Exclusive: take a closer look at the cheery new VW ID. Buzz

After twenty years of concept cars, at long last, we are here. Volkswagen has reinvented the Microbus for the EV age – and called it the ID. Buzz. Really.

The silly name is just one of the touches that aims to give this car what EVs sorely lack. Character. Personality. Soul. But this sliding door equipped family box-on-wheels is also designed to bring something new to the EV scene: a truly useful MPV instead of another fake off-roading crossover.

This is just the first Buzz: soon there’ll be versions with more seats, more range, a delivery workhorse and even a proper campervan. But is this reimagined classic a schmaltzy rehash of past glories, or actually Volkswagen’s most promising electric car yet? Top Gear magazine’s Ollie Kew has been for a thorough look around to find out.