Ventje turns the VW ID Buzz into a really charming campervan

Volkswagen’s ID Buzz now encompasses a customized camper design that is as good and charming as an electrical minivan. It is known as eVentje, and it is now broadly out there in Europe.

Developed and offered Ventje, a small however quickly rising firm based mostly within the Netherlands, the eVentje conversion goes in addition to it could actually till VW lastly releases the California version of the ID Buzz, which is a minimum of just a few years away. This lengthy delay from the beginning of gross sales in Europe in 2022 has made room for a rising aftermarket for ID Buzz campervan merchandise, together with wonderful and comparatively cheap fashions. Tenting field Ququq I beforehand reviewed it.

I examined the Ventje camper for the primary time constructed on the idea of the VW Transporter T5 cargo van in 2022, beforehand stay and work with ID Buzz for just a few weeks in 2023. In 2024, I lastly bought to take a look at the union of those two over the weekend. And let me inform you, that is positively a case of the entire being larger than the sum of its components. ID Buzz has all the time been a crowd pleaser – now the present goes on because the doorways open to disclose the Ventje’s splendidly adaptable inside.

The general design of the Ventje camper nonetheless depends on over 100 magnets to carry all of the picket surfaces stage and lock them in place. There’s nonetheless a kitchen accessible from inside and outdoors, a pop-up tent and a multi-functional inside that transforms from a lounge to a mattress to an opulent set of out of doors furnishings in minutes. Solely now every part has been upgraded with one large addition: a folding desk and hidden stools that create an outdoor bar. Fainting.

The kitchen has seen a number of enhancements that present extra adaptable cooking surfaces (all the time a problem in a small area) and smarter use of space for storing. Ventje has additionally upgraded to not one, however two induction cooktops because of the inclusion of a 2200W inverter and a 2160Wh leisure battery, which is charged by a VW battery, a 350W photo voltaic panel and a mini shore energy socket positioned on the underside rear panel. van.

Ventje additionally makes it simple to maintain all of your tools powered with eight USB ports (4 USB-A, 4 USB-C), a 12V automobile jack, 3 wi-fi charging surfaces and three 230V AC shops for anybody who desires to make the most of their firm’s hybrid workplace coverage. There are additionally extra lighting choices, together with adjustable LED strips and a lockable hatch within the pop-up tent.

VW’s poorly designed software program nonetheless mars the distinctive driving expertise, which stays rattle-free even with all of the Ventje’s settings. One would count on VW to ultimately embrace a tenting mode on the ID Buzz, a function already discovered on present California collection campers. It will make the ID Buzz’s heating and cooling extra intuitive when parked and permit house owners to extra simply disable the inside movement alarm when locking all doorways at evening.

The eVentje can accommodate 4, however is at present solely allowed to hold two individuals. It’s based mostly on the common wheelbase ID Buzz relatively than the lengthy wheelbase mannequin coming to Europe. USA (lastly!) later this 12 months. Nevertheless, my spouse and I did not need extra space, even with the canine on the journey.

eVentje, like ID Buzz, isn’t low cost, and can quickly must compete with New camper VW PHEV “T7” California will go on sale in June at about the identical value. However this mannequin lacks the retrofuturistic enchantment of the all-electric ID Buzz, and its inside is probably much less versatile – and positively much less enjoyable – than the Ventje’s heat, customized design.

The modified eVentje ID Buzz begins at €95,000 (about $103,000) in Europe. An order positioned at this time will probably be shipped in 9 months to clients within the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Ventje says he plans to ultimately increase into the UK and US.

It is essential to notice that the Ventje does one thing that VW hasn’t executed since. first teased by ID Buzz again in 2017: to create a worthy all-electric successor to the enduring Sort 2 campervan.

Picture by Thomas Ricker/The Verge