Rooftop surfboards and Grateful Dead T-shirts are not included, but retro vibes do abound in the microbus-inspired Volkswagen ID. Buzz — reincarnated as an electric vehicle.
First off, do not get an ID. Buzz if you don’t like attention. You will get lots of looks and people will want to talk to you.
This one got extra attention in what’s called Pomelo Yellow and Candy White two-tone paint, and also a Copper leatherette interior.
This rear-wheel drive version has an EPA-estimated 234 miles of range. If that seems low, remember: this is basically a brick on wheels, fighting the wind.
When I charged it, my ID. Buzz went from 26% to 80% battery life, for $26. That took about an hour and 10 minutes at the mall.
People are calling this a minivan, but I think a van is a more applicable description. It’s simply big, even though it’s still reasonably peppy. Interestingly, VW uses neither the term van nor minivan in its main news release on its website.
This exact one comes in at $66,040.
Now, for the big asterisk: You actually can’t buy one of these right now, but hopefully you can soon.
It’s subject to a recall because the government said the third-row seat is too wide. It has two seat belts, but regulators said three people could theoretically squeeze back there. The fix is to add trim that will effectively narrow the seat.
So, if you’re interested, pack your patience. You might also take some time to brush up on your conversation skills ahead of your newfound popularity.
