EVs at last! VW finally goes wild for electric cars in Australia, with the ID. Buzz GTX hot MPV the headline act
Volkswagen Australia has laid bare its busy EV plans for the next 12 months, with four electric vehicles coming this December, followed by two more by this time in 2025.
Headlining is the ID. Buzz GTX ‘hot’ all-wheel-drive Kombi being confirmed for our market, landing in the second quarter of 2025.
After delays upon delays for a VW-badged EV reaching Aussie shores, the floodgates now appear to be fully open.
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The drenching begins with medium EV SUVs, with the ID.4 Pro and ID.5 GTX now in production and arriving in December.
The single motor rear-wheel-drive ID. Buzz people mover launches at the same time, while tradies can enjoy the electrified fun too as the ID. Buzz Cargo medium van is also locked in for before Christmas.
Forgive us for looking slightly further ahead and getting properly excited for the sporty and achingly cool-looking ID. Buzz GTX.
It sports an 80kW/134Nm front motor and lusty 210kW/560Nm rear motor, combining for a VW Golf R-bettering 250kW and proper wallops of torque.
And it needs it. These Buzz GTXs tip the scales at 2500kg, so once the family’s on-board with luggage, those motors need to shift three tonnes of mass.
With just the driver the 0-100km/h sprint is dispatched in a shade over six seconds, putting this rapid EV Kombi into hot hatch territory.
Frustratingly, VW Australia is still yet to reveal any prices for its incoming tsunami of EVs, but we can safely assume the Buzz GTX will be well into six-figure territory. Still cheaper than a restored ‘60s split screen Kombi, if that makes you feel better.
Overseas versions are available in short- and long-wheelbase and with choice of five, six or seven seats. With five seats in place, the longer version has a massive cargo capacity of 1340L.
Batteries are a choice of 79kWh or 86kWh, with maximum charge rate of 185kW and 200kW respectively. They charge from 10 to 80 percent in 26 minutes at a public DC fast charger.
Range hasn’t been revealed, but expect about 400km.
GTX-specific features include unique GTX bumpers, 20-inch alloys, LED matrix headlights, giant 12.9-inch touchscreen and even ChatGTP integration.
There’s an optional full-length panoramic sunroof too, in light-bathing tribute to VW’s Samba Bus Kombi.
In other confirmed news, the medium SUVs ID. 4 Pro and ID. 5 GTX are now officially in production for the Australian market, and in showrooms by December.
The Tesla Model Y – our best-selling EV by a mile – is the key competitor, but VW Australia hinted there was no way it would try to match the American on price after the brand’s much publicised price slashes this year.
The Model Y currently costs from a sharp $55,900 plus on-roads.
We do now know the ID. 4 Pro offers an impressive 544km (WLTP) electric range.
Also locked in are five- and seven-seat single motor ID. Buzzes, with the smart money pointing to these coming in at under $90,000 to make them eligible for fringe benefits tax (FBT) incentives.
Joining them are two and three seat ID. Buzz Cargo models, bringing commercial competition to the Ford e-Transit (from $89990), Mercedes eVito (from $91,051) and LDV eDeliver 7 (from $63,990 drive-away).
While I’ve got the tradies’ attention, in the third quarter of 2025 an all-new VW Transporter arrives, offered with a combustion engine, as a plug-in hybrid and as a full electric van.
“By this time next year, the Volkswagen showroom you stand in will look very different to the showroom of today,” said VW Australia Product Manager Dan DeGasperi.
