Does a £35,960 price tag solve the Volkswagen ID. Buzz conundrum?

Want to see what the buzz is about, but don’t fancy the price? The new entry level Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo might be the answer. But where has the money been saved?

By now, we’ve all probably encountered the ID. Buzz in one form or another. And usually, in our experience, the reaction goes something like: ‘cool, love the nostalgic nods to iconic VW’s of the past… But perhaps it’s a little impractical, and wait, it costs how much?’

And it’s true, the ID. Buzz doesn’t come cheap, with many standard variants stepping over the £60,000 mark, and even the stripped back Cargo models heading well over £40,000. So, what has VW done to counter this? Meet the new entry level ID. Buzz Cargo Commerce, available on the road from late spring this year, with prices starting at a (relatively) reasonable £35,960. 

No cutting corners

What do you get for this reduced price? Quite impressively, much of the same as you do with its more expensive siblings.

The overall maximum cargo volume of 3.9m³ — as found across the ID. Buzz Range — is still here, capable of comfortably absorbing two Euro pallets widthways. Functional, but like it’s siblings, some way behind the practicality of something like the Ford E-Transit Custom's 6.8m³ cargo capacities — even if we have long accepted this as the price of having something a little more head turning (disclaimer: our opinion).

Hauling the whole operation along, the rear mounted motor pumps out 168 hp, providing a 692 kg payload, and the ability to tow up to 1,000 kg. Again, standard figures which we have pretty much come to terms with at this point, but they are far outworked by the E-Transit Custom’s 1,088 kg payload and 2,000 kg+ towing capabilities — even if the ID. Buzz Cargo is smaller and easier on the eye.

The impact of the price cut isn’t especially noticeable in the cabin either, which has successfully held on to its car-like allure. The Cargo’s Commerce trim packs three seats up front (with the driver’s heated), a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a handy smattering of USB-C ports.

The difference

At this point, you’re probably wondering where the money has actually been saved. It’s the battery. The ID. Buzz Cargo Commerce is fitted with a smaller 59 kwh unit, offering a range of 200 miles. That’s around 75 miles less than the pricier models with 79 kwh batteries, but despite this, it still pretty much goes toe-to-toe with the E-Transit Custom’s 204-mile range.

And when it’s time to top up, you’re looking at a 5-80% charge in just half an hour thanks to the 165 kw rapid charging capabilities — keeping downtime to a minimum.

And that’s about it. Whether this has solved the pricing catch to VW’s ID. Buzz Cargo, we’ll let you be the judge, but at around £10,000 cheaper than the E-Transit Custom, it certainly makes a case for itself.

Hero image credit: VW