Volkswagen ID Buzz vs. Kia EV9: Which 3-Row 7-Passenger EV Is Right For You?
The Kia EV9 and VW ID Buzz are the only two mainstream 3-row 7-seat EVs you can buy today.
If you’re in the market for a full-size three-row SUV and you’re keen to avoid premium and luxury makes like Tesla, Rivian, Cadillac, or Mercedes-Benz, you have few options available to drive off the lot today. Although others such as Hyundai and VinFast plan on making an imminent entry into the segment, the two options available to today’s consumers are the 2025 Kia EV9 and 2025 Volkswagen ID Buzz. While they might seem fairly different from each other, these two electrics are not just two sides of the same coin, either. Rather, they’re among the most compelling EVs on the road today. But which is right for you? Read along as we help you find out.
VW ID Buzz vs. Kia EV9: Exterior Size
Looks can be deceiving. In both photos and in the flesh, the Volkswagen ID Buzz looks far larger than the Kia EV9. That, surprisingly, isn’t the case. The Volkswagen’s significantly longer wheelbase and extra few inches of height cheat the eye, making the Buzz appear as if it’s in a different size class than the Kia. As you can see below, that’s clearly not true.
Of note: Longer wheelbases generally equate to worse urban maneuverability, but the ID Buzz has a tighter turning circle than the EV9 (37.4 feet versus 40.6 feet), which could play a factor if you live in a crowded urban area.
Kia EV9 vs. VW ID Buzz: Interior Space, Comfort, Features, and Technology
Inside there’s no deception: VW’s box on wheels is just plain bigger than the EV9. Like most three-row crossovers, the EV9 is plenty roomy for adults in the first two rows, but third-row occupants will quickly run out of leg- and kneeroom (though Kia does a laudable job at preserving third-row shoulder- and headroom). The ID Buzz shows the advantages of the minivan body style in its interior specs, offering up enough space for an NBA starting roster while also providing enough space to rival an electric pickup with the rear two rows folded flat. Both EVs come in six- and seven-passenger configurations.
That paradigm is flipped on end when we start talking creature comforts and technology. The EV9 is remarkably well put together, with higher quality materials throughout, near-luxe interior trappings, and loads of tech features, such as downloadable light patterns, remote parking assist, and even infotainment wallpaper themed after your favorite NBA teams. Regular software updates should ensure the EV9 always feels new to its owners.
Volkswagen, at this juncture, simply can’t compete with Kia’s software prowess; the Buzz’s software suite is an improvement on VW’s previous offerings but still largely matches the core features and functionality of gas-powered cars. Away from the screens, the Buzz isn’t quite as nicely finished as the EV9, but it feels price-appropriate and offers up plenty of thoughtful storage options, such as USB-C ports in the door pockets, removable center console, and a deep shelf up front.
VW ID Buzz vs. Kia EV9: Motors, Batteries, and Performance
If you value choice in your three-row electric vehicle, Kia offers up more motor and battery options in the EV9 than Volkswagen does in the ID Buzz. The base EV9 Light and EV9 Light Long Range are the only two permanent-magnet single-motor rear-drive EV9 variants. The former has 215 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque and a 76.1-kWh battery pack, giving it an EPA-rated range of 230 miles. The latter has 201 hp, 258 lb-ft of torque, and a larger 99.8-kWh pack, giving it 304 miles of range.
Kia’s dual-motor all-wheel-drive EV9s are so far proving to be more popular with customers. The EV9 Wind, Land, and GT-Line all feature front- and rear-mounted permanent-magnet motors that combine for a total of 379 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque and use 99.8-kWh batteries. Range is trim dependent; the Wind and Land net 280 miles on the EPA cycle, and the GT-Line comes in at 270 miles due to its sportier wheel and tire package. For those looking to let their hair down, a high-performance 500-plus-hp EV9 GT joins the lineup for 2026.
The ID Buzz motor and battery lineup is much simpler. Rear-motor rear-wheel drive—like the original Volkswagen Bus—is standard across the board. This single permanent-magnet motor is good for 282 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque; dual-motor all-wheel-drive variants add an efficient induction motor to the front axle, boosting horsepower to 335 ponies. All ID Buzzes have a 91-kWh (gross; 86-kWh net) battery pack. Rear-drive models get 234 miles on the EPA cycle; AWD versions clear 231 miles.
Not that we expect much drag racing to be done in either EV, but you can check out how they compare in instrumented testing in the chart below:
Kia EV9 vs VW ID Buzz: Range and Charging
Range and charging are a key part of EV ownership. While most owners will easily recharge their Kias or Volkswagens at home using Level 2 AC chargers, road trips are always a worry. The Kia, with its superior 800-volt charging capability (versus the VW’s 400-volt system) will almost always charge quicker on a public Level 3 DC fast charger than the VW while also allowing owners to plug into Tesla Superchargers with a NACS to CCS1 adapter (both the ID Buzz and EV9 currently come standard with CCS1 charge ports). The ID Buzz currently isn’t compatible with those Tesla fast chargers.
We ran both vehicles through our real-world 70-mph Road-Trip Range test, which consists of driving each vehicle from 100 percent to 5 percent charge at a constant 70 mph, and then charging each up to 80 percent (the point at which charge speed drops significantly on Level 3 chargers). Here’s how the two vehicles performed:
VW ID Buzz vs. Kia EV9: Which Is More Affordable?
Neither the EV9 nor the ID Buzz are what we’d call cheap, especially compared to gas- or hybrid-powered three-row crossover SUVs and minivans. That said, both Kia and Volkswagen equip their three-row EVs in such a way that customers should still feel like they’re getting quite a deal.
With a far wider trim walk, the Kia EV9 starts at a lower price than the electric bus. The entry-level single-motor 230-mile EV9 Light RWD starts at $56,395 and comes standard with seven seats, Kia’s latest infotainment suite, and a slew of active safety hardware. The $60,695 EV9 Light Long Range RWD adds the upgraded battery pack for the impressive 304-mile range figure but loses some horsepower and the second-row bench in favor of lighter captain’s chairs, giving it space for six.
Building off the EV9 Light Long Range, the EV9 Wind AWD at $65,395 is the first dual-motor variant of the EV9 Kia offers. In addition to the extra motor up front, it also re-adds the second-row bench (giving it seating for seven) and adds a handful of extras, such as a heat pump, a heated steering wheel, and a sunroof. The EV9 Wind AWD is the only seven-seat all-wheel-drive variant of the EV9 on offer.
Next up is the $71,395 EV9 Land AWD. This six-seater builds off the Wind AWD by adding Kia’s full suite of entertainment and active safety technology, more exterior and interior color options, and vehicle-to-load capability.
Finally, the EV9 GT-Line AWD is the current range topper. It mixes luxuries such as heated second-row seats with practical add-ons such as rear self-leveling air springs with a sporty-looking package for $75,395.
The Volkswagen ID Buzz lineup is much simpler and generally better-equipped at the bottom end of the lineup. The base ID Buzz Pro S stickers for $61,545 and, from a feature standpoint, is roughly analogous to the EV9 Wind despite its lack of all-wheel drive. This single-motor ID Buzz comes standard with seating for seven, power doors, heated front seats and steering wheel, wireless phone mirroring, and a full suite of advanced driver aids. For the nostalgic among us, the base Buzz is notably only available with monotone paint.
Available with single-motor rear drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive, the ID Buzz Pro S Plus is next up the ladder. It builds on the base model by adding retro two-tone paint, a premium audio system, and second-row captain’s chairs (the latter for $695). All-wheel drive is a $4,500 option. Volkswagen also offers a limited-edition ID Buzz First Edition for $67,045. This one-year-only model loads the Buzz down with every single available option as standard (save for AWD, which is an additional upcharge) and adds some unique badging and trim.
Kia EV9 vs. Volkswagen ID Buzz Summary
- Roomier: Volkswagen ID Buzz
- Quicker: Kia EV9
- Longest range: Kia EV9
- Quickest charging: Kia EV9
- Better value: Volkswagen ID Buzz
I generally like writing—especially when it’s about cars—but I hate writing about myself. So instead of blathering on about where I was born (New York City, in case you were wondering) or what type of cars I like (all of ’em, as long as it has a certain sense of soul or purpose), I’ll answer the one question I probably get most, right after what’s your favorite car (see above): How’d you get that job? Luck. Well, mostly. Hard work, too. Lots of it. I sort of fell into my major of journalism/mass communication at St. Bonaventure University and generally liked it a lot. In order to complete my degree senior year, we had to spend our last two semesters on some sort of project. Seeing as I loved cars and already spent a good portion of my time reading about cars on sites such as Motor Trend, I opted to create a car blog. I started a Tumblr, came up with a car-related name (The Stig’s American Cousin), signed up for media access on a bunch of manufacturer’s websites, and started writing. I did everything from cover new trim levels to reviewing my friends’ cars. I even wrote a really bad April Fool’s Day post about the next Subaru Impreza WRX being Toyota-Corolla-based. It was fun, and because it was fun, it never felt like work. Sometime after my blog had gotten off the ground, I noticed that Motor Trend was hiring for what’s now our Daily News Team. I sent in my résumé and a link to my blog. I got the job, and two weeks after graduation I made the move from New York to California. I’ve been happily plugging away at a keyboard—and driving some seriously awesome hardware—ever since.
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