The VW ID.Buzz Gets Some Nice Updates With More Power And Real Buttons But Is Still Skipping The US For Next Year

As I think I’ve made clear, I’m pretty conflicted when it comes to the Volkswagen ID.Buzz, the modern electric reinterpretation of the iconic Type 2 Microbus. When I reviewed it early last year, I found it to be a very appealing and capable family/friends road trip vehicle that was sadly hamstrung by its lack of range. That ham could be unstrung if it were, say, a hybrid instead of a pure battery EV. Well, VW has announced an update to their funky electric van, and I’m delighted to say that this update changes (reads press release) um, none of my main issues.

That’s not to say the update doesn’t change things for the better, because it absolutely does! For starters, it continues VW’s laudable effort to get back to real, non-maddening physical controls. This update replaces the annoying, flat haptic buttons on the steering wheel with physical buttons, though the flat, touch-based controls for audio volume and climate control under the screen are still the same, to, I’d imagine, nobody’s delight.

There is also a nice bump in power for the dual-motor ID.Buzz Pro 4Motion trim level, which now meets the fast GTX variant in power at 335 hp. That’s about 10 times the power of, say, a 1955 Microbus, if you were curious. Towing capacity goes up to 3,968 pounds, but for the long-wheelbase one we got here in the US, that drops to 3,527 pounds. Not that there’s any announcement that we’re getting this updated ID.Buzz in the US, because there isn’t.

The updated Buzz will also have the ability to provide electrical power instead of just consuming it, with a new vehicle-to-load capability that provides up to 2 kW of power, so you can charge or run things like e-bikes or personal massagers or belt sanders or electroplating machines or whatever. That’s handy!

VW’s Level 2 driver assist system now recognizes and properly reacts to traffic lights, and regenerative braking now adds a one-pedal driving feature for those of you too busy or cool to touch a brake pedal.

VW has also updated the infotainment system, and I care so little about that I’m just going to quote the press release here:

Infotainment with new services: The new Innovision infotainment system will also be used in the ID. Buzz. A new app store is integrated into the system, which allows functions and services to be activated or expanded digitally, flexibly and on a vehicle-specific basis. Just like with a smartphone, popular apps are available for download here – covering audio to video streaming, parking, charging and gaming. Operation of the ID. Buzz is further improved by a multifunction steering wheel with newly designed buttons.

Ooh, Innovision! I had friends who had those as a kid! They had good sports games!

Oh wait, that’s Intellivision. Never mind.

It’s unlikely that America will get these somewhat-updated 2026 ID.Buzzes. VW is “to welcome model year 2027 in 2026,” but there won’t be new ID.Buzz buses brought here for the 2026 model year. So, too bad, I guess. But hopefully the ’27 one will really address this interesting but flawed machine. I’d really like to see VW get this right.