The VW ID. Buzz Cargo Is A Classy, Clean Carrier.
To quote from the opening titles of Monty Python, And now for something completely different. I have been testing the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo, a fully electric van with the classic look of the iconic Camper but state-of-the-art technology.
It may be my age, but I have been considering owning a van as both a vehicle for work and a practical option for family transportation. The more I drive them, the more appealing they become, and I want one rather than most cars I have driven recently. Practicality is becoming more important than performance. Testing the VW ID. Buzz Cargo has reinforced this desire, and I will explain why.
For many self-employed workers who need a load carrier, it is not viable for them to own a car to perform non-work-related tasks, such as taking the children to school, sports events, or even shopping. I have seen many tradespeople having to use their work vehicle for multi-tasking, often with one child seat permanently occupying one of the two positions on the bench seat. I have also seen a marked increase in workers buying twin-cab vans to get an even better work/life balance, allowing all types of cargo to be carried but also up to six occupants. To me, it makes perfect sense to utilise a van for family and work
Back to the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo
Power comes from a 201bhp electric motor that drives the rear wheels. This features a single-speed transmission operated via a drive selector on the right-hand steering column stalk.
A high driving position gives plenty of benefits, especially the superb field of vision. You also sit upright, looking directly ahead and feeling comfortable on any journey length with your back straight. Climbing into the cab rather than stepping down into a vehicle pleases me because my aligning joints don't get a painful workout on entry or exit.
The cargo area is substantive in width and length and benefits from three access points, with a door on either side and a giant boot opening that is nice and high for unobstructed loading and unloading.
On some occasions, I have had to sleep in the back of a car or van and the VW ID. Buzz Cargo would be perfect for this with the wide, uncluttered and flat flooring
There's a big battery on board, but VW has provided the ID. Buzz Cargo has fast-charging capability, too. You can use chargers of 170kW, so the charging rate means the battery can be charged up from five to 80 per cent capacity in around half an hour. Using an AC wallbox, a full charge takes 7.5 hrs from an 11kW source or 11 hrs from a 7kW supply. VW's combustion-engined commercial vehicles as a reference, you might expect the ID. Buzz Cargo to command a higher price over the competition. It comes in lower than the 75kWh versions of the Stellantis group commercial equivalents.
The VW ID. Buzz Cargo has a load volume of 3.9 cubic metres, equal to the maxi versions of vans in the small class. The Renault Kangoo e-Tech and Citroen e-Berlingo have similar spaces but come in less expensive.
To get into the load area, you have two sliding side doors, which are not always standard fit on vans of this size. The openings are 756mm wide, slightly narrower than rivals. The rear allows you to specify a top-hinged tailgate or twin doors with a 50:50 split.
The floor is set high, so there are two steps into the cargo area, and on the offside, behind a panel, you can place the charging cables, keeping them clear from the load area. The load area has six lashing eyes on the floor, two more on either side of the rear wheel arches, LED interior lighting and a 12-volt charging socket.
VW's development of electric vehicles means you get the latest safety tech, too. Twin front airbags, which are not all vans, come with a passenger airbag as standard, and side and curtain airbags are fitted, too. All three seats have full three-point seatbelts; a belt reminder emits a beeping if the belts are not buckled. Autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection is needed in all vehicles, so I am delighted to see it on the VW ID. Buzz Cargo. A driver tiredness monitor is great for commercial users, and you get a tyre pressure monitor and VW's Car2X system, allowing the vehicle to network with other compatible vehicles to offer real-time traffic information via a subscription service. Dynamic road sign display and lane keeping are standard, as are eCall and front and rear parking sensors. You can choose an optional park assist that can be programmed to remember up to five automated parking manoeuvres.
