Unlike the old VW Bus, the new one got a five-star Euro rating.
EuroNCAP
Volkswagen fans around the world have been patiently waiting for the all-electric ID. Buzz to finally go on sale. With deliveries scheduled for Europe before the end of the year, the 21st century version of the iconic VW Bus has just undergone its European crash test through the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Unlike the vintage vehicle it is inspired by, the ID. Buzz promises to be really safe.
The identification. Buzz used in NCAP testing was a Euro-spec two-row, short-wheelbase model. This is a slightly different machine than the long-wheelbase variant scheduled to hit American soil when the truck goes on sale in 2024. The US-spec model will be 10.6 inches longer than the vehicle tested here, and should come equipped with a bigger and heavier battery. Regardless, you can expect these crash results to be pretty similar to what we’ll find at NHTSA and IIHS. The shortest VW ID. Buzz managed to take top honors during the NCAP procedure, earning five stars in total. More specifically, the electric van managed to capture safety scores of 92 percent for adult occupants, 87 percent for child occupants, and 90 percent for VW’s in-flight safety assist features.
The identification. Buzz also scored 60 percent in the vulnerable road user category, which includes things like pedestrians and bicyclists sharing the road. Part of the point reduction in that category was related to poor pelvic protection for pedestrians in the event of a collision. The truck’s automatic emergency braking system also couldn’t stop the tester from hitting a dummy cyclist in various scenarios, though you wouldn’t know based on that 90-percent rating alone.
We will have to wait until the sale date of the ID. Buzz is getting a little closer before we know how the American models will fare in a crash, but things are looking pretty good so far. The truck took Euro NCAP’s 50 and 60kph maneuvers without much drama, though it’s worth noting that the American tests are a bit different across the board. If you want to live out your VW van fantasies without fear of getting hurt, it looks like the ID. Buzz is the safest option.
Euro NCAP Lucas Bell Born and raised in Metro Detroit, Associate Editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry.
Keyword: Look at the VW ID. Buzz Ace His Crash Test
