The new Volkswagen ID. Buzz has been named Electric Car of the Year at the Top Gear Electric Awards 2022.
Judges praised the ID. Buzz for its iconic style, which pays homage to the original Volkswagen T1’s design. High quality and responsive driving capabilities were also highlighted as impressive elements of the vehicle.
The ID. Buzz, which goes on sale later this year, is Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ first all-electric vehicle. Built on the Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB) platform, the ID. Buzz has been built from the ground up with electrification in mind. It will be available at launch as a five-seat passenger car or in van form as the ID. Buzz Cargo.
Sustainability is a core part of the new electric vehicle, with a recycled synthetic material and leather-free interior in addition to the all-electric powertrain. The ID. Buzz is also manufactured using sustainable components: battery housings and wheel rims are made from green aluminium and tyres from low-emission production. According to the company, the manufacturing and shipping of the ID. Buzz has a carbon neutral footprint too.
“As a brand, we are on an important electrification journey, and the long-awaited ID. Buzz marks the start of this exciting experience,” said Cian O’Brien, Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
“Being able to launch a car that is cool in design, with sustainability at the heart of its creation, is a great way to show our customers that you can still do all the things you enjoy and travel wherever you want, while also having a positive impact on the environment. There are few better ways to celebrate this ahead of the car’s UK launch than with the highly prestigious Electric Car of the Year award from Top Gear.”
The ID. Buzz was also said to be ideal for those with an active lifestyle, with plenty of space inside, especially the boot capacity which is double the size of that found in a standard SUV.
“People who pretend to have an active lifestyle drive an SUV, those who actually do drive a VW van,” said Ollie Marriage, Top Gear’s Head of Car Testing, in typical Top Gear style.
“Everyone we met loved that VW has rediscovered its mojo and found the Buzz breezy, fresh, and invigorating. Isn’t it great that VW has finally had the courage to reinvent the original? It’s beguilingly simple and yet entirely uplifting. And that’s why it’s our electric car of the year.”
