I’m not necessarily smitten with VW’s “ID.Buzz” naming strategy for their new electric minivan, but I was charmed by its contemporary acknowledgement of the past. From the friendly face and two-tone paint scheme to the cavernous interior and surprising agility, this new Volkswagen changes today’s stodgy image of the minivan segment. Simply driving on streets and highways garnered friendly reactions from perfect strangers.

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Over the years, the SUVs we’ve labeled “Crossovers”, because they’re built on passenger car architecture, have become the vehicle du jour for family transportation. And they’re fine for that task if you don’t mind rather small rear door openings and a high floor height for that infant lifting feat. Believe me, a sliding door with its cavernous opening and a bit lower deck are a back-saving feature.

The spacious interior is easy to get around in and seats, especially in the important first two rows, are quite comfortable. Our Pro S Plus version employed heated and ventilated leatherette captain’s chairs with folding armrests for the big kids in front of a spacious bench in back. The driver faced a digital instrument panel that raised and lowered with steering wheel adjustment. Nice touch. And a large screen was available in the center dash to handle climate and infotainment duties.

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Driving the ID.Buzz is an enjoyable undertaking with its firm, comfortable ride, great visibility and plenty of instant power when needed. The big 20-inch wheels and tires are staggered with 235/50s up front and 265/45 in the rear. They are both all-season rated and designed for low rolling resistance. And on that topic, the coefficient of drag is a modest 0.29. Pretty darn good for a box.

So if the new ID.Buzz is terminally cute and remarkably useful for young families, what could possibly be the downside? Not a thing if you reside in a robust electric charging infrastructure that includes Electrify America’s fast chargers where the VW comes with a 500 kWh charging plan. The big 91 kWh battery under the floor can refresh from 10 to 80-percent in just 26-minutes at the right DC fast charger on a road trip. At home, a typical 220/240 volt charger will get the job done in nine-hours, or simply overnight in most cases.

If your interest in minivans has been aroused by VW’s new entry, you have a few petrol alternatives available and a plug-in that offers a bit of both. Toyota’s Sienna ranks high on the quality list, is spacious inside and averages an impressive 35 MPG. KIA’s Carnival delivers similar fuel economy at 33 MPG while the Honda Odyssey ups the power delivery with its 3.5-liter V6 but its 22 MPG combined fuel economy is a consideration. And Chrysler’s Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid brings both efficiency and V6 power to the minivan competition but a less fresh design than its rivals.