New Volkswagen ID Buzz vs Volkswagen Multivan: practicality

Everyone’s buying big SUVs these days, so why not stand out from the crowd? These two versatile Volkswagens will carry a growing family in style, whether you prefer hybrid or electric power...

Will Nightingale

Published15 February 2023

Space and practicality

Front space, rear space, seating flexibility, boot

As it stands, the Volkswagen ID Buzz is a five-seater, although a longer seven-seat version will be joining the range later in the year. By contrast, the Volkswagen Multivan comes with seven seats as standard, with six seats and a rear-facing second row available as an alternative. There’s even a stretched version if you need to carry seven people and still have a good-sized boot.

In terms of sheer size and practicality, then, there’s simply no contest. The Multivan is essentially a posh minibus that can carry seven adults with ease. All five seats in the second and third rows have Isofix mounting points for child seats, and each seat can be slid back and forth, folded down or even removed from the car completely. The two ‘captain’ chairs in the second row are particularly comfortable, thanks to their adjustable armrests.

The Buzz is far more car-like inside and is best viewed as a more practical alternative to an electric SUV such as the BMW iX3 or Jaguar I-Pace. There’s acres of head and leg room in the back, the 60/40 split rear bench slides back and forth and the seatbacks recline or fold down.

It’s a little disappointing that there aren’t three individual rear seats and that only the outer two have Isofix points. However, carrying three burly adults, let alone three kids who no longer need child seats, won’t be an issue.

Both cars are super-light and airy in the back (far more so than any SUV in this price bracket), so it doesn’t matter that the Buzz’s huge rear windows can’t be opened (they can in the Multivan, although only by a small amount). The biggest convenience feature, though, is the sliding rear doors. Electric in the Multivan and manual in the Buzz (unless you pay £1055 extra), these make getting kids in and out so much easier than regular doors – particularly in tight car parks or when making kerbside drop-offs.

The Buzz has an enormous boot that’s way bigger than any SUV’s – even a Range Rover’s. Go for entry-level Life trim and there’s an annoying step in the floor of the load bay when you fold down the rear seats, but this Style version eradicates that with its standard Multi-flex board. This is essentially a shelf that partitions the boot, enabling you to store smaller or more delicate items (including the charging cables) underneath the main boot area.

This standard-wheelbase Multivan has a fairly small boot when all seven seats are in use, but you can sacrifice passenger accommodation to varying degrees, right up to the point where you quite literally have yourself a van. And although both cars have huge tailgates, opening and closing them requires no more than pressing a button.