New Volkswagen ID.Buzz LWB Unveiled with 7-Seat Layout & Bigger Cargo Space

The much-anticipated Volkswagen ID.Buzz LWB has finally made its public debut this week. Taking place at Huntington Beach, California, this EV MPV is poised to make its market debut in the States next year.

As its name suggests, the ID.Buzz LWB (long wheelbase) boasts a longer wheelbase than the standard model, measuring at 3,239 MM. This allows the LWB model with much bigger cabin and cargo space, so much so that it is now offered with a three-row seven-seat layout as standard.

2024 Volkswagen ID.Buzz LWB

Visually, the ID.Buzz LWB bears no significant resemblance to the standard ID.Buzz, featuring the boxy minivan silhouette with the instantly recognizable front fascia. Speaking of front fascia, the US-bound LWB model will get an illuminated VW badge at the front that pairs well with the van’s signature IQ.Light LED headlights.

In spite of this boxy shape, VW claims that this model boasts a drag coefficient as low as 0.29, which the firm described as “very good” for an MPV.

As expected, things are dramatically different on board the LWB model, as it now sports a three-row seat layout with options to choose either a five-, six-, or seven-seat configurations. The front two seats come standard with adjustable armrests, while the range-topping variant will get 12-way power adjustable function, as well as seat air conditioning.

The middle row seats, on the other hand, come standard as a three-passenger bench seat with 40:60 split folding backrest. Opting for the six-seater layout will grant you two captain-style seats instead of three, with optional heating functionality and individual armrests. The third row of seats consists of two individual seats that can be completely removed if desired. Said seats come standard in the US-bound ID.Buzz LWB, but they are offered as optional add-ons for folks living in Europe and Canada.

As for the cargo space, the ID.Buzz LWB boasts a sizable 306-litre cargo space for the third-row configuration. The five-seater configuration gets a bigger cargo space of 1,340-litre – which is 219-litre bigger than the standard five-seater ID.Buzz. In case you need more space, folding down all two rows of back seats will grant you a massive 2469-litres of cargo space – more than enough to fit paragliding equipment, bicycles, surfing boards, and more.

Aside from bigger space, the LWB model also gets new equipment such as a head-up display (HUD) for the driver, as well as a new 12.9-inch infotainment display powered by the latest ID infotainment software. This new display features a simpler and more customisable layout that works together with the smaller 5.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Moreover, said infotainment system now comes with illuminated volume and temperature sliders, complemented by the car’s 10-colour ambient lighting system.

Topping-off the LWB equipment list are the new powered sliding doors, Harman Kardon premium sound system, and the new panoramic sunroof with smart glass that covers 16.1 sq-ft of area, making it the biggest glass roof ever offered in VW vehicles.

As for the powertrain, the ID.Buzz LWB harnesses a rear-mounted (RWD) APP550 single electric motor setup rated at 282 HP (210 kW) and 560 NM. This grants the LWB model a faster 0-100 KM/H sprint time of 7.9 seconds, while its top speed is now limited to 160 KM/H. If you want something peppier, you might want to wait for the GTX variant instead. Coming in next year, this model boasts a dual-motor setup rated at 335 HP, granting it a faster 0-100 KM/H time of 6.4 seconds.

Back to the LWB model, this EV MPV is juiced by two battery pack options – the smaller 82-kWh or the bigger 91-kWh ones. VW has remained tight-lipped about both batteries’ claimed maximum range, but at least we know that they can support DC fast charging capacity of up to 200 kW, allowing the batteries to charge from 0% to 80% in just 25 minutes. This is possible due to the new battery thermal management system that enables battery preconditioning.

The Volkswagen ID.Buzz LWB will commence deliveries in selected markets like Europe and North America in 2024. All LWB models will be manufactured at VW’s Hannover Plant. Region-specific pricings, specifications and claimed ranges will all be announced closer to its market launch.