Electric Family Haulers of 2025: The Volkswagen ID. Buzz Takes on the Kia EV9 for Dominance
From my vantage point of over a decade immersed in the automotive landsc
ape, particularly the rapidly evolving electric vehicle (EV) sector, the arrival of new contenders in the family segment always sparks keen interest. For 2025, two distinct yet equally compelling options have positioned themselves to capture the attention of American families seeking sustainable, spacious, and technologically advanced transportation: the eagerly anticipated 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz and the already established 2024 Kia EV9. While one embodies a nostalgic, retro-futuristic van aesthetic and the other a bold, cutting-edge SUV design, both are engineered from the ground up to move people and cargo efficiently. This deep dive aims to dissect their strengths and weaknesses, providing a comprehensive guide for discerning buyers navigating the complex choices in the high-value electric family vehicle market.
At first glance, the ID. Buzz and EV9 appear to be in different leagues. The ID. Buzz channels the iconic spirit of the original VW Microbus, reinvented as a thoroughly modern electric van. It evokes a sense of charm and approachable practicality. The EV9, conversely, presents as a sculpted, imposing three-row electric SUV, a statement of contemporary luxury and robust utility. Yet, peel back the layers, and their mission becomes clear: to serve as the ultimate electric family car. Intriguingly, their as-tested pricing in the premium EV space often converges within a few thousand dollars, making a direct comparison not just warranted but essential for any family considering a significant investment in next-generation mobility.
The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz, a fresh entrant to the American market, offers a modern interpretation of VW’s beloved “Bus.” Our focus here is on the Pro S Plus AWD trim, boasting an EPA-estimated range of 231 miles from its 91-kWh battery. Its dual-motor powertrain delivers a robust 335 horsepower, supporting DC fast-charging speeds up to 200 kilowatts—competitive figures for a large family EV. The Kia EV9, our long-term fleet vehicle, is the Land AWD variant. Equipped with a larger 99.8-kWh battery, it achieves a more substantial EPA-estimated range of 280 miles and slightly more power at 379 horsepower. The EV9 also edges out the ID. Buzz in theoretical DC fast-charging capability, hitting up to 210 kW. Understanding these foundational performance metrics is crucial for evaluating their real-world suitability for the diverse demands of a modern family.
This expert analysis will systematically break down each vehicle across key performance and practicality metrics, offering invaluable insights for your decision-making process.
Intelligent Powertrain & Range Performance: The Core of EV Ownership
When investing in a premium electric vehicle, the powertrain isn’t just about horsepower; it’s about the seamless integration of battery capacity, motor efficiency, and charging infrastructure compatibility. The 2025 ID. Buzz, with its 91-kWh battery, delivers a respectable 231 miles of EPA-estimated range. This figure positions it well for daily commutes and most weekend excursions, especially for urban and suburban families. Its 335 hp from a dual-motor AWD setup provides confident acceleration, perfectly adequate for merging onto highways or navigating city traffic with a full complement of passengers. The 200 kW DC fast-charging rate is a solid benchmark, enabling reasonable charge times on compatible high-speed networks, crucial for mitigating range anxiety on longer journeys.
The 2024 Kia EV9, in its Land AWD configuration, elevates the benchmark with a 99.8-kWh battery and a more generous 280 miles of EPA-estimated range. This added cushion is a significant advantage, particularly for families who frequently embark on longer road trips or live in areas with less dense charging networks. The EV9’s 379 hp offers a touch more energetic performance, contributing to its “sportier” SUV feel. Its marginally higher 210 kW fast-charging capability also provides a slight edge in minimizing downtime at charging stations. In the rapidly evolving 2025 American EV market, where range and charging speed are paramount consumer concerns, the EV9 clearly leads in these critical metrics, offering greater flexibility and peace of mind for sustainable family travel.
Interior Ambiance & Unrivaled Passenger Comfort: Who Rules the Roost?
For a family vehicle, the cabin environment transcends mere aesthetics; it’s about livability, comfort, and the overall experience for every occupant, from driver to third-row passenger.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz excels in sheer volumetric space. From the elevated driver’s seat, which admittedly requires a slight climb, the driving position offers a commanding view, albeit with a unique van-like perspective. The upright windshield and extended roofline, while contributing to the spacious feel, can occasionally make it tricky to spot overhead traffic lights without a slight head tilt – a minor but noteworthy quirk. Where the ID. Buzz truly shines is in its rear accommodations. While the front seats are comfortable, the second row is genuinely cavernous, surpassing the already excellent EV9. The third row, often an afterthought in many three-row vehicles, is remarkably accommodating for adults of all sizes. My experience evaluating numerous family EVs tells me this is a rare feat, making the ID. Buzz a genuine contender for maximal passenger hauling without compromise.
The Kia EV9, while an undeniable champion of modern design, offers a slightly different take on comfort. Its front seats, to my expert assessment, provide superior cushioning and ergonomic support for extended periods, making it the preferred choice for long-haul drivers. The second-row captain’s chairs in the EV9 are luxurious, featuring ventilation and integrated window sunshades, enhancing comfort. The dual moonroof also creates an expansive, airy feel. However, despite these premium features, the EV9’s longer wheelbase doesn’t translate into the same expansive third-row legroom as the ID. Buzz. While adults can manage in the EV9’s third row for shorter durations, it’s undeniably cozier, requiring cooperation from second-row occupants to slide their seats forward. For families with growing teenagers or frequent adult passengers in the back, the ID. Buzz’s superior third-row space is an irrefutable advantage. Access to the third row in both vehicles is generally easy, though the ID. Buzz’s wider opening provides a slight practical edge.
Intelligent Storage Solutions: Practicality on the Go
In the world of family transportation, “storage” isn’t just a feature; it’s a necessity. From snacks and water bottles to gadgets and bags, where does everything go?
The Kia EV9 embraces conventional yet highly effective storage design. Its front center console is a masterclass in utility, offering generous bins for small items, ample cupholders, and a large, open lower storage area beneath the console – perfect for larger handbags or small backpacks. This thoughtful integration of various storage zones ensures that everyday essentials have their designated spots, reducing clutter and enhancing convenience.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz, while undeniably open and airy, takes a more minimalistic approach to dedicated small-item storage. The central console between the front seats is notably smaller than the EV9’s, with limited organizational partitions. While there are clever design touches, like a movable center console and a small rear-opening bin, they don’t quite match the sheer utility of the EV9’s larger compartments. From an expert perspective, while the ID. Buzz provides plenty of open space (you can easily place a backpack on the floor), it lacks the structured, secure compartments that many families rely on to keep items organized and accessible. The novel, fun features like integrated ice scrapers or bottle openers are charming, but practicality often trumps novelty in daily family use. My personal frustration with fitting a common phone/case combo into its wireless charger highlights a minor but persistent design oversight.
Intuitive Infotainment & User Experience: The Digital Frontier
The user interface (UI) and infotainment system are no longer secondary features; they are central to the modern driving experience, acting as the command center for navigation, entertainment, and vehicle settings.
The 2024 Kia EV9, in my professional opinion, offers a more intuitive and user-friendly experience, primarily due to its balanced approach to digital and physical controls. Its touchscreen infotainment system is responsive with logical menus, but crucially, Kia has retained an array of physical buttons for frequently accessed features like climate control temperature, fan speed, and seat heating/ventilation. This hybrid approach significantly reduces driver distraction, allowing for quick adjustments without delving into complex touchscreen menus. While the small climate touch panel on the dashboard can be partially obscured by the steering wheel for some drivers, and the drive mode selector/start-stop button combination takes some getting used to, these are minor quibbles compared to the overall functionality.
The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz, while featuring an infotainment screen with vibrant colors and intuitive tile menus, suffers from VW’s continuing reliance on touch-sensitive controls for functions beyond the screen itself. These haptic-feedback surfaces on the steering wheel, for volume and temperature sliders, are a constant source of frustration. Accidental inputs, imprecise adjustments, and a general lack of tactile feedback detract significantly from the user experience, especially while driving. The system can also exhibit unnecessary pauses when adjusting climate settings and occasionally locks for safety reasons, further interrupting flow. While aesthetically clean, the functional compromises are notable. My ten years in this industry have consistently shown that drivers prefer tactile feedback for critical controls, and the ID. Buzz’s design choice here feels like a step backward in usability.
Craftsmanship & Cabin Materials: A Question of Value
In the luxury-adjacent segment occupied by these EVs, interior quality plays a pivotal role in justifying the price tag. Both vehicles approach this differently, leading to varied perceptions of “premium.”
The 2024 Kia EV9 generally presents a higher-quality cabin. Soft-touch materials are strategically placed where occupants naturally interact, such as armrests and upper door panels. The upholstery feels durable and well-finished, contributing to a sense of robustness that belies its 10,000+ test miles. While the all-gray interior in some trims might be perceived as somewhat subdued, its overall execution reinforces its luxury electric SUV status.
The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz, conversely, leans into a more playful, colorful aesthetic, often with lighter interior themes that create a cheerful atmosphere. The build quality is solid, and there are visually interesting materials on some surfaces. However, it relies more heavily on hard plastics for common touchpoints compared to the EV9. While these plastics are well-integrated and don’t feel cheap, they don’t quite convey the same sense of premium craftsmanship found throughout the Kia’s cabin. This isn’t to say the ID. Buzz’s interior is inferior, but rather that it prioritizes a fun, durable, and practical environment over the subtle luxury cues evident in the EV9. From an expert standpoint, neither vehicle fully delivers a $70,000+ interior experience typically found in more traditional luxury marques, but the EV9 comes closer to meeting those expectations.
Versatile Cargo Capacity: The Family Hauler’s True Test
Beyond passenger space, the ability to haul gear is paramount for any family vehicle. Here, the distinct body styles of the ID. Buzz and EV9 come into sharp focus.
The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz, with its boxy van architecture, offers extraordinary cargo versatility. Behind the third row, measured cargo space is comparable to the EV9 (around 10 cubic feet). However, the ID. Buzz’s true strength emerges when its third row is folded or, more impressively, removed entirely. With the third row down, it boasts a substantial 30.8 cubic feet. Removing the third row completely unlocks a cavernous 48.9 cubic feet of cargo space – more than double the EV9’s 23.4 cubic feet with its third row stowed. This modularity, though requiring physical effort to remove the heavy 60-pound seat sections and cargo shelf, transforms the ID. Buzz into an unparalleled gear-hauler for large shopping trips, sports equipment, or even light furniture transport. The presence of soft-sided storage bins beneath the cargo shelf offers additional, albeit less secure, storage.
The 2024 Kia EV9, in its electric SUV form, offers a more conventional yet highly competent cargo area. It provides good space behind the third row and a significantly larger area when the third row is folded flat. Additionally, it features useful underfloor storage and a small frunk (front trunk), adding to its practicality. While its maximum cargo volume doesn’t match the ID. Buzz’s potential with the third row removed, the EV9’s cargo management is simpler and more integrated, aligning with typical SUV expectations. For daily use, its ample space with seats folded is more than sufficient for most families, without the need for heavy seat removal.
Dynamic Driving Dynamics: On the Road with Purpose
The driving experience of an EV is distinct, characterized by instant torque, quiet operation, and often a planted feel due to a low center of gravity. Both the ID. Buzz and EV9 offer compelling, yet different, road manners.
The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz was a delightful surprise from a driving perspective. Despite its van-like stature, it demonstrates remarkable agility and refinement. The acceleration is smooth, quiet, and predictable, with an accelerator pedal that feels more responsive than the EV9’s, even in Comfort mode. Its suspension, while firm, is exceptionally well-composed, absorbing road imperfections with a sophisticated dampening that minimizes cabin intrusion and noise. Steering is light and precise, making the vehicle feel surprisingly nimble for its size. The “B” mode on the gear selector offers near-one-pedal driving, a convenient feature for city commutes, though a full stop still requires brake pedal engagement. Outward visibility is generally good, despite the unique forward glass and short nose creating a different perspective. My decade of testing has taught me to appreciate when a vehicle transcends its segment expectations, and the ID. Buzz certainly does in its driving dynamics.
The 2024 Kia EV9 provides a driving experience more akin to a traditional, albeit refined, SUV. Its driving position and outward visibility are familiar to SUV owners, though the substantial B-pillar on the left side can impede peripheral vision. While it’s generally competent, the EV9’s suspension feels less refined than the ID. Buzz, transmitting more road noise and harshness into the cabin over broken pavement. This is a noticeable difference, particularly coming from a vehicle as composed as the ID. Buzz. The EV9 offers multiple regenerative braking levels, including a full one-pedal driving mode, which is a convenient feature often preferred by EV enthusiasts. In terms of raw power, the EV9 eventually outpaces the ID. Buzz, making it the relatively sportier choice, with distinct differences across its drive modes (Eco feels noticeably slower, Sport more engaging). Its forward visibility is excellent, potentially better than the VW, and critically, rear visibility is superior, augmented by a camera mirror and helpful blind-spot camera views for added confidence.
Real-World Efficiency & Cold-Weather Performance: The Unseen Challenge
For electric vehicles, performance under adverse conditions, particularly cold weather, is a critical factor influencing range and charging needs.
Our cold-weather efficiency test, consisting of a 110-mile mixed highway and country road route in temperatures ranging from 17-21 degrees Fahrenheit, highlighted the challenges for both vehicles. The 2024 Kia EV9 performed marginally better, averaging 2.1 miles per kWh compared to the ID. Buzz’s 1.8 miles per kWh. More significantly, the EV9’s larger battery provided a substantial advantage in remaining range. Starting with an estimated 249 miles of range (reduced from EPA due to cold), it consumed 135 miles of estimated range to cover 113 actual miles, leaving 114 miles. The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz, starting with 198 estimated miles, consumed 150 miles of estimated range for 111 actual miles, leaving a mere 48 miles.
This real-world data underscores a crucial point for families: while both vehicles are competent for daily cold-weather driving, neither is ideal for extended cold-weather road trips without frequent charging stops. However, the EV9’s greater initial range provides a significantly larger buffer, making it the more tolerable option for longer distances when temperatures plummet. This aspect of EV ownership, often overlooked, becomes paramount for families living in colder climates or planning winter vacations.
Holistic Verdict: Your Family’s Electric Future
Deciding between the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz and the 2024 Kia EV9 isn’t about identifying a universally “better” vehicle; it’s about aligning a vehicle’s strengths with your family’s unique priorities and lifestyle. Both represent a commendable step forward in the evolution of the electric family vehicle, yet they cater to slightly different needs.
If your primary need is unparalleled passenger space across all three rows, especially for taller adults, and a truly distinctive, charming aesthetic that pays homage to automotive history, the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz stands as an exceptional choice. Its refined driving dynamics and versatile cargo capacity (especially with seats removed) make it a formidable electric minivan alternative. It’s perfect for families who prioritize maximum people-hauling capability and a vehicle with undeniable character. For those who view their vehicle as a lifestyle statement, or perhaps an additional “fun” vehicle in a multi-car household, the ID. Buzz delivers joy and practicality in spades.
However, if your family demands a more conventional SUV form factor, a greater EPA-estimated range for enhanced peace of mind, quicker charging capabilities, and a more user-friendly infotainment system with a balance of physical controls, the 2024 Kia EV9 is the more well-rounded contender. Its premium interior touches, superior front-row comfort, and overall robust feel make it an ideal primary family EV. For families who need a single, highly capable, and stylish electric SUV that can tackle varied duties, from daily commutes to longer trips (in favorable weather), the EV9 offers a compelling value proposition and a more conventional, albeit modern, ownership experience.
In the dynamic 2025 American EV market, both the ID. Buzz and EV9 represent thoughtful engineering and a commitment to sustainable mobility. Your choice ultimately hinges on whether your family values the ID. Buzz’s nostalgic spaciousness and unique charm, or the EV9’s extended range, established SUV utility, and more intuitive user interface.
Considering a new electric family vehicle is a significant decision. We invite you to explore these incredible machines further, perhaps with a test drive, to truly understand which one resonates with your family’s journey into the electric future. The electrification of family transportation is here, and with options like these, the road ahead is exciting.
