VW Turned The ID. Buzz Into An Electric Camper Van. The U.S. Is Next.
The Volkswagen ID. California Cruise is a simple camper van based on the retro-styled ID. Buzz. A U.S. version is coming too.
- Volkswagen unveiled the first electric version of its California camper series.
- It's based on the ID. Buzz van and is going on sale in Europe in both short and long wheelbase options.
- Americans don't have to wait too long for their own version: the 2027 ID. Buzz Tourer.
When InsideEVs Editor-in-Chief Mack Hogan reviewed the Volkswagen ID. Buzz a while back, he came away feeling like the van could've been so much more. It didn't lean into that spirit of adventure that the old-school VW bus was known for, and after years of hype it wound up feeling like a differently shaped ID.4. Add in the fact that the ID. Buzz is a little pricey for the 234 miles of range, and it's always felt like this stylish van was a couple of changes short of greatness.
Maybe VW got the message. This week it unveiled a camper van version of the Buzz for Europe called the ID. California Cruise. And a similar concept for the U.S. isn't far behind.
Gallery: VW ID. California Cruise (2026)
The ID. California Cruise is the first electric model in VW's California camper van series. The standout feature is a 2-meter-long bed platform and folding mattress that sits above the rear seats when folded. It also comes with ventilation inserts for the front windows, blackout blinds for all the windows (including the glass roof, if optioned), and special "California" and "Cruise" badging. It's built on the ID. Buzz Pro model and is available in both short and long wheelbase versions.
The VW ID. California Cruise features a 2 meter bed and camping chairs, but no kitchen.
The van comes with a "California mode" that lets you run the A/C or heat, charge devices, or use interior lights while camping. On top of that, a vehicle-to-load feature with a peak output of 3.6 kW lets you plug in coffee pots and the like through an included "PowerSocket" adapter for the charge port. And you can enjoy your mug of joe using the included camping table and chairs. Deliveries are scheduled for 2027.
Power-sharing capability with 3.2 kilowatts of peak power lets you use the ID. Buzz to power a coffee machine or other appliance.
As far as camper vans go, this is all pretty basic. VW's other California vans offer pop-tops, kitchens, dedicated interior control panels, swiveling front seats, built-in dining sets, and fold-out exterior work stations. The California Cruise is more like an ID. Buzz with some accessories. But it's something, and the good news for Americans is that a very similar idea is coming to the U.S. soon.
The ID. California Cruise goes on sale in Europe next year.
The ID. Buzz skipped the 2026 model year but is coming back for 2027 with some updates. That includes a Tourer trim that sounds awfully similar to the California Cruise.
The Tourer comes with, per VW, "a fold-out mattress with platform, window blinds, front window ventilation panels, an exterior table and chairs, and Overnight Mode software that adapts interior and exterior functionality to enable the vehicle to be used for overnight stays." It'll have extras like an electrochromic roof and captain's chairs. Like the California, don't expect a kitchen or any hardcore camping features
Pricing is still TBD. But if you're looking for a light-duty electric camper van for weekend trips, VW will soon have you covered on multiple continents.
Contact the author: Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com
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