German automaker Volkswagen has several new or redesigned cars and SUVs for the 2025 model year. Perhaps the one generating the most buzz (pun intended) is the new, all-electric ID. Buzz van, a throwback to 1960s California surfing culture.
In addition, the popular Tiguan SUV is all-new, and VW rolls out refreshed versions of the Golf GTI and Golf R hot hatches, Jetta and Jetta GLI sedans, and Taos small SUV. Additionally, most 2025 VW models with an active Car-Net subscription offer an available ChatGPT-enabled voice assistant.
In other VW news, the automaker has officially delayed the introduction of the all-new ID.7 electric sedan due to changing market dynamics and quietly discontinued the Arteon sedan following the 2023 model year.
Changes to the individual 2025 Volkswagen model lines are listed below in alphabetical order.
The seven-passenger Volkswagen Atlas midsize SUV and its shorter, five-seat counterpart, the Atlas Cross Sport, received a thorough makeover for the 2024 model year.
For 2025, the Atlas sees few changes. All trim levels get automatic high-beam headlights and a wireless device charger. The top SEL Premium R-Line trim also gets comfort and trim upgrades, including perforated leather headrests, four-way lumbar support, and massaging front seats. New colors include Mountain Lake Blue, Avocado Green, and Pure Grey (not available on the Peak Edition).
Like the larger three-row Atlas, the two-row Atlas Cross Sport gets standard automatic high-beam headlights and a wireless device charger. The sporty new SEL R-Line Black trim features black exterior body and trim accents, 20-inch black alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and stainless-steel pedal caps. The SEL Premium R-Line trim also gets the same comfort and trim upgrades as its Atlas counterpart. Mountain Lake Blue and Avocado Green exterior paint colors are also new.
After making subtle changes to the 2024 model, Volkswagen introduced a facelifted 2025 Golf GTI for the European market earlier in 2024 but has yet to reveal details for the U.S. version. The automaker plans to share those details in early 2025.
Like the Golf GTI, VW has already introduced an updated 2025 Golf R for Europe. Expect the automaker to announce details for the U.S. version early in 2025. In the meantime, buyers can enjoy the 2024 VW Golf R, which received power-folding mirrors and a new wheel design.
After significant upgrades in 2024 to its propulsion system and a revised infotainment system and software, the 2025 VW ID.4 electric compact SUV sees a handful of minor changes.
Models with 62-kilowatt-hour (kWh) batteries get a standard 12.9-inch infotainment display with backlit sliders. Additionally, the S trim with that same battery gets ventilated front seats. Elsewhere, the Black package is available on S and S Plus trims, and there’s a new auto-dimming driver’s side mirror on the S Plus.
The all-new Volkswagen ID. Buzz makes its long-awaited debut for the 2025 model year, blending retro VW Microbus styling with modern electric powertrain technology.
At launch, the electric van will be available in three trims—Pro S, Pro S Plus, and 1st Edition—and single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) or dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) versions. The new ID. Buzz offers seating for six or seven passengers across three rows.
Exterior highlights include the unmistakable retro van styling, large VW emblems on the front and rear (including an oversized illuminated logo on the front), 20-inch wheels, and a healthy color palette with two-tone options. Other standard items include a hands-free open-and-close power liftgate and power-sliding side doors and second-row windows.
The spacious cabin features synthetic leather seats, 12-way heated, cooled, and massaging power seats, automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, 30-color ambient lighting, and the VW ID.Light system. Drivers face a digital instrument display accompanied by a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen.
The new ID. Buzz features a 91-kWh battery and a single-speed transmission. With RWD, the output is 282 hp, while the dual-motor AWD setup nets 335 hp.
Tech highlights include standard IQ.Drive (VW’s collection of advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS), ID.Cockpit, and parking assistance. VW also includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charging, eight USB-C ports, and a nine-speaker audio system (a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system is optional). VW’s Car-Net connected services, remote engine start, and a Wi-Fi hotspot are also standard.
Volkswagen’s entry-level model, the Jetta sedan, gets a refresh for 2025, including modified front and rear fascias, updated LED lighting, new grille designs, a larger infotainment touchscreen, and more value. There are also two new paint colors: Monterey Blue Pearl and Monument Gray.
The updated 2025 Jetta has five trim levels: S, Sport, SE, SEL, and sporty GLI. Cloth seats are standard on the lower trim levels; sport cloth, synthetic leather, and genuine leather are standard or available as you climb the trim ladder. All 2025 Jettas have VW’s IQ.Drive suite of ADAS.
A 158-hp, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission powers most Jettas. The top GLI version has a more powerful 228-hp engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). Driving enthusiasts take note: a six-speed manual is still available on the GLI. The top Jetta trim also has a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen and a new gray, black, and red leather interior.
Volkswagen’s small crossover SUV, the Taos, gets its first significant update for 2025. The makeover includes updated front styling with an available light bar, LED headlights, a revised powertrain, a new dashboard design, and new technology. Three new paint colors—Bright Moss Green, Monterey Blue Pearl, and Monument Gray—and new wheel designs round out the changes.
Available in four trim levels—S, SE, SE Black, and SEL—the 2025 Taos comes with FWD or AWD. VW endowed the Taos with 18 more horsepower for 2025 (174 vs. the previous model’s 158), and a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission is now standard across the lineup.
VW gives every 2025 Taos its IQ.Drive suite of ADAS, including Travel Assist, the automaker’s semi-automated driving-assistance system.
As of this writing, Volkswagen has yet to release official information for the redesigned 2025 Tiguan.
Volkswagen is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of September 30, 2024, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
Jeff Youngs has 30 years of experience in the auto industry, including 19 years with JD Power in marketing and editorial management roles. He also spent nearly six years with General Motors as a media relations professional. More recently, as a freelance automotive journalist, his work has appeared on JDPower.com, CarGurus, Kelley Blue Book, Autotrader, Autolist, and iSeeCars.
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