2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo Room: Is It as Good as an SUV or Minivan?
After we put the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz through our standardized cargo testing, we found that it’s as roomy as a minivan in some ways, but less roomy than a three-row SUV in others. So let’s see how it compares to traditional minivans like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna as well as mainstream three-row SUVs like the Hyundai Palisade, Toyota Grand Highlander and Volkswagen Atlas.
Related: 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Vs. 2024 Kia EV9: Which Is the Better Family EV?
How Much Cargo Space Is Behind the Second Row?
The ID. Buzz has 30.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row when the third row is installed, which is considerably less than the minivans we’ve measured. However, unlike most SUVs and minivans, the VW’s third row is removable for additional cargo space behind the second row. Once that third row is gone, the ID. Buzz climbs to the top of the list for cargo space behind the second row with 48.9 cubic feet, besting all of the minivans we’ve tested. However, each of the two third-row seat sections weigh a not-so-featherly 60 pounds or so, and you’ll have to find room to store them when they’re not in the car. In a conventional minivan, the third-row seat can be tumbled rearward into a tub in the floor when it’s not needed.
Versus a three-row SUV, the ID. Buzz doesn’t need its third row removed to have more cargo room behind the second row than an Atlas or Palisade, as it ekes out the top spot in our measurements versus the 2024 Atlas’ maximum measured cargo space of 28.5 cubic feet.
Related Video:
Cargo Space Behind the Second Row Vs. Minivans
Cargo Room Behind the Second Row With Third Row Installed (Cubic Feet)
1. Kia Carnival: 45.5
2. Toyota Sienna: 44.6
3. Chrysler Pacifica: 41.6 plus 3.2 in underfloor compartments
4. Honda Odyssey: 41.6
5. Volkswagen ID. Buzz: 30.8
Cargo Room Behind the Second Row With Third Row Removed (Cubic Feet)
1. Volkswagen ID. Buzz: 48.9
2. Kia Carnival: 45.5
3. Toyota Sienna: 44.6
4. Chrysler Pacifica: 41.6 plus 3.2 in underfloor compartments
5. Honda Odyssey: 41.6
Cargo Space Behind the Second Row Vs. SUVs
Cargo Room Behind the Second Row With Third Row Installed (Cubic Feet)
1. Volkswagen ID. Buzz: 30.8
2. Volkswagen Atlas: 28.5
3. Hyundai Palisade: 26.2
4. Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid: 26
5. Rivian R1S: 25.7 plus 6 in front trunk
Cargo Room Behind the Second Row With Third Row Removed (Cubic Feet)
1. Volkswagen ID. Buzz: 48.9
2. Volkswagen Atlas: 28.5
3. Hyundai Palisade: 26.2
4. Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid: 26
5. Rivian R1S: 25.7 plus 6 in front trunk
How Much Cargo Space Is Behind the Third Row?
The ID. Buzz doesn’t stack up very well when you consider how much cargo space is behind its third row when the seat is slid all the way rearward for maximum passenger comfort; its 9.6 cubic feet of space is on the small side when compared with most minivans and three-row SUVs. What’s unique, though, is the third row’s sliding feature. When the seat is in the fully forward position, there’s 11.8 cubic feet of cargo space, though that comes at the expense of third-row passenger comfort.
The space behind the third row is also strangely configured, with a shelf in the cargo area that aligns with the third row when folded for a flat cargo floor; without the shelf, there wouldn’t be a flat extended cargo floor unless the third row was removed. And with the shelf, the cargo load-in height is much higher than in most minivans. The cargo shelf is removable, however, and our test car had soft-sided bins for smaller-item storage that fit nicely under it.
Cargo Space Behind the Third Row Vs. Minivans (Cubic Feet)
1. Kia Carnival: 23
2. Toyota Sienna: 21.7
3. Honda Odyssey: 21.1
4. Chrysler Pacifica: 17.6
5. Volkswagen ID. Buzz: 9.6 with third row slid backward, 11.8 with third row slid forward
Cargo Space Behind the Third Row Vs. SUVs (Cubic Feet)
1. Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid: 14.5
2. Volkswagen Atlas: 13.3
3. Rivian R1S: 12.6
4. Hyundai Palisade: 11.2
5. Volkswagen ID. Buzz: 9.6 with third row slid backward, 11.8 with third row slid forward
Cargo Takeaways
The ID. Buzz doesn’t have as much cargo room behind the third row as a minivan or most larger three-row SUVs, but I appreciate its configurability with the removable third row and the removable cargo shelf behind the third row. When all of those items are taken out of the ID. Buzz, there’s cargo-van levels of room for bicycles and other gear. You’ll need to find someplace to store the bulky third-row seats and cargo shelf, like a garage, but that’s something an ID. Buzz owner should have anyway. This is an all-electric van, of course, and we always recommend that electric-vehicle owners get Level 2 home charging, which is often installed in a garage.
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