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There's never been a van quite like Volkswagen's ID.Buzz cargo. There are more practical EV commercial vehicles in the class, but nothing remotely as eye-catching. It's a completely different interpretation of what a medium sized LCV can be.
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Driving experience
Given that the MEB platform here was primarily designed for medium-to-large cars, not a commercial vehicle, you wouldn't expect the ID.Buzz Cargo to feel especially van-like to drive - and it doesn't. With a 204PS electric motor, it's not short on grunt and it's single-available 79kWh battery is impressive in range too - a class-leading best of 276 miles. Thanks to a healthy 310Nm of torque away from standstill, it certainly feels a good deal more urgent than its main more conventional (primarily Stellantis Group-designed) mid-sized EV rivals. The 62mph from rest sprint occupies 10.2s, en route to the very modest top speed of 90mph. The car-derived platform is supple over bumps and both wind noise and tyre roar are very well suppressed. Towing weight is rated at 1-tonne; some rivals can pull more. There's the option of a 4MOTION 4WD version too.
You're not spoiled for driving modes or lots of brake regeneration settings. There's just a 'B' option for the gear selector, which decelerates the vehicle by up to 0.3g off-throttle, which is useful, but nothing like enough to deliver 'one-pedal' driving at low speeds. Cruise control with intelligent speed assist comes as standard and there's more camera safety kit than you might expect from a van. There's a tight 11-metre turning circle, which along with the glassy cabin should make the Buzz feel very manoeuvrable in town. All the usual VW drive assist features are available - Matrix headlights, 'car2x' swarm informational technology and the 'Travel Assist' semi-autonomous drive system.
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Design and build
Did you ever think your company would get the chance to run a medium-sized van looking like the ID.Buzz Cargo? Probably not. It seems a contradiction in terms for an LCV to prioritise style over boxy practicality but that's what we've got here and you'll either think it ridiculous or charming: there'll be no in-betweens. Volkswagen is only offering this standard 4,712mm long body shape. Which is annoying because the people carrier version of this design is also available with a long wheelbase platform which would have suited this van version much better. That body length places the ID.Buzz between standard and long wheelbase versions of vans in the class below. Citroen's Berlingo, for instance, is 4,403mm-long in standard form and 4,753mm-long in lengthier 'Maxi' form. A typical medium-sized van (like, say, a Citroen Dispatch) would usually be just under 5-metres long in its most usual standard form.
Inside this Volkswagen, it's all much higher quality than you'd normally find in an LCV cab. Though not quite as nice as the ID.Buzz MPV because that model's lighter coloured plastics and upholstery are replaced by darker, more practical shades here. That MPV model's 'Play' and 'Pause'-branded pedals are replaced by conventional items too. There's a three-seat cab layout, with the driver's seat heated. You sit quite high with a wide view through the vast windscreen. The high-mounted minimalist dashboard is unique and houses a 5.3-inch digital instrument display and a 10-inch centre touchscreen. The auto gear lever is on the steering column.
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Market and model
Prices start from around £48,000 (inc VAT) for the entry-level 'Commerce' version, with the better-equipped 'Commerce Plus' version costing from around £54,000 (inc VAT). You'll need from around £51,000 (inc VAT) for the 4MOTION 4WD versions. Still, at least this LCV is well equipped. Even the base 'Commerce' ID.Buzz variant comes with a heated driver's seat, cruise control with a speed limiter and 'Intelligent Speed Assist', an ant-theft alarm system and Volkswagen's 'App-Connect' smartphone-mirroring set-up including 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto'.
Stretch to the plusher 'Commerce Plus' version and you'll also be treated to a rear view camera, a heated windscreen, Adaptive Cruise Control and an 'Intelligent Park Assist' system that automatically steers this van into spaces. Media provision at this level is enhanced by a 'Discover Pro' infotainment system with navigation and a 10-inch screen, plus a wireless version of the 'App-Connect' system. A key option with both variants is the 'Buzz Box' compartment, which hinges down from the base of the dash, revealing a couple of cup holders, a bottle opener and an ice scraper. You can specify powered sliding side doors too.
With both versions, you get autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection. And you can optionally add Volkswagen's clever 'Travel Assist' system, which can help to keep you in lane, while maintaining the distance to the vehicle in front and the maximum speed you have set. 'Travel Assist' adapts to your driving style and can also adjust your driving position further to the left or further to the right in your own lane instead of being exactly in the middle.
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Summary
So, style over substance? Well it depends what you mean by 'substance'. Yes, the Buzz Cargo's load bay is small by the standards of the medium-sized van segment, but this Volkswagen fights back with a much lower asking price than most mid-sized EV van models; and a much higher electric driving range. Plus there's its eye-catching style: nothing else you could choose in this class will get people looking at your company's van anything like as much.
Further incentives here lie with the fact that this Volkswagen is the most car-like model in its sector to drive - and to sit in. Plus it will keep its value better than anything else in the segment. But is all that enough to overcome the practicality downside? If it is, you'll enjoy running one of these.
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