What’s New for 2025: Volkswagen

VW expands the availability of ChatGPT to process voice commands
2025 Volkswagen ID models get a 12.9-inch touchscreen standard
The ID.Buzz has arrived as a modern electric successor to the legendary VW Bus

Volkswagen leans into the latest technology upgrades for the 2025 model year, but a lot of questions remain on the utility of such features. The use of ChatGPT to recognize and respond to voice commands expands to most models for 2025, but you’ll need a subscription to unlock features. More immediately, every 2025 Volkswagen ID electric model now comes standard with a 12.9-inch touchscreen.

The world’s second largest automaker is in the midst of a transition to electric vehicles, much like many other automakers. But it’s been a rocky rollout following the 2021 launch of the Volkswagen ID.4 crossover SUV that improved with a significant tech reboot for 2024. The 2025 Volkswagen ID.7 originally expected this year has been delayed indefinitely, and the much anticipated ID.Buzz electric van has finally arrived after successive delays. In our initial testing of the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz 1st Edition, it was worth the wait.

The reshuffled lineup may help explain why, domestically, Volkswagen Group was outsold by Tesla and Subaru in the first quarter of 2024. Here are the changes to the existing lineup, and what’s new for 2025.

New and updated models

2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz

Three-row successor to the legendary Bus comes as an electric van powered by a 91-kwh battery back and a single-motor shared with the ID.4 and rated at 282 hp.
The EPA estimates the range at 234 miles for the single-motor model, or 231 miles for the dual-motor model.
The 1st Edition has a two-tone exterior with a unique 20-inch wheel design, roof rail cross bars, a panoramic roof, a 700-watt premium sound system, power-sliding doors, and a power tailgate.
The base Pro S will get 20-inch wheels, a parking-assistance system, 30-color ambient lighting, and the 12.9-inch infotainment system.
The price ranges from $61,545 for the Pro S to $71,545 for the 1st Edition AWD, including the destination fee.

2025 Volkswagen Jetta

The compact sedan sports updated ends with fresh light designs, and a standard 8.0-inch touchscreen inside.
Standard equipment also includes dual-zone climate control, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and blind-spot monitors.
A 158-hp 1.5-liter turbo-4 powers the front wheels on all models through an 8-speed automatic.
The 6-speed manual transmission has been dropped on non-GLI models, but so has the price: the 2025 VW Jetta S costs $23,295, down $165 from last year.
The Jetta GLI employs a 228-hp, 2.0-liter turbo-4 with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic; it costs $33,940.

2025 Volkswagen Taos

The Taos small crossover follows similar updates to the Jetta, with new front and rear ends and the 8.0-inch touchscreen, but it gets a retuned powertrain as well.
The 1.5-liter turbo-4 gets a 16 hp bump to 174 hp, but torque remains the same at 184 lb-ft. An 8-speed automatic drives the front wheels, though this year it also motivates the all-wheel-drive versions, instead of the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Base 2025 Taos S starts at $26,420 and ranges to $36,120 for the SEL. Al-wheel drive now adds $1,700 to the bill, compared to $2,500 before.

Carryover models

2025 Volkswagen ID.4

After a significant refresh for the electric crossover, the ID.4 Pro with the 82-kwh battery pack carries over unchanged.
Single-motor rear-wheel-drive Pro models have an EPA-rated range of 291 miles; dual-motor models have a range of 263 miles.
ID.4 Standard and ID.4 S versions with the 62-kwh battery pack go 206 miles.

2025 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport

The seven-seat Atlas midsize SUV and smaller five-seat Atlas Cross Sport carry over.
A wireless smartphone charger is now standard along with a 12.0-inch touchscreen.
Both models use a 269-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4 with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI

Like the Golf R, the GTI refresh includes revised styling, increased standard equipment, an available surround-view camera system, and a larger 10.2-inch touchscreen that replaces the current 8.3-inch screen. A 12.9-inch touchscreen will be available.
As of now, the 241-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4 with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission carries over. It’s still front-wheel drive only.

2025 Volkswagen Golf R

2.0-liter turbo-4 gets boosted from 315 hp to 329 hp and it pairs with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
It’s unclear if the 6-speed manual option will return.
All-wheel drive is standard.
The refresh includes revised styling, increased standard equipment, and improved electronic driver-assist technology.