2026 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro SWB: the modern day Kombi
Deep history sometimes dictates the evolution of modern day motor vehicles. That's never been more the case than with the transition from the Volkswagen Type 2 - the humble Kombi - affectionately known as the original hippie bus.
It was the rolling symbol of freedom, rebellion, and "let’s just see where the road takes us". Now, VW wants to bring that magic back. The ID. Buzz is their modern love letter to the past and after spending time with it, I’m convinced they’ve captured something special.
The first thing that hits you is the colour. Our review vehicle arrived in Bay Leaf Green Metallic over Candy White. It's a two‑tone combination that feels like it was ripped straight out of a 1970s postcard. It’s cheerful, bold, and impossible to ignore.
In person, it’s even better, and is the kind of colour that makes strangers smile at traffic lights. Does it have the same charm as Fillmore from Cars? Not quite. It needs a bit more personality, maybe a peace sign or two, but the bones are there.
It’s a van with character, and that’s rare in the modern automotive landscape. Inside, the Buzz continues the retro‑modern theme. The green and white upholstery mirrors the exterior beautifully, giving the cabin a cohesive, playful vibe.
It’s quirky without being tacky, and functional without feeling clinical. The instrument cluster is small and simple. It works, but compared to what other manufacturers are doing, it’s a bit of a snooze. The centre touchscreen is buttonless, with touch‑sensitive climate controls that will annoy you at first.
They'll fade into the background as you adapt. The steering wheel also uses haptic buttons, which is very Volkswagen: mildly irritating until your muscle memory catches up. Comfort-wise, the seats are solid.
Long trips don’t leave you wishing for more support, and the driving position is upright and commanding. The dashboard is enormous, stretching so far forward that this reviewer physically couldn’t reach the base of the windscreen from the driver’s seat.
Short‑arm problems, sure, but still worth noting. There’s no wireless charging in this particular Buzz, which feels like an oversight, but Volkswagen makes up for it with USB‑C ports everywhere, including in the rear where the third row would normally be.
The German car maker claims up to 452km of range. We consistently saw around 420km, which became a running joke every time we checked it. Close enough to the claim to be amusing, but not disappointing.
A 10 to 80 per cent charge in 26 minutes means you can top up during a coffee stop without rearranging your day. The boot space is enormous at 2,205 litres with the seats down, and the cabin is full of clever storage solutions.
There are hidden compartments everywhere. The removable centre console is a standout feature, letting you open up the cabin or slide easily into the middle row. We tested the second row with two adults and a child seat on a night out. No complaints.
Everyone was comfortable, and the only comment was a wish for a sunroof in this particular spec. Let’s address the elephant in the room though; people call the ID. Buzz a fridge. And yes, it’s shaped like one. But this fridge can move.
With 7.9 seconds to 100 km/h, it’s quicker than it looks, especially considering it weighs 2800kg. On the freeway, it feels planted and stable, soaking up bumps and crosswinds with ease. It’s not trying to be sporty, but it doesn’t feel sluggish either.
It’s confident, predictable, and surprisingly enjoyable to drive. We decided to take the Buzz to a Cars & Coffee meet in Williamtown; partly for fun, partly to see how the public would react. As we rolled in, someone yelled, "Take the appliance home!".
We laughed it off, because here’s the thing: this "appliance" has more personality than half the cars there. People gravitated toward it. They smiled. They smirked. They pointed. Kids loved it. Adults loved it. Even the sceptics eventually cracked a grin.
The ID. Buzz is a joy machine. Wherever it goes, it brings a little bit of happiness with it. And in a world full of angry headlights and aggressive styling, that’s refreshing. After the meet, we headed up to Nelson Bay for the rest of the day.
Cruising along the coastline, watching the waves roll in, the Buzz started to make perfect sense. You don’t need 700km of range. You don’t need blistering performance. You need a moment to breathe. The Buzz encourages you to slow down, unwind, and enjoy the drive.
It’s the kind of vehicle that makes you take the scenic route on purpose. It’s a natural fit for weekend escapes; book a powered site, plug in, and live out of it for a couple of days. Or go off‑grid entirely, charge before you leave, and disappear into your favourite getaway spot.
It’s van‑life without the plywood, the DIY insulation, or the questionable electrical setups. Here’s the tricky part: I absolutely love this thing. But the price makes it a tough sell, it truly does. Volkswagen has packed a lot into the ID. Buzz.
The problem is that it feels like they’re selling nostalgia as a luxury item rather than trying to get as many of these on the road as possible. And that’s a shame, because it's the kind of vehicle that deserves to be everywhere.
It’s hard to put a dollar value on joy, and the Buzz delivers it in spades. It isn’t just a van. It’s a vibe. A rolling reminder to slow down, laugh a little, and enjoy small moments. It’s charming, quirky, and full of personality and that's something modern cars often forget to be.
It’s not perfect. It’s not cheap. But it’s one of the few vehicles on the market that genuinely makes people happy. That might be worth more than range, speed, or spreadsheets. It's offered in 11 colours, five of which are two-tone, with five different interior trim options and two wheel choices.
It's backed by a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty.
Our test vehicle was provided by Volkswagen Australia for independent review purposes. This article first published on Exhaust Notes Australia.
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