Lots of grunt, not much range: I drove the Volkswagen ID Buzz GTX

I’ve been out and about in the Volkswagen ID Buzz GTX – an electric people carrier with a sporty kick. On paper it sounds brilliant, but in reality the efficiency and range figures tell a different story.

With 340hp and all-wheel drive, this is the most powerful production VW bus ever made. But do you really need this much poke in an electric van? I took it out to see how it performs in the real world.

Driving the Volkswagen ID Buzz GTX: quick, but not that comfortable

The ID. Buzz GTX certainly surprised me with its punchy acceleration. Even though this long-wheelbase model weighs a chunky 2.8 tonnes, that 340hp makes light work of it. To put that into perspective, it’ll do 0-62mph in just 6.4 seconds, which is the same as the tiny Polo GTI hot hatch.

Despite the weight, the GTX feels pretty agile through the bends. However, there is a catch: the suspension has been stiffened for the sporty GTX badge. While it’s ok on smooth tarmac, the comfort suffers in daily driving. Over potholes and rough surfaces you really feel the bumps, and even in ‘Comfort’ mode it doesn’t quite soak them up. It’s definitely no magic carpet ride.

Efficiency and range: the main drawback

As much fun as that performance is, it really hammers the range. In our testing, the efficiency was much worse than Volkswagen claims. The official figure for the long-wheelbase GTX is around 3.0 miles per kWh. On our test route, which mostly took in motorways and country roads, we only managed around 2.0 miles per kWh.

That works out to a real-world range of just over 170 miles, which is 110 miles short of the official claimed range. It’s a bit more efficient around town where you can make the most of the regenerative braking, but you’ll still struggle to hit 200 miles between stops.

By comparison, we lived with the standard rear-wheel drive Volkswagen ID Buzz for three months and saw a real-world range of around 240 miles. That’s usefully more than the GTX.

On the plus side, charging is decent. VW says it can handle up to 200kW at a DC rapid charger, meaning 10-80% should take 26 minutes. However, in our test – admittedly in cold weather—we only saw a max of 104kW at a 35% state of charge.

Interior and tech: could be better

The standard ID Buzz has a really cool-looking interior, and it remains pretty much unchanged for the GTX. You do get some slightly sportier seats, but it’s a shame that you can’t get the light trim option. This really brightens up the cabin on the standard car.

The 12.9-inch screen is large and clear, but it’s just not as intuitive as it could be. Some of the menus are a bit confusing, and this is annoying when everything is controlled through the display. The “Hello IDA” voice assistant was also a bit hit-and-miss during our time with it.

Ergonomically, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, too. The buttons and touch pads on the steering wheel feel awkward, especially the volume control on the left, and the touch sliders under the infotainment system aren’t as easy to use as proper knobs would be.

Space: the real highlight

Practicality is where the ID Buzz truly shines . Its van-like dimensions mean there is loads of room for up to seven people. The sliding doors on both sides are a godsend for getting in and out in tight car parks, and you can slide or even remove the seats in the second and third rows, making it incredibly flexible for families.

There are plenty of clever storage spots and folding tables on the back of the front seats. One minor gripe: the cup holders in those tables are a bit wide, so skinny cans tend to fall through. Thankfully there are plenty of other cup holders to choose from throughout the interior.

When it comes to the boot, the 7-seater still offers 306 litres of space behind the third row, which expands to 1,340 litres behind the second row. In the long-wheelbase version, you can reach a maximum capacity of 2,469 litres. The ID. Buzz also focuses on versatility, offering an optional Multiflex board to create a second loading level.

Verdict: A heart over head choice

The ID. Buzz GTX is an impressive bit of kit with serious performance. But you have to ask yourself if you really need it. For most, it’s over-powered, especially given the impact on range and efficiency.

The standard ID Buzz offers the same fantastic practicality and super-cool styling, plus it’s just as nice to drive and you get more range. Add in the fact you pay an extra £4,000 to £8,000 for the GTX compared to the standard models, depending on trim, and you really have to ask yourself if the extra power is worth it.

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