World Car Awards 2025: Volkswagen ID. Buzz Wins World Car Design of the Year

World Car Awards 2025: The Volkswagen ID. Buzz has been awarded the World Car Design of the Year, beating strong contenders like the Kia EV3 and Toyota Land Cruiser. The announcement took place at the New York International Auto Show. A panel of 96 automotive journalists, known as the World Car Jury, made the final decision. Among them was Dhruv Behl, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of autoX. The jury evaluated all eligible models thoroughly and shared their insights on World Car TV.

Kjell Gruner, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, said: 'We set out to create an electric vehicle that not only pays homage to the iconic Microbus but also propels us into the future of automotive design.

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'The ID. Buzz was always intended to be more than just transportation; it's our brand's electric soul, a halo that radiates fresh energy and excitement. The ID. Buzz is reconnecting us with our roots while boldly stepping into the electric era, and this award is recognition of that vision,' he added.

2025 World Car Design of the Year: Volkswagen ID. Buzz

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a modern take on the iconic VW Type 2 Microbus, built on the VW Group's modular MEB platform. Unveiled as a concept in 2017, the ID. Buzz has been available in global markets since 2024. Designed to offer a fresh, contemporary feel, it pays homage to the original VW bus with subtle nods to its heritage.

The ID. Buzz is offered with two powertrain options: a rear-wheel-drive single-motor version and an all-wheel-drive dual-motor variant. The single-motor model delivers 281bhp and 560Nm of torque, while the dual-motor version generates 335bhp and 693Nm of torque. Both variants are powered by an 86.0kWh battery, offering an EPA-estimated range of 377km for the single-motor and 371km for the dual-motor model.

2025 World Car Design of the Year: Eligibility Criteria

As in previous years, the finalists for the 2025 World Performance Car title were carefully assessed against a clear set of criteria. According to World Car Awards rules, vehicles eligible for other categories are automatically considered for the World Car Design of the Year award.

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The selection process starts with a panel of design experts who create a shortlist of recommended cars for jurors to evaluate. This year's design panel included respected figures such as Anja Bracht (Pforzheim University, Germany), Gert Hildebrand (Owner of Hildebrand-Design, Germany), Tom Matano (Academy of Art University and former Mazda Head of Design, USA), Victor Nacif (Chief Creative Officer at Brojure.com, USA), and Shiro Nakamura (CEO of Shiro Nakamura Design Associates Inc., Japan).

The 2024 World Car Design of the Year award was won by the Toyota Prius, setting a high benchmark for this year's contenders.