VW ID.Buzz vs. the Classic VW Microbus: Then & Now
Six decades apart, the same friendly face. We parked the new all-electric ID.Buzz next to the 1960s VW Microbus that started it all — a warm, honest look at how much has changed, and how much has not.
ID.Buzz vs. Classic VW Type 2 Microbus at a Glance
This is the fun one. The ID.Buzz is a deliberate love letter to the original air-cooled VW Bus, so instead of picking a winner we are celebrating the family tree — then handing you the modern one with 335 horsepower, real safety, and zero emissions. Here is then versus now.
Classic figures reflect a circa-1970 second-generation (bay-window) Type 2. They are approximate and celebratory — period specs varied by market and year.
The Bus That Started It All
From 1950 to 1979, the VW Type 2 — the Bus, the Kombi, the Microbus, the Bulli — became the rolling symbol of freedom and togetherness. Rear-engined, air-cooled, gloriously slow, and endlessly customizable, it carried surfers to the coast, families across the country, and a whole generation to Woodstock and back. It made about 65 horsepower and took its sweet time getting anywhere, and nobody minded.
The ID.Buzz is VW’s deliberate reincarnation of that icon. The upright windshield, the two-tone paint, the friendly face, the huge glasshouse, the walk-through cabin — it is all a knowing nod to the original. But underneath, everything has changed: an 82 kWh electric drivetrain, up to 335 horsepower, a roughly 6-second 0-60, modern airbags and driver assistance, air conditioning that actually works, and a quiet, effortless ride.
So which one wins? Honestly, neither — that is the point. The classic Bus wins on pure soul, mechanical simplicity, and the fact that it started the whole story. The ID.Buzz wins on everything you actually need for a 2020s family road trip. One inspired the other; both are unmistakably a Volkswagen bus.
Full Specification Comparison
| Specification | VW ID.Buzz | Classic VW Type 2 Microbus |
|---|---|---|
| Era | Today (all-electric) | 1950-1979 (air-cooled) |
| Powertrain | 82 kWh electric motor(s) | 1.6L air-cooled flat-4 |
| Horsepower | 282-335 hp | about 65 hp |
| 0-60 mph | about 6 sec | about 30+ sec |
| Top Speed | electronically limited | about 65 mph (downhill, hopeful) |
| Seating | Up to 7 | Up to 9 |
| Driver Assistance | Standard IQ.DRIVE | Sharp eyes and good brakes |
| Climate Control | Available heat pump + A/C | Wing windows and willpower |
| Infotainment | 12.9-in touchscreen, wireless CarPlay | An AM radio, if you were lucky |
| Emissions | Zero tailpipe | A friendly two-stroke-ish waft |
| Cool Factor | Off the charts | Also off the charts |
| Where to get one | New, at Emich Volkswagen | A barn, a dream, and a wrench |
All in good fun. The modern ID.Buzz wins nearly every measurable category — but the original Microbus wins on being the original, and on seating one more friend. Both are pure Volkswagen.
Where Each VW Bus Pulls Ahead
A playful look at six decades of progress. The ID.Buzz brings the muscle and the speed; the classic Bus counters with room for one more passenger and an unbeatable head start on cool.
Why Denver Drivers Pick the ID.Buzz
It keeps the soul
The upright face, two-tone paint, and airy cabin are a loving tribute to the original Bus — the magic survived the reinvention.
With none of the compromises
335 horsepower, modern safety, real climate control, and a quiet ride mean you get the vibe without the roadside breakdowns.
Room for the whole crew
Seven seats, the best third-row legroom in its class, and a cavernous cargo hold — the mission never changed.
Adventure, emissions-free
Up to 234 miles of range and DC fast charging along I-70 mean the next chapter of Bus road trips runs on electrons.
Same Soul, Six Decades of Progress
Climb into the ID.Buzz and the spirit of the original is unmistakable — the upright windshield, the airy glasshouse, the friendly face, the walk-through cabin. But where the classic Bus gave you a thin bench and a prayer, the ID.Buzz gives you heated seats, a panoramic glass roof, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and third-row legroom the 1970 version could only dream of.
The mission never changed: pile in the family, the friends, the boards and the gear, and go find something worth remembering. The ID.Buzz simply does it with 335 horsepower, modern safety, air conditioning that works, and zero tailpipe emissions — the Microbus reborn for a new set of adventures.
How the ID.Buzz Compares to the classic Microbus
The original Volkswagen Type 2 is one of the most beloved vehicles ever built — a rear-engined, air-cooled icon that turned a humble people-mover into a symbol of freedom, family, and the open road. Six decades on, clean examples are cherished collector pieces, and the shape still makes everyone smile.
The ID.Buzz is that spirit, reborn and re-engineered for today: unmistakably a VW bus, but with an electric heart, modern comfort and safety, and the space to carry the next generation of adventures. You cannot buy a brand-new 1970 Microbus — but you can drive its rightful heir home from Emich Volkswagen in Denver.
Which VW Bus Is Right for You?
Choose the Volkswagen ID.Buzz if…
You love the look, the history, and the togetherness of the original Bus — but you want modern power, safety, comfort, and electric range for real family road trips.
Consider the Classic VW Type 2 Microbus if…
You are a purist chasing the genuine article — and you are ready for the carburetor tuning, the leisurely pace, and the barn-find restoration that come with a classic air-cooled Microbus.
See the ID.Buzz for Yourself in Denver
Emich Volkswagen is your Denver-area ID.Buzz headquarters. Reserve yours, ask about Colorado EV incentives, and be among the first Front Range families to bring home the electric bus.
This lighthearted comparison celebrates Volkswagen’s own heritage; the ID.Buzz and Type 2 are both Volkswagen vehicles. Classic-era figures are approximate. See Emich Volkswagen for current ID.Buzz details.