Will the ID.Buzz still be in demand by the time it arrives in the US? Volkswagen has been slow to bring its electric ID.Buzz to the States, despite its earlier release in Europe. However, the company recently provided some information on how it plans to offer the retro van to Americans. The lineup will include three different trim levels: Pro S, Pro S Plus, and a limited-time 1st Edition. All three will be available in either rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configurations.
One notable omission from the lineup is a seven-seat, all-wheel-drive model. Volkswagen believes that most ID.Buzz customers will opt for captain’s chairs as they move up the trim ladder, so they decided to simplify the model lineup by excluding the seven-seat option. This decision may also have been influenced by the desire to save costs and reduce weight.
However, leaving out the seven-seat, all-wheel-drive variant seems odd, as it would likely be popular among American customers, especially families with more than two children. The extra seat would be beneficial for driving friends or shuttling soccer teammates. Additionally, many parents prioritize all-wheel drive for better traction in bad weather conditions. It’s unclear why VW made this choice, especially considering that early EV adopters who have been eagerly awaiting the ID.Buzz may now consider other options like the Kia EV9, which also offers seven seats.
VW did reveal some other details about the U.S.-spec ID.Buzz models. The rear-wheel-drive model will have 282 horsepower, while the dual-motor all-wheel-drive version will have 335 horsepower. The van will come in a variety of paint options and feature a 12.9-inch touchscreen, 30-color ambient lighting, and a 700-watt Harmon/Kardon surround sound system.
However, VW has not disclosed the price or the range of the ID.Buzz, which is surprising considering how long customers have been waiting for this information. The lack of these essential details may push potential buyers to explore other electric vehicle options. The lengthy wait time and the omission of a popular feature could be major turn-offs for EV buyers.
In conclusion, while the VW ID.Buzz may seem like the perfect vehicle on paper, the delays and unusual omissions may deter potential customers. It’s crucial for Volkswagen to provide basic information such as pricing and range to satisfy the expectations of early EV adopters who have been eagerly anticipating the ID.Buzz. Otherwise, they risk losing customers to competitors in the market.