VW ID.Buzz Cargo
Tested model: 150 kW (77 kWh) RWD
Applies to: New from 2022
The Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo was introduced in 2022 as an all-electric small panel van. Closely related to its passenger-carrying version, and sharing the same ADAS technology, the ID.Buzz Cargo comes with autonomous emergency braking, and much else, as standard equipment. In Euro NCAP's tests, this safety technology demonstrated impressive results and the ID.Buzz emerges with a well-deserved five-star rating. The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system uses camera + radar fusion technology to detect other vehicles and vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. Performance is excellent when approaching a stationary or slower-moving car, with collisions avoided at all but the highest test speeds, where there is still good mitigation of the impact speed. The system performs equally well whether the target vehicle is straight in front of it or offset to one side or the other, and there is some reaction in the scenarios where a vehicle turns across the path of the approaching van. With a pedestrian target, the system performs well in all scenarios, including those done in night-time conditions. The system does not include reverse detection, to protect those behind the van when it is reversing. System performance in some of the cyclist scenarios is marginal or adequate but in others is good.
The lane support system includes lane departure warning, which signals to the driver when the van is drifting out of lane, and emergency lane keeping, which intervenes more aggressively in certain critical situations to prevent the van from leaving the road. The system performed well in all tests, but did not react either to the Euro NCAP target or a real car in some overtaking scenarios. The system includes blind spot monitoring to help the driver not to pull out in front of an overtaking vehicle.
The ID.Buzz Cargo uses a camera and digital mapping to identify the local speed limit and provides the information to the driver, allowing the limiter to be set accordingly. The limiter is able to maintain the set speed to within 5 km/h.
A seatbelt reminder is standard for the driver and front passenger seat, and the ID.Buzz Cargo recognises steering behaviour which is characteristic of fatigued driving, alerting the driver to the need for a break.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) has not been assessed as part of the current rating.