Volkswagen ID. Buzz review - Reliability and safety

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz has had a relatively long gestation period and comes a couple of years after the first wave of ID models such as the ID.3 and ID.4. Experience with those models should have helped with the development of the ID. Buzz, but it's still too early to give an impression of reliability on these models that are based on VW's MEB electric car platform.

What we do know is that these cars are available with over-the-air updates, and VW is able to refresh the on-board software to improve the infotainment and even squeeze out some extra range from the drive system.

Every new VW model tested by Euro NCAP since 2016 has been awarded the organisation’s maximum five-star crash safety rating, and that includes the ID. Buzz. The electric MPV’s scores for adult occupant protection and safety assist technology both exceeded the 90 per cent mark, however it received an alarmingly low 60 per cent mark for protecting vulnerable road users – the downside of having such a bluff front end.

Thankfully, safety kit is first-rate on the ID. Buzz. There are seven airbags (front, side, curtain and central) while autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection is standard. Adaptive cruise control with speed limiter is also included, as is lane assist, road sign recognition and seatbelt alert for all five chairs. The mirrors feature concave glass to help reduce blind spots, but you need to add the Assistance Package Plus if you want lane change assist with blind spot detection and a 360 degree camera system for parking.

In the 2022 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, Volkswagen finished 18th on the list of 29 best manufacturers, however its dealers ranked 10th out of the 16 networks surveyed. Although it’s worth noting that the ID. Buzz is sold via the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles network, so we can’t directly attribute the results in this case, even though many outlets share the same locations. 

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Warranty

The ID. Buzz is covered by a three-year warranty/100,000-mile warranty. You can even extend the coverage to up to five years in total via a one-off or monthly payment, but the standard factory warranty will provide you with plenty of coverage if you’re on a three-year finance deal. Like all VW’s ID models, the ID. Buzz gets three years of breakdown cover, while the main battery comes with eight years/100,000 miles guarantee.

Servicing

With fewer moving parts, there's less maintenance needed on EVs. As a result, VW expects owners to get their ID models serviced every 24 months. This two-year gap is in combination with an unlimited mileage stipulation, so you only need to worry about it when the car's anniversary comes around.

VW offers service packages at the time of purchase which can help spread the cost of maintenance.