices and having low range
It’s supercool, but with that range, the eye watering price is a non starter for me. Maybe when they start coming back from their leases it will make more sense to buy a used one. Probably at a 60-70% discount from a 2025 sticker price.
I thought he did a good job, but aside from that, hasn't Roman mentioned he plans on getting one of these already? If they're going to have one for ~1yr, I think I'd rather see them prioritize a more thorough review in CO, rather than attending the launch with a full platoon. The People demand a hole be cut in the bumper, a hitch be installed, and the Super Ike evaluation be conducted!
The van itself isn’t too bad, it’s kinda nice and all. But it’s not really for the American market. I have a feeling not many people will buy these here, should’ve kept them in europe
Excellent taxi vehicle, you can drive around town for 8 hours straight especially in a dense city like NYC averaging 30mph and still have an extra 20 miles or so left to get back to the charger if it holds the the same power economy in that that use case, and even if it didn't, you could easily pull a 5-6 hour uber or Doordash shift with it my my city out in west Texas and make bank because power is so cheap here
It s unfair comparing it to Cybertruck. The Buzz is legit product out of the box unlike the cybertruck that needed duct tape to hold it together. By the way the ID Buzz sold almost 3 times more than Model S and X combined in Europe last year. And this year the trend seems to continue.
All the haters will never afford this soul, those who know they know. I don't think VW gives a damn since these will sell out in China in like 48 hours if America doesn't want any of them.
Seems like a great carpool vehicle. Problem is this range is right in the middle of what people need. 200 is plenty, maybe 2x what would do most people daily around town. But 200 is quite short for a road trip vehicle. Limited applicability will limit its market. If they cut the range in half what would it do to the price? Add a plug to add on more battery and sell them as accessories?
Other than trolling the comment section I don’t plan to watch any of the vw buzz content. It is a lame over priced/ hyped and I will not be taking part.
Wonder how many miles extra range could eek out getting rid of second row and adding a table and a bed? That is what I would do with it. Add a fridge that can carry beer and steaks and a portable BBQ and good to go baby.
Really nice review Alex, thank you. Imho these should be around 35-45K for what they are offering. I am not sure with this low range how they will be useful in long distance family trips. For this price tag, I would have expected around 500mile range.
This definitely going to turn more head than cyber truck now, at least in San Francisco Bay Area since cyber truck is common item nowadays. I see them at least three a day if I go on the freeway. The buzz is going to be guaranteeing a rare sight since VW IS NOT GOING TO SELL MANY OF THEM with the price
That red and silver is very very nice. too bad about the price as always. At 40k in a cargo config with just a bench front and that thing would be killer.
Great review🎉🎉 you really did a great job showing the interior. Rest of crew should review this to show how it's done 🎉🎉 except you don't show driver's view going down the road, and that feels missing. ⭐🌟⭐🌜🌑
Only VW will design a minivan that has less usability than an Atlas. I’m all for retro style but this is a useless vehicle for big families. Too expensive, too low range, not enough storage space relative to other minivans & 3 row SUVs.
The only logical explanation of the price point being so far out of range is that it was originally planned during the war when vw was still using slave labor and didn’t have to factor in labor costs.
Wow. If they only built it on its own platform with better range/ charge speeds etc, the price would make more sense. Too much iD4 in this thing. So much potential but they ruin it by not making it bespoke. I get it’s a cost thing but it’s VW. Not like they don’t have the money.
Holy shit u only get 170 miles at 78% charge??? That shit sucks for a road trip... Stupid EV cars suck for road trips aswell due to theres bo chargers and it takes forever to charge when u find one...
VW is another one who jumped onto the full electric bandwagon when they should have done a hybrid, PHEV, and then full electric of this.
1. It's just a minivan. Not the most popular segment out there. 2. The interior is way too basic & has annoying controls. 3. It's EV-only. 4. It's got built-in VW (lack of) reliability. 5. Small range. 6. Ridiculous distance from windshield to driver is as bad as the old GM dustbuster vans. 7. WAY overpriced. 8. Add all those up: failure in the making.
I agree with all of that except the reliability. So many less parts, I haven't looked at the powertrain warranty but id imagine it's longer than the gas power VWs.
Let's see how the sales are since this is a niche product. I predict a flop since it's very expensive and there just isn't enough value for the money and the range is pathetic to say the least.
Who do they think their target buyer is at that price?
This is quirky, sure, but they definitely missed the mark if this is supposed to appeal to the old VW Bus buyer.
They’d probably sell more units even if they gave it the smallest, slowest engine they have, raised it an inch or 2 and give the poor thing a proper volume knob and gear selector.
People want style, comfort and luxury but we also want simplicity.
Why this is isn’t a hybrid is confounding.
Agreed. Volkswagen keeps making poor decisions. They developed the Touareg and Phaeton, and the Passat W8 to compete with luxury brands while having a mainstream badge (so much for "the people's car"), they tried to cheat with their diesels, and now they completely ignored hybrids and went straight for EVs.
"Those millenial hipsters like them electric cars"
- 65 year old Volkswagen marketing exec
Why? you can get the regular transporter in a plug-in hybrid. (Also Diesel and full electric). At least in Europe, not sure about the US.
@@buddy1155 they don't get the Transporter in the US. In fact, the last one they got was in 2003 (21 years ago).
I don't think you would have the same design/ look if you had an engine
I would love to see this back as an ICE, because to me the VW bus is optimal for use as an RV.
San Francisco... yep, that makes sense.
It will sell for the first year then sales will die. Too Expensive.
We have in Europe for sale for almost two year now, waiting list is still insane. It even got longer with the introduction of GTX and LWB.
There is even a long unofficial waiting list for the campervan, that is a version that is not even officially confirmed.
Waayy too expensive for the range. This will be more niche than the CyberTruck
ID Buzz sold 3 times more than model S and X combined in Europe last year, and this year that trend seems to continue so far..
If you really, really want one…. Wait until the first owner realizes it’s useless, and you can buy it for 50% off.
For american this is going to be a niche product unlike in Europe. People that buy it are the one that really want it.
Define “useless”. What exactly are you trying to do?
@@ericcarabetta1161 for an American use case, there is not enough range for other than city travel. A claimed 220 mile range is effectively about 150 miles (60% for battery longevity) without using any electricity sapping functions. Added to an expensive MSRP will make for slow sales once the initial buyers get their Buzz. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a long time classic VW fan… I was a day one reservation holder for the Manx 2.0. After years of waiting, they quietly announced a $75k price tag. I canceled my reservation and will look for an actual Manx for a fraction of the price.
Well for the past two years they have been running these vans in Mexico.
They work
and if you are actually smart, wait until the 2nd owner sells it and get it for 10-25% the original cost
This has to be about the polar opposite to everything the original VW Bus was meant to be. Not sure what market research said this would sell well, but I think it's going to flop hard, at least in the US.
They were always expensive, always. Go back and do some research they were never cheap. When you adjust for inflation it’s really not that far off
I think you underestimate the power of nostaglia.
ID Buzz sold almost 3 time more than Model S and X combined in Europe last year.
Team Alex well done. Seeing you have fun is the best. ❤. Your a magnificent host at the company with your fam. Iykyk.
More videos!!
Looks great to me, and has some nice character. However, I question how successful it will be in sales at such a high price. It should be $20K cheaper to sell well.
Also, it's not a bus. Its a minivan. There are no top skylight windows, or soft folding roof. Seems they missed a lot of esthetics on what made the old 1970 type2 bus so popular. No powertrain options sucks.
We can just call it a van even though it is shorter than a sienna
Cars have to survive rolling over 30 times now. No more fun features allowed
@thedopplereffect00 The good ol NTSB. Yeah, they suck the fun out of everything nowadays. But If a modern truck, or suv can have a full glass or panoramic roof, then they could have made it with the options as described above.
Style over substance. It will be popular briefly then vanish into irrelevance. Doesn't have One pedal driving. Does have really irritating haptic controls. Bass version is more expensive than the platinum trim on the Toyota sienna. Should be three across in the third row
Yes. The style over substance issue is huge here. The old VW bus was practically bigger on the inside than on the outside. That was what compromised the performance, but the performance here is compromised for no such benefit and in a way that’s not a good trade off. Also, the greenhouse was amazing, but this is a typical, modern cave car.
I like the style and the flat seats, but otherwise? Meh.
Also, thank the chicken tax for no cargo version. We need to end that nonsense.
This is a design I have waited to see make production since the 2002 Minibus Concept. Nice to see the design finally became a reality, ambient 20+ years later. Only downside, its EV only. They really could of done EV, Hybrid and ICE versions and really bring it back to market in full.
Expensive, poor range, no thanks.
Time to take it on the trails with those great approach and departure angles!
I think we are way past the peak for electric vehicles (compliance vehicles).
Too bad they didn’t offer a gas version.
Who's going to buy this??? Vans are supposed to be trip vehicles. Make it little bigger. Hybrid or diesel with AWD would've been good if the price was under 45k
Model Y, 308 miles range, 7 seats, $10k cheaper. What's the point of this car?
It won't sell at any numbers to even justify building it in the first place. They are missing the whole point of the VW van and what it was and what it should be.
it is a virtue signal mobile
Very cool, but as it becomes available it's slightly disappointing. As for the range, yea it isn't that great, but many of us EV owners are charging at home. We use our ID.4 as a secondary/commuter car and have only charged at a public charger once in 4000 miles. I think the most disappointing thing about it is the captains chairs in higher trims. Where do these designers get the idea that captains chairs are for only higher end trims. I hate captains chairs, give me the bench.
If it was about 45,000 and ran on Gas or Diesel I would buy one. They look great but 200 miles of range or less means the only people buying this are people with money to throw away so they can add it to their collection of VW busses.
The good news is that because it’s an EV, as soon as people sell them back to the dealer after 1 year they will have depreciated down to 30k/50%😅
Does it detect and track human feces?
I think they should sell a gas version, they would make so much money
and offer round headlights as an option like toyota has with the new landcruiser
This thing should have been a plug-in hybrid
Whoever creates a hybrid conversion kit will be rich. Huge fail on VWs part
Hybrid will be better
VW came out with this idea RIGHT after the huge diesel gate TDI scandal...
It’s a flatnose Pontiac Trans Sport. They have people excited about minivans again.
Dealer markups on this? No way, it’s not a covid year.
It is just a mini cargo van with seats like a ford transit connect but EXPENSIVE
Can you adjust the 2nd and 3rd row seats forward to give less leg room and more cargo room?
Vw really messed this up. Electric vehicles are not practical for the us market. This needs to be a hybrid with a 500 mile range. It would sell like hotcakes then.
I thought your profile pic was the doctor from Star Trek Voyager
Gas version with a 2.0 hybrid at 45k would sell like crazy. Evs are just not interesting for the masses yet. Specially at those crazy prices and having low range
That video title... You guys didn't hold back 😅
VW successfully wrecked the VW bus that was cheap for families and efficient.
It’s supercool, but with that range, the eye watering price is a non starter for me. Maybe when they start coming back from their leases it will make more sense to buy a used one. Probably at a 60-70% discount from a 2025 sticker price.
_Very expensive collectible(?!) toys_
Uggh I was really looking forward to this. Too bad it’s a hard pass with its range and price.
For 70k I'd much rather have a Hyundai Ionic N than this, but this is cool for the Brady Bunch type of family.
Shame they didn't bring the short wheelbase version to the US.
My guy breathed in all dem particles @7:20 voice got dry real quick 😂
Such a big reveal that Roman decides to send one person to the press launch and we get another POV video.
I thought he did a good job, but aside from that, hasn't Roman mentioned he plans on getting one of these already? If they're going to have one for ~1yr, I think I'd rather see them prioritize a more thorough review in CO, rather than attending the launch with a full platoon. The People demand a hole be cut in the bumper, a hitch be installed, and the Super Ike evaluation be conducted!
This is turd 💩. Expensive & low range. VW should’ve made it a Hybrid with a 1.5 or 2 liter Turbo gas engine. 😮
No. Just give it a bigger battery
The van itself isn’t too bad, it’s kinda nice and all. But it’s not really for the American market. I have a feeling not many people will buy these here, should’ve kept them in europe
Excellent taxi vehicle, you can drive around town for 8 hours straight especially in a dense city like NYC averaging 30mph and still have an extra 20 miles or so left to get back to the charger if it holds the the same power economy in that that use case, and even if it didn't, you could easily pull a 5-6 hour uber or Doordash shift with it my my city out in west Texas and make bank because power is so cheap here
Range is horrible
Nope you are wrong
It s unfair comparing it to Cybertruck. The Buzz is legit product out of the box unlike the cybertruck that needed duct tape to hold it together.
By the way the ID Buzz sold almost 3 times more than Model S and X combined in Europe last year. And this year the trend seems to continue.
All the haters will never afford this soul, those who know they know. I don't think VW gives a damn since these will sell out in China in like 48 hours if America doesn't want any of them.
Needs more ground clearance and needs to be an EREV or PHEV. I have big hopes for the new Delica when in comes out in a couple years.
You can get the Volkswagen Transporter syncro with PHEV and extra ground clearance. (at least in Europe, not sure about the US)
Put in a Golf R engine with a 6 speed
now you and I could be friends!
In five years you’ll see the survivor vans running around with a swapped-in Subaru engine in the rear.
Yup! Dibs on a red and grey one!!
Make mine turbocharged.
Make mine turbocharged.
Seems like a great carpool vehicle. Problem is this range is right in the middle of what people need. 200 is plenty, maybe 2x what would do most people daily around town. But 200 is quite short for a road trip vehicle. Limited applicability will limit its market. If they cut the range in half what would it do to the price? Add a plug to add on more battery and sell them as accessories?
Other than trolling the comment section I don’t plan to watch any of the vw buzz content. It is a lame over priced/ hyped and I will not be taking part.
Too little too late. I doubt it's going to save VW.
Releasing an EV with sub 300 range is a bold move Cotton... Lets se how this plays out.
Wonder how many miles extra range could eek out getting rid of second row and adding a table and a bed? That is what I would do with it. Add a fridge that can carry beer and steaks and a portable BBQ and good to go baby.
Really nice review Alex, thank you. Imho these should be around 35-45K for what they are offering. I am not sure with this low range how they will be useful in long distance family trips. For this price tag, I would have expected around 500mile range.
If there was a gas engine available I'd be curious but all electric and I'm out.
I think there are enough boomer ex hippies with money and trendy soccer moms for this to sell . Westfalia camper coming later
Perfect van for well-heeled young professionals in the Bay area.
Please do a ID Buzz vs Cyber Truck video in the future!
Like 5 people will buy one of these to make it their personality and it will end up with the Yugo and Aztec as a vehicular punchline for eternity.
The only thing I agree with what people are saying is if it was a PHEV not an EV, that is the only thing that would make it better
Seems like Stalantis be running Volkswagen nowadays.
Cause with absolute poor decisions like that it sure seems like it
I wish they made that in hybrid. That would replace mini vans for sure!
This definitely going to turn more head than cyber truck now, at least in San Francisco Bay Area since cyber truck is common item nowadays. I see them at least three a day if I go on the freeway. The buzz is going to be guaranteeing a rare sight since VW IS NOT GOING TO SELL MANY OF THEM with the price
That red and silver is very very nice. too bad about the price as always. At 40k in a cargo config with just a bench front and that thing would be killer.
Nice but too expensive and not hybrid,
Great review🎉🎉 you really did a great job showing the interior. Rest of crew should review this to show how it's done 🎉🎉 except you don't show driver's view going down the road, and that feels missing. ⭐🌟⭐🌜🌑
Let me guess... US models get blinking brake lights instead of separate amber indicators. :(
Only VW will design a minivan that has less usability than an Atlas. I’m all for retro style but this is a useless vehicle for big families. Too expensive, too low range, not enough storage space relative to other minivans & 3 row SUVs.
All Alec's rambling about nothing. San Francisco makes sense for this Trans Port
No Wesfailia no sale.
Red and grey looks like a Sanitaire Vacuum..
lol, no
The execution is perfect but the range is abhorrent. Should be minimum 250. 😦
The digital instrument panel doubles as a mirror at 4:00
Ive owned a VW BUS, but i wont buy one of these, my taste has changed..
Can you get this in a Syncro 4WD with a lift?
Might sell decent in Europe where they don’t have any other minivan options
The only logical explanation of the price point being so far out of range is that it was originally planned during the war when vw was still using slave labor and didn’t have to factor in labor costs.
shoulda offered gas, diesel, and hybrid options as well
Mullosk furiously taking notes
Whats TFL going to lose more money on... THIS or the CyberCamino when they finally dump it?
So, when you open the door, your phone, that was charging, get thrown to the pavement.
VW, "we need to go green", bus made out of plastic......
They should have made the AWD version a plugin hybrid. Would be perfect.
Red and silver exterior with a brown and blue interior. Hmm. Not the most cohesive choices.
VW products are boring!,but this Buzz is buzzing!.am ❤ing it🎉
I love it.....but it's DOOMED
Hybrid at least.
Wow. If they only built it on its own platform with better range/ charge speeds etc, the price would make more sense. Too much iD4 in this thing. So much potential but they ruin it by not making it bespoke. I get it’s a cost thing but it’s VW. Not like they don’t have the money.
Too much money and not enough range. That front end is going to be rock chipped to no end.
Those big VW emblems especially lighted on their vehicles are prohibitively hideous
It reminds me of a SCION xB.
I’ll buy one when they are 30k instead of 65k
ill buy one when it is 5k used
Your videos always leave a mark in the heart and mind of the viewers. Thank you for your creativity and depth of thought!🍌⛺️🍿
3 to 5 years later there be 8gs
Holy shit u only get 170 miles at 78% charge??? That shit sucks for a road trip... Stupid EV cars suck for road trips aswell due to theres bo chargers and it takes forever to charge when u find one...
The back window looks so stupid. Literally looks like it was tacked on to shut up criticism.
Front end looks like a snowplow
And it will tow?
Needs a gas engine and a manual. $30k tops