UK Drive: Can Volkswagen’s ID.Buzz GTX combine performance and practicality?

What is it?

This model – the GTX – is the most powerful model of the lot, bringing dual electric motors to the ID.Buzz. But since this van is based around practicality, does the GTX package change its appeal overall? We’ve been finding out.

What’s new?

At present, there’s only the option to specify the passenger-carrying ID.Buzz in GTX form, with the more trade-focused Cargo unable to get this dual-motor configuration at present.

What’s under the bonnet?

What the dual-motor setup also brings is 335bhp and 560Nm of torque, allowing for respectable acceleration for a car of this size. Zero to 60mph comes in 6.1 seconds and flat out, it’ll manage 99mph.

What’s it like to drive?

The dual-motor design of the GTX gives the Buzz a lot of zip away from the line, too, and while we’d argue that a vehicle of this type isn’t designed for outright performance, it’s nice to have that background acceleration there whenever you need it. The extra power over other Buzz models gives you more confidence when you’re driving fully-loaded with people or luggage, too. The only issue is range and efficiency; the Buzz struggles to hang on to its range and when you’re on the motorway, it falls away very quickly.

How does it look?

Huge 20-inch wheels sit at all four corners of the GTX and are painted gloss black to match other areas of the van. It might not have the retro feel of some of the other Buzz models, but the GTX feels like a proper head-turner.

What’s it like inside?

You’ll do well to find many vehicles with as much boot space, too. Even with all three rows in place, you’ve got 306 litres to play with, but fold the second and third rows down and you get a cavernous 2,469 litres to use up.

What’s the spec like?

The only downside is the price. GTX models start from a chunky £68,891, and our test van with a few options applied came in at a whopping £73,031. If you went for an equivalent six-seater ID.Buzz in entry-level Life specification with the larger battery, it’d drop the price to £59,777, and you’d get slightly more range than the GTX at 300 miles, too.

Verdict

Most people would likely look to go for the GTX simply because of the high level of standard equipment it brings and the added performance that it offers. We think it looks great, too, with all of those additional GTX styling touches bringing some extra character to the Buzz.

Its price might be simply too high for most, though, and while its dual-motor setup is a handy feature, we’d argue that for many drivers the standard – and already very useful – ID.Buzz would be their best bet.