2024 Volkswagen iD.Buzz

2024 Volkswagen iD.Buzz - Design Review

​Overall Grade = C+
AVERAGE

Front End: C
    Good: Welcome to the dark side
    Bad: All too wide stance
Rear End: C+
    Good: Simple and to the point
    Bad: It is not hip to be a square
Side: C+
    Good: Clean, classic lines
    Bad: Two-tone world
Overall Appeal: C+
    Good: Classic appeal
    Bad: Still has some growing up to do​

​​​​​​​Score: 56.97%
Grade: C+
Rating: AVERAGE
AutoLooks Rating: 5.7 out of 10

Front End: 52.17%
Rear End: 60.39%
Side: 57.06%
Overall Appeal: 58.26%

AutoLooks Buy List: WATCH
Recommended Tuner: YES
Trent Setter: YES
Future Classic: YES
Stock Value: INCREASE

​                It has been a long time coming, as VW has been playing around with the idea of bringing back the microbus for nearly two decades now.  Finally with the release of the EV platform and the need for a new minivan, Volkswagen has finally decided to grace us with an updated version of the original minivan.  We all know that the original wasn’t called a minivan, but we all know that the Microbus was the first foray into the world of small vans.
​
                Coming back isn’t always something which can be done easily.  Remember the return of the Charger and how it carved out true muscle car fans 

​from those who just wanted a performance sedan.  This is what VW is up against with the return of the Microbus format.  But that is what it is, just a format.

​                As the ID. Buzz is a whole new product with a new name, the Microbus name can live on as it was.  Unlike others who have returned from the grave, VW seems to be playing it safe with the return of one of its most famous products.  By not using the Microbus name, the ID. Buzz can carve out its own portion of the market, while influencing the fans from the past.  We all know that the ID. Buzz is the reincarnation of the famous Bus, but unlike the competition, it doesn’t want to mess with the past.

                Similar to its predecessor, the front end of the ID. Buzz only carries a few aspects from what it was trying to recreate.  Its cab-over format has given way to a very short front lid.  But that hasn’t stopped Volkswagen from adding on its oversized VW logo.  This classic feature is one of the few ways you can tell that this product is a reincarnation and nothing at all new.

                Lost is the chrome bumper from the past which has been pushed aside for an even larger integrated one.  This one contains an odd layout for its cold air intake, as it seems to be trying to blend the body into the grille.  Of course, it really doesn’t fit, as all of the rest of this vehicle is flat panels.  VW should try to make the intake more separate from the front rather than trying to integrate.  Hey, its either this or they add more fencing style to the rest of the vehicle.  Might we suggest over the rear windows.
​
                We can say that VW did a good job at not making the ID. Buzz look sad.  While the Microbus was a cute little van, it always came off looking a bit sad.  It could have been the round headlamps from the time, or the fact that it didn’t really have any facial expression.  This has changed, as VW has added on new sinister looking, blended head lights, which create an eerie feeling of “I’m watching you”.  This does work in its favour along with the two-tone colour aspect.

                From the centre of the bumper, all the way to the rear lid, VW has created a well utilized body line.   A bit less of a differentiation at the front could help out, but along the side, this line helps to break the lower from the upper portion of the vehicle.  This in turn makes it much easier to add a two-tone paint scheme.  Planned?  We think so.

                Unlike its predecessor, the ID. Buzz sits much lower to the ground which makes it look a lot more stable.  If not for the under-sized wheels, the Buzz would look more like a street cruiser than a standard minivan.  But maybe that is what VW wants, as they do love when people DUB out their products.

                A lack of character lines is made up by both the body line and the wheel arches, as they both create shadows which help to break up the side profile.  Without this, there would be a vast wasteland of sheet metal boring us to death.
​
                Just above this you will find that VW did try to bring back the port hole style windows, but with more of a greenhouse style appeal.  The pillars do break up the windows, but overall, we can tell that this is more of a single expanse of glass rather than a multitude of windows.  Added to this are the rear accents which help to break the D-pillar from the rear.  This is highly needed as the pillar would just be a vast expanse of nothing.  This can be seen on the Cargo version, as it adds to the overall boring aspect of the side profile.

​                Out back there’s really nothing to write home about, as the plain sides have moved onto the rear profile.  Similar to the font VW has added on their oversized logo, along with a properly sized name.  Both of which do fit with the rear, but we could ask for some more accents, as there seems to be not enough it to go around.

                VW has done a decent job with the size and layout of their rear bumper.  The same cannot be said about the rear spoiler, but with a design like this, is a rear spoiler really required?  No, its not.
​
                From here you will find that VW has done a decent job when it comes to the tail lights.  Decent in the way of its layout, but not in its size or accent aspects.  Both of which are lost between the body line and the rear window.

​                It is nice to see that VW has finally agreed to return their famous minivan to us.  Although it may not be as we thought it would be, it is still the same aspect that we remember and with some classic features and an outline from the past, the ID. Buzz will surely find its way onto many customers driveways.  We just hope that a GLI version is on the way.

Everett J.
​#autolooks

---

​COMPETITION:
Hyundai Staria - 53.35%
​Honda Odyssey - 63.67%
Kia Carnival - 62.47%
Renault Express - 45.38%