The all-new Volkswagen ID Buzz serves as a bold, fully electric love letter to the iconic Type 2 Kombi. Arriving in Aotearoa in plenty of time for the summer, it’s already turning heads like it’s headlining its very own festival!
Recently crowned 2025 World Car Design of the Year, the ID Buzz channels the free-spirited charm of the original Kombi while leaning fully into modern tech, safety, and sustainability. Its clean, playful lines and upright stance impart an unmistakable presence, backed by that Volkswagen style and craftsmanship.
“The ID honours the spirit of the original Kombi, celebrating freedom and connection, while stepping into a bold new era of sustainable mobility,” says Kevin Richards, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles New Zealand General Manager. “More than just a vehicle; it’s a way for the next generation to make new memories on the road – just like generations before them.”
And not just the next generation. My two-year-old treasures his little Vee-Dub Kombi toy so much he even sleeps with it. He happened to be napping when I got home with the real thing, and I waited (impatiently) until he woke, then took his hand as he wandered out, still clutching his toy. When he spotted the ID Buzz in the driveway his jaw dropped, in wide-eyed, silent joy.
My own reaction when I collected it early that morning was nearly as dramatic – and I’d see that same look mirrored in strangers’ faces through the windscreen all weekend. Does any other vehicle in history radiate such feel-good vibes?
The latest iteration is available in four versions: Pro NWB, Pro LWB, GTX, and Cargo. All offer 210kW of power as standard, while the GTX – the model that I loaned – boosts output to 250kW with dual motors for AWD (which came in very handy when I made a wrong turn down a steep gravel drive during our family road trip to…. Raglan. It’s a Vee-Dub, where else?!). This one’s range is 396km.
Acceleration is smooth and immediate and steering feels more like (a very spacious) modern car rather than a van with a tight turning circle – and plenty of cameras and sensors – that makes parking and city manoeuvres a cinch.
Does any other vehicle in history radiate such feel-good vibes?
Tech and gadget highlights include IQ.Light Matrix LED headlights, three-zone climate control, ambient interior lighting, power/massage front seats, heated steering wheel, an impressive Harman Kardon sound system, and the Buzz Box – a clever removable storage console between the front seats.
Personalisation is a big part of the appeal. There are 13 exterior colours, from the sunny Pomelo Yellow Metallic to the stealthy Deep Black Pearlescent, plus five nostalgic two-tone combinations that nod directly to the Kombi’s golden years. Inside, you can dial up your mood with 30 lighting colours across four zones, and an optional panoramic sunroof floods the cabin with light by day and a cinematic glow by night.
The standard models come in five- or seven-seat layouts; the long wheelbase adds a removable and foldable third row, ideal for big families or road trips. The ease with which we could load two young children, a double buggy and all the paraphernalia that goes with them is already being missed.
Then there are the little touches. Approach the car and the headlights give a playful ‘wink’. Step inside and a soft welcome chime greets you. At night, the IQ.Light Matrix LEDs adjust to your speed and surroundings, even sweeping around corners before you reach them. The Coming & Leaving Home function lights up your path when you’re heading out or returning late, adding safety – and a smile.
On our trip to Raglan, though the Buzz proved more than its worth as a family hauler – my youngest did experience a touch of motion sickness on the way in. While we pulled over and my wife tended to him, a passerby turned to his partner and said: “Wow, she’s a beauty.”
As much as I tried to convince my wife otherwise, I knew that he’d too fallen immediately for the Buzz.
Pricing starts at $114,990; find out more at volkswagen.co.nz
