Who is the actor in the new Volkswagen commercial?

Who is the actor in the new Volkswagen commercial?

Inside the hilarious reunion of SNL’s iconic sketch stars in Volkswagen’s nostalgic new campaign

(By Javier Guerra)

In one of the most talked-about commercials of 2025, Volkswagen has managed to strike comedy gold by reviving a beloved Saturday Night Live (SNL) sketch with three of its original stars. The latest ad campaign for the all-electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz features Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, and Fred Armisen, reprising their absurd and hilarious roles from the long-running sketch “The Californians.”

For fans of the sketch, which originally aired in 2012 and appeared multiple times during SNL’s 40th and 45th seasons, the ad is a nostalgic joyride that doubles as clever marketing for VW’s retro-modern minivan. But for those wondering who the new face of Volkswagen is—well, it’s three comedy legends rolled into one stylish EV campaign.

The commercial opens with Wiig’s character Karina standing on the sands of Malibu Beach, dramatically greeting Bill Hader’s Devin. They exchange soap-opera-style glances and thick Californian accents:

“Devin, thanks for meeting me at Malibu Beach off the 1. I’ve really missed you.”
“You saw me this morning in Marina Del Rey,” Devin replies with a raised eyebrow.
“But not in Malibu Beach…” she counters, pausing for dramatic effect.

Then comes Fred Armisen’s Stuart, rolling up in the Volkswagen ID.Buzz, shouting,

“I drove up the 5, got on the 405, and took the 10 to the PCH!”

Fans instantly recognized the sketch’s absurd overuse of freeway names, exaggerated facial expressions, and melodramatic dialogue. But more importantly, it felt authentic—down to the outfits. As it turns out, SNL’s original costume designers even pulled the actors’ outfits from their archives to ensure it matched the original sketch.

Kristen Wiig, who’s been busy with a mix of film roles and comedy shows, was thrilled to return:

“I never laughed so hard during a commercial shoot. Having the original ‘SNL’ crew around again made it feel like a family reunion—but in a van,” she joked during a behind-the-scenes interview.

Bill Hader, now a critically acclaimed writer and director thanks to Barry, welcomed the break from dramatic roles:

“The whole idea came from conversations with SNL writers and VW creatives. We thought, what if we could do something funny that also makes people feel something nostalgic?”

Fred Armisen added a meta-commentary:

“Volkswagen and ‘SNL’ are two brands embedded in American pop culture. It made sense to combine them in a way that still felt like a real episode—not just a commercial.”

Volkswagen has a long-standing history of commercials that combine humor and heart—from the little boy dressed as Darth Vader in the 2011 Passat ad, to the serene road trip montages of the Jetta years.

But this latest campaign takes a bold turn into character comedy. The ID.Buzz isn’t just a vehicle—it’s a cultural statement. Releasing the ad in tandem with SNL’s 50th Anniversary special ensured it reached both millennials who grew up watching the sketch and younger audiences discovering it anew.

“We wanted to connect emotionally and comedically,” said one Volkswagen marketing executive. “The ID.Buzz is about joy and nostalgia. That’s what these actors represent.”

The campaign was developed in partnership with the original SNL writing team. It was filmed on-location in Malibu and even includes Easter eggs from the original sketches—like the absurd soap-opera zoom-ins.

Though the actors shine, the real “hero shot” belongs to the ID.Buzz—a modern all-electric take on the iconic VW Microbus. With retro styling, a two-tone paint job, and a minimalist interior, it evokes the counterculture cool of the 1960s—refined for 2025.

“Driving the ID.Buzz made me feel like I was in a band again,” joked Fred Armisen, who plays drums in indie groups on the side. “It’s got soul.”

The vehicle is meant to appeal to families, creatives, and adventurers alike. By pairing it with a comedy sketch set in California, Volkswagen effectively aligns the vehicle with fun, freedom, and a little bit of ridiculousness.

Shortly after its release, the ad quickly went viral across YouTube and social media platforms. Comments poured in from fans:

“This is how you do nostalgia right. I didn’t expect to laugh this hard at a car commercial.”
— @snlforever_86 on X

“VW just won the Super Bowl ad season, and it’s not even football.”
— @buzzdrive

On Reddit, users praised the balance between brand message and authentic sketch humor. Even The New York Times noted the brilliance of using “undeniably funny, beloved faces instead of forgettable slogans.”

As of this writing, the ad has over 20 million views on YouTube.

Casting familiar faces isn’t new in advertising, but Volkswagen’s approach—reuniting cast members within their iconic characters—raises the bar. Rather than hiring a celebrity to lend their face, VW embraced the full storytelling universe behind those actors.

“We wanted to let them be themselves, or rather, be their characters. That’s the secret sauce,” said an executive from the agency behind the ad.

It speaks to a larger trend: consumers crave real stories, not forced celebrity cameos. When done right, as in this commercial, it becomes unforgettable.

For those unfamiliar, “The Californians” sketch is a parody of Southern California soap operas, where the characters are obsessed with traffic routes, exaggerated accents, and romantic melodrama.

It became an instant fan-favorite due to its repetition, the actors’ struggle to keep straight faces, and its unapologetic absurdity. Even guest stars like Taylor Swift and Bradley Cooper appeared in later versions.

That legacy brings additional emotional weight to the commercial. Watching Wiig, Hader, and Armisen back in action isn’t just funny—it’s touching. It’s a reminder of what makes sketch comedy timeless.

So, who is the actor in the new Volkswagen commercial?

Not one, but three comedy icons: Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, and Fred Armisen. Their presence elevates a car ad into a mini-sketch, a tribute to comedy history, and a showcase for VW’s electric future.

“It’s not just about the car,” said Hader in closing. “It’s about the ride, the people, the laughter along the way.”

And with that, the new Volkswagen ID.Buzz has officially driven straight into the hearts of millions.

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