Although the ID. Buzz is just now arriving in America, Volkswagen has been selling its retro-inspired electric minivan in Europe for a few years. To make this zero-emission family vehicle more affordable, a new Freestyle trim has been introduced as the entry-level option. As seen in images from the German configurator, this version requires some significant compromises.

The basic ID. Buzz comes with 18-inch steel wheels and 235/60 R18 front and 255/55 R18 rear tires, reminiscent of another VW Group electric vehicle on the same MEB platform with larger steel wheels. Recently, I was surprised to find the Audi Q4 E-Tron with a 19-inch set featuring stylish hubcaps. If you prefer alloys, VW offers a couple of 19-inch options, but they add around €2,500 ($2,800) to the price. The Candy White color is the only free option, while the metallic Moon Silver costs an extra €1,035 ($1,150). The ID. Buzz Freestyle features unpainted bumpers and side decals, reminiscent of 1980s styling.

The interior is similarly basic, with cloth seats that look like they were borrowed from a base Golf Mk4. However, it includes a 12.9-inch tablet display with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with height-adjustable front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control. While Americans get the extended version, Europeans can opt for the standard wheelbase, which houses a 59-kWh battery pack and a rear electric motor producing 170 horsepower. With 229 pound-feet of torque, this European ID. Buzz takes 10.7 seconds to reach 62 mph and tops out at 90 mph. Given its nearly 5,300-pound curb weight and single-motor setup, its performance is expectedly modest. DC charging from 10% to 80% takes 24 minutes.

Priced at €49,997, the Freestyle trim is over €4,000 cheaper than the previous base model (Pure). Converted, this amounts to a base price of $55,663, making it nearly $6,000 less expensive than the US base ID. Buzz. However, this comparison isn't entirely fair due to Germany's 19% VAT. The introduction of a sub-€50,000 ID. Buzz in Germany follows the launch of a sub-€30,000 ID.3, VW's compact electric hatchback not sold in America. These moves suggest VW is making greater efforts to sell EVs in a cooling European market, likely driven by concerns over meeting stricter fleet emissions targets in 2025, which could result in significant fines for non-compliance.