Official: Volkswagen ID Buzz camper is here (almost)

The idea of a Volkswagen ID Buzz camper has been floated ever since the 2023 What Car? Car of the Year was launched. But would-be explorers have been denied the opportunity to comfortably sleep in their vehicle – until now.

That’s because the VW ID Buzz MPV can now be specified with a new ‘Good-Night’ package, which has, according to Volkswagen, been developed for “occasional campers” with all that’s needed for overnight stays in the vehicle.

The pack includes a bed frame with a custom-fit double folding mattress, blackout blinds, a table and two chairs and ventilation grilles for the front side windows.

It also includes an Overnight mode operated through the car’s infotainment screen. This allows the air-conditioning to be operated continuously for up to 48 hours, keeping temperatures constant. It also reduces the use of unnecessary lights and other functions to create a quieter space and optimise battery consumption.

A vehicle-to-load function allows the car to power equipment, such as compressors, coffee machines, cool boxes or e-bikes via a three-pin plug.

The pack is available for both standard and long-wheelbase versions of the ID Buzz MPV, but it will be denied to buyers of the ID Buzz Cargo van.

While a number of aftermarket conversions are available, there is no fully-functioned VW ID Buzz camper currently available. However, speaking to What Car? in 2024, Volkswagen insiders revealed such a model was under consideration, and likely to adopt the ID California name, in line with its range of other campervans which include the Multivan-based California and Crafter van-based Grand California.

However, the delay in launching the model wasn’t due to technical issues, rather its decision that the market for electric camper vans isn’t currently large enough to warrant a full-scale launch.

Volkswagen is yet to announce a UK on-sale date and pricing, although it is available now in Germany, priced equivalent to £2250.

“I ran an ID Buzz for six months in 2023, covering more than 10,000 miles in the process. I remarked at the time that it was one of the slowest cars I’ve ever driven, because it would be a talking point almost every time I parked up. One of the most common questions was whether it was a camper van. But while the ID Buzz Good-Night isn’t a fully fledged camper, it does seem to satisfy buyers looking for a ‘day van’ for occasional overnight stays or festivals”. Stuart Milne, digital editor.

Read more: Best camper vans

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