If you're in the driver's seat, I'm not sure why you should be. Nothing about the Buzz's driving style requires you to rush around corners, although the car did very well on the very twisty parts of our route along the shore of Tomales Bay.
Like last week's Porsche Macan, I would choose the single-engine model. Again, it's the version that's cheaper, lighter and has a longer range, albeit only just. And this could be the biggest stumbling block for some Buzz fans who were waiting to press the button. With a usable power of 86 kWh (91 kWh gross), the RWD Buzz has an EPA range estimate of 234 miles (377 km). Blame it on the frontal area, which is still the size of a barn door even though the drag coefficient is a much slimmer 0.29.
The Buzz is 195.4 inches (4,962 mm) long, 78.1 inches (1,985 mm) wide and 76.2 inches (1,935 mm) high.
Jonathan Gitlin
The Buzz is 195.4 inches (4,962 mm) long, 78.1 inches (1,985 mm) wide and 76.2 inches (1,935 mm) high.
Jonathan Gitlin
If you have the charging port open, the sliding door will detect it and stop before it hits the charging port door.
Jonathan Gitlin
If you have the charging port open, the sliding door will detect it and stop before it hits the charging port door.
Jonathan Gitlin
The Buzz is 195.4 inches (4,962 mm) long, 78.1 inches (1,985 mm) wide and 76.2 inches (1,935 mm) high.
Jonathan Gitlin
If you have the charging port open, the sliding door will detect it and stop before it hits the charging port door.
Jonathan Gitlin
However, fast charging should be relatively fast, with a peak power of up to 200 kW and a charging time of 26 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent. And while VW EVs will be able to access the Tesla supercharger network with an adapter, expect the Buzzes to come with CCS1 ports in 2025, and not native NACS for a while.
I expect most customers will opt for all-wheel drive, but again, American car buyer tastes are what they are. This adds an asynchronous motor to the front axle and increases the combined power to 335 hp (250 kW). VW hasn't provided any combined torque, but the front motor can generate up to 99 lb-ft (134 Nm), along with the 413 lb-ft from the rear. Curb weight for this version is 2,811 kg (6,197 lbs) and EPA range is 376 km (231 miles).
It's a bit of a price hike, though, as you'll have to step up to the Pro S Plus trim if you want power for both axles. This adds more standard equipment to what is already a well-equipped base model, but it starts at $67,995 (or $63,495 for the RWD Pro S Plus).
I rode the lead Buzz the day we rode, but this photo is from the day before, when it wasn't gray and rainy in San Francisco.
Credit: Volkswagen
While I found the single-motor Buzz to be a smoother car to drive on winding roads, both powertrain variants have agility beyond their size, especially at low speeds. To start our day, VW had all the assembled journalists retake a photo of the vans driving down Lombard St. Despite a very slippery and wet surface that day, the Buzz was a breeze to place on the road and drive slowly.
