Testimonial – After a rechargeable hybrid, this family of three drives a Volkswagen ID.Buzz
With their third child arriving, Johann and his wife decided to replace their rechargeable hybrid Peugeot 3008 with a Volkswagen ID. Buzz at a reduced price. In 2024, there were few electric vehicles available that could accommodate three child seats in the rear seat area.
Four years with a rechargeable hybrid
Johann does not deny his use of a rechargeable hybrid before switching to an electric vehicle: “I understand those who think PHEVs are a bad solution because they can’t be fully charged and essentially only run on the internal combustion engine. That might indeed be true for many vehicles in corporate fleets, but for an individual driver who can charge their car at home, it would be completely foolish to prefer going to a gas station and paying high prices for fuel.”
In 2020, the 36-year-old Briochin chose this powertrain for four reasons: “Technology, comfort, silence, and ecology.” Four years later, at the end of the lease agreement, we switched to a zero-emission vehicle because I was tired of the internal combustion engine starting up. In daily use, our rechargeable hybrid Peugeot 3008 mostly ran on the electric motor. Working about ten kilometers from home, and my wife being 300-400 meters from my office, we adjusted our schedules to carpool and use just one vehicle.
It’s even a bit more virtuous than that: “Before leaving, we walk our children to school, which is 300 meters from our home. When I work from home and my wife drives, I sometimes go there on my electric-assisted bike as well. Having only one car for three children in a suburban area requires constant planning, but we manage to handle it fairly well. By 2024, when we returned the 3008 PHEV to Peugeot, it had covered 65,000 kilometers, even though the contract specified only 60,000.”
Before choosing the ID. Buzz
Despite exceeding the mileage limit, Johann didn’t have to pay any penalties: “Already, the rental contract wasn’t clear on this matter, and the dealership never managed to explain the terms used in it. Moreover, even though we didn’t return a vehicle from them, we had already purchased two 308s and one 208 earlier. Since we already had two cars at home, and I made it clear that after the ID. Buzz we’d get another one, I wasn’t charged any penalties when returning the 3008.”
Also read
Testimonial – At 70, Gilles switches from diesel to electric and charges his Mazda 6e using solar power
Almost there: “I skipped a maintenance task and had to pay a hefty 500 euros for it, even though it was included in the loan agreement. As for the vehicle’s condition, I took proactive steps by having a body shop fix the visible dents. I have a particular fondness for Peugeot. Instead of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, I could have chosen the e-5008, but it hadn’t been released yet or was just coming out, so a significant price discount wasn’t possible. The same applied to the Renault Scenic E-Tech. That’s why we looked among older models.”
With a new requirement: “Fit three child seats in the back. For four months after the third child was born, we managed with the 3008, with my wife sitting in the back and one child in the front. We considered but ruled out: the Tesla Model Y, which was too small; the Mercedes GLB, which my wife considered a funeral car; the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which didn’t suit her and had an overly small trunk; and the Skoda Enyaq, because once the three seats were installed, it was impossible to reach between them to fasten the seat belts.”
A hard-to-find good deal
Johann and his wife conducted a convincing test drive of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz: “We took advantage of a trip to my in-laws’ house in Tours to try it out at the local dealership. We wanted to see how it would perform for long-distance travel. They let us use the vehicle for an entire weekend. We left our children with their maternal grandparents and made a round trip back to our home [NDLR: About 650 km in total]. For us, the test drive was convincing.”
We still needed to find a good deal: “And there, we encountered many problems, with even used models costing more than new ones. I called all Volkswagen dealerships, but this vehicle falls under the brand’s commercial vehicles category, which has different search procedures for sales staff. The models they offered me weren’t necessarily in stock at the dealerships but were instead in the manufacturer’s inventory. I finally found an interesting unit that needed to be sold quickly before the arrival of the new ID. Buzz models.”
At 440 euros per month, the rents indeed seem very attractive: “With a down payment of 5,000 euros, the lease lasts for 36 months with 20,000 kilometers per year. This offer was calculated based on a total price of 55,930 euros including VAT and registration fees. We received a discount of 14,600 euros from the initial price of 71,030 euros, which included 9,980 euros for options and 1,600 euros for a tow hitch. It was June 2024, and it was a Pro version from late 2022 with 204 horsepower and a battery with a net capacity of 77 kWh.”
Very convenient for family life
Johann has one small regret regarding the car’s paint color: “I wanted gray for what I thought would be a discreet appearance. But even so, it stands out quite a bit. I should have been more decisive with the ID. Buzz in solid paint. Our Peugeot 3008 hybrid rechargeable came with a GT Line finish; I didn’t want anything less, and we know how stingy German manufacturers are with standard equipment, forcing one to opt for extras. For example, we don’t have a heat pump.”
The vehicle’s features are interesting: “It has two side sliding doors that make getting in easier. I would have preferred they be automatic to avoid the ‘artisan going home’ look. However, the trunk is indeed electric. Since there are two drivers, I wanted memory-function electric seats. We also have a 12-inch touchscreen. Thanks to the double floor, we have a flat platform that allows us to install a mattress for going together to the Old Plow Festival.”
The biggest advantage of the ID. Buzz is the interior space, with a very large trunk. During our first year of vacationing with it, we were able to take everything for the three children; there’s a net that allows loading up to the top, and a towing hitch that lets us bring bikes along as well. When we built an extension on our house, it was no problem to drive to Ikea, Leroy Merlin, or the trash dump. The trunk is very wide and very tall, allowing us to fit items up to 2 meters long by folding down the seat bench, and even up to 2.50 meters by folding forward the passenger seat backrest.
The ID. Buzz in everyday use
The ID. Buzz defies expectations about its size: “Since it’s the short version, its length isn’t too much of an issue [NDLR: 4.71 m, or 8 cm shorter than a Tesla Model Y]. It offers an excellent turning radius. It’s more the width that can cause problems in some spaces, especially supermarkets. Without a center console, one can exit either from the right or left, and even, if needed, through a side sliding door. But due to its height, it can’t enter underground parking lots with a 1.90 m limit.”
The biggest flaw of this vehicle is its fuel consumption: “It’s the same with a conventional model. At best, I’ve managed to get 17 kWh per 100 km. But generally, in summer it easily exceeds 20, and it rises to 22-23 kWh in winter. That’s why I prefer heated seats over heating, and in summer I usually just open the windows to do without air conditioning. With smaller wheels, our ID. Buzz would consume less fuel, and I wouldn’t have to spend around 500 euros replacing two tires.”
In daily use, the electric monospace doesn’t cover many more kilometers than the 3008 PHEV: “There are always the 20 km round trips to work, sometimes an extra 10 km at noon for lunch, and a stop at the nanny’s place in the evening. As a result, the ID. Buzz is charged less than once a week. With the plug-in hybrid, we were content with a Green’Up enhanced charger. But since then, we’ve had a 7 kW charging station installed, which will charge the battery more easily to full capacity before long trips.”
Long trips with the ID. Buzz
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz family vehicle has also been used for all our vacations: “It’s not the first year! Due to a battery issue at 12 V caused by long-term storage, the ID. Buzz became unusable, and we had to settle for a borrowed Citroën C4 Picasso. Our longest trip with the ID. Buzz was over 650 km by road at night between Sarlat and Moëlan-sur-Mer. Since we set off at 9 p.m. with only 60% battery charge, we had to stop three times along the way, arriving at 6 a.m.”
Charging issues: “Between Tours and Sarlat, it was terrible, with e-Totem chargers not working. At an empty station, the 100 or 150 kW chargers only delivered 20 kW of power, the same was true at an old Ionity charger with 30 kW. Eric Dupin is right when he says there’s a lack of information in our electric vehicles. We should already be able to communicate the battery temperature to operators or customer service when we encounter problems. Generally, up to 90%, the ID. Buzz charges very quickly. At 80%, it still delivers between 80 and 90 kW.”
In Dordogne, charging seems to be a problem: “You had to go very early to a MacDo, around 6 a.m. for example, to plug in without having to wait. I got a subscription from Electra to give it a try. There, it works very well. Now, I prefer charging stations that are accessible through them. I also like going to Izivia. The ID. Buzz is clearly not built for driving at 130 km/h and teaches you to settle for 110. It’s not very aerodynamic, and its silence inside is relative, more like a resonance box.”
What next?
The IT specialist points to the infotainment system: “It’s disastrous. For example, the background color is originally orange but changes to red or blue for no reason. Volkswagen is also stingy with the smartphone app. The manufacturer cites security as an excuse, when in reality it’s mainly the cost of deploying servers that is a problem. Skoda, on the other hand, managed to come up with a solution. I use a home automation app myself to check from afar whether any doors or windows are left open.”
Also read
Testimonial: This Frenchman just bought a Fisker Ocean despite the brand’s bankruptcy — he shares his experience!
The use of the buttons deserves an explanation upon delivery: “That’s where it becomes clear that German engineers don’t think like French ones. I’ve gotten used to the touch buttons, but there are also those under an ugly lacquered cover. You just need to slide them to increase the volume level or the speed for the regulator. Of course, you have to know how! I learned about this functionality from the Internet. And then there are those counterintuitive buttons for unlocking the doors, with indicators, next to the mirror adjustments.”
Today, Johann’s Volkswagen ID. Buzz has accumulated about 45,000 km: “We’ll have to return it in July 2027. With children who are older now—2, 6, and 10 years old—we might settle for a less spacious model. But which one? I really like the Xpeng G6, but its trunk is too small; the Peugeot e-5008 didn’t convince me; my wife doesn’t like the new version of the Renault Scenic E-Tech aesthetically; I don’t want a Tesla even though these cars offer an excellent quality/price ratio. I admit I’m a bit waiting it out, and we’re even thinking of going back to two cars.”
Automobile Propre and I would like to thank Johann greatly for his excellent hospitality, responsiveness, and for sharing his experience after our request for feedback from our readers.
For your reference, any offensive comments directed at our interviewees, their lives, choices, and/or ideas will be removed. Thank you for your understanding.
Author’s Note
In this new reader testimonial, two points stand out—points that have already been mentioned in many others from 2026. First is the positive impression left on users of the Electra charging network, along with a desire not to buy a Tesla while still acknowledging the strengths of the brand’s vehicles.
There is also Johann’s particular approach in seeking electric car models that meet his family’s needs, with the hope of finding a very attractive commercial offer for them.
In addition, this experience sharing paves the way for families who are about to have or have just had their third child. Our reader explains why he eliminated some strollers that might still be chosen by others.
Philippe SCHWOERER