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The 2025 Family EV Showdown: Volkswagen ID. Buzz vs. Kia EV9 – An Expert’s Deep Dive
As an industry veteran with a decade embedded in the rapidly accelerating electric vehicle landscape, I’ve witnessed the transformation from niche offerings to mainstream contenders. The year 2025 marks a pivotal moment, with an expanding array of family-friendly electric vehicles vying for attention. Among the most anticipated for American households, two distinct titans stand out: the retro-futuristic 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz and the bold, contemporary 2024 Kia EV9. While they inhabit different segments – one a modern electric van, the other a commanding three-row electric SUV – their shared mission to move families in a sustainable, efficient manner places them in direct competition.
The question isn’t just about kilowatts or cubic feet; it’s about which vehicle integrates more seamlessly into the dynamic lives of American families. Both represent significant investments, pushing into the premium luxury electric family car segment with as-tested prices comfortably in the $70,000 range. My extensive experience evaluating cutting-edge EVs has taught me that the true value lies beyond the spec sheet, residing in the nuanced interplay of design, daily usability, and long-term ownership experience. This isn’t merely a comparison; it’s an EV buying guide 2025 perspective, peeling back the layers to reveal which contender truly earns its spot in your driveway.
Let’s dissect these electric people-movers, examining every facet from passenger comfort to real-world performance, to help you make the most informed decision in this exciting era of sustainable transportation options.
Interior Space and Comfort: The Battle for Family Serenity
When evaluating a three-row EV, the first priority for any family is undoubtedly interior space and comfort. Here, the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz truly distinguishes itself, living up to its spiritual predecessor’s legacy of maximizing occupant room.
From the driver’s perspective, the ID. Buzz presents an elevated seating position, akin to a command center in a modern delivery van, rather than a traditional SUV. While this provides excellent forward visibility, its upright windshield and pronounced forward roofline can, on occasion, obstruct overhead traffic signals, requiring a slight tilt of the head. It’s a minor quirk, but one indicative of its unique form factor. The front seats, while not as plush as the EV9’s, still offer commendable support for extended journeys.
However, where the ID. Buzz genuinely shines is its passenger accommodations. The cavernous second row boasts unparalleled legroom and headroom, making it a more expansive and comfortable environment than even the commendable second row of the EV9. This is where the van architecture truly pays dividends. But the pièce de résistance is the ID. Buzz’s third row. Unlike many electric SUVs where the rearmost seats are best reserved for children or short trips, the ID. Buzz’s third row generously accommodates taller adults with ease. The spaciousness is striking, offering a level of comfort that rivals the second row of many conventional SUVs.
Conversely, the 2024 Kia EV9 offers a more traditional SUV seating experience. Its front seats are arguably more ergonomically refined, with superior cushioning and bolstering that hug the body more effectively. The second row in our long-term EV9, equipped with ventilated captain’s chairs and integrated window shades, provides a premium experience, further enhanced by the dual moonroof creating an airy cabin feel. Yet, even with these amenities, the sheer volume of space in the ID. Buzz’s second row is simply unmatched.
The EV9’s two-person third row, while featuring convenient one-touch folding and sliding second-row seats for easier access, is notably tighter than the ID. Buzz’s. Adults can manage, but it often necessitates second-row occupants compromising their legroom. Ultimately, for maximum adaptable EV seating across all three rows, the ID. Buzz emerges as the undisputed champion, making it an ideal choice for larger families or those frequently transporting adults in the rear.
In-Cabin Storage: Practicality for the Modern Family
For families, a vehicle isn’t just about moving people; it’s about accommodating the myriad items that accompany them – snacks, tablets, water bottles, and countless other necessities. In the realm of smart EV storage solutions, the 2024 Kia EV9 demonstrates a more thoughtful and ultimately more practical approach.
The EV9’s front center console is a masterclass in functional design, offering a versatile space for both small personal effects and larger items, courtesy of an expansive open lower storage area. This multi-tiered approach allows for intuitive organization, preventing clutter during daily commutes or longer road trips. The slide-out bin and tray for second-row passengers further underscore Kia’s commitment to passenger convenience.
The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz, despite its overall spaciousness, offers less utility in its front cabin storage. The central console, while movable, is comparatively smaller, and its storage compartments lack the generous dimensions of the EV9’s. While the ID. Buzz tries to inject “fun” into its design with quirky features like a center console divider that doubles as a bottle opener and ice scraper, these elements often sacrifice genuine utility for novelty. Furthermore, the nearly hidden wireless phone charger, while functional, struggles to accommodate larger smartphones with robust cases, a common frustration for many users. While there’s ample open space to place a backpack or purse on the floor, dedicated, secure storage for smaller items is less abundant.
In essence, while the ID. Buzz provides an abundance of open volume, the EV9 excels in providing structured, intelligently designed storage compartments, making it superior for managing the everyday clutter that comes with family life. This makes the EV9 a strong contender for those prioritizing a highly practical EV interior.
User Interface and Technology: Intuition vs. Innovation
The user interface (UI) is increasingly a make-or-break factor in modern vehicles, especially advanced EV technology laden with digital displays. Here, the 2024 Kia EV9’s more traditional, button-heavy approach presents a distinct advantage over the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz’s touch-centric design.
The EV9’s infotainment system is commendably intuitive, featuring an easy-to-navigate touchscreen. Crucially, Kia has retained a significant number of physical controls for frequently accessed features such as climate control temperature, heated/ventilated seats, and audio adjustments. This blend of digital and tactile inputs allows drivers to operate essential functions without diverting full attention to the screen, enhancing safety and reducing frustration. While the small climate system touch panel on the dashboard can be partially obscured by the steering wheel, its functions can be expanded to the central touchscreen for better accessibility. Kia’s inclusion of blind-spot camera views, activated by the turn signal, is another commendable safety and convenience feature.
The ID. Buzz, however, falls prey to a common contemporary automotive design trend that prioritizes sleek aesthetics over tactile functionality. While its 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system boasts excellent graphics, vibrant colors, and generally intuitive tile menus, the widespread reliance on touch-sensitive controls beyond the screen proves to be a consistent source of frustration. The haptic steering-wheel controls, designed for multifunctionality, are prone to accidental activation – a scenario I personally experienced when inadvertently setting cruise control with a casual swipe of the hand. Similarly, the touch sliders for volume and temperature, while responsive, lack the precision and immediate feedback of physical knobs, making precise adjustments challenging while driving. Features often feel buried deep within sub-menus, contrasting with the EV9’s more direct access.
As an expert who has evaluated countless intuitive infotainment systems, my preference leans strongly towards the EV9. Its hybrid approach balances modern digital displays with the enduring ergonomic benefits of physical controls, creating a more cohesive and less distracting driver-centric EV cockpit. The ID. Buzz’s UI, while visually appealing, often demands too much cognitive load, a critical consideration for busy parents navigating distractions.
Interior Quality and Design Philosophy: Premium Perception
When investing in luxury electric family cars, interior quality extends beyond mere aesthetics; it speaks to durability, perceived value, and the overall ownership experience. Neither the ID. Buzz nor the EV9 delivers an interior that screams “seven-figure price tag,” but the 2024 Kia EV9 takes a slight edge in its execution.
The EV9’s cabin exudes a sense of robust quality. Soft-touch surfaces are strategically placed at common touchpoints, such as armrests and upper door panels, contributing to a premium feel. Despite our long-term tester accumulating over 10,000 miles, the interior shows minimal signs of wear and remains commendably quiet, free from creaks or rattles. The upholstery choices feel substantial and designed for longevity. While its all-gray interior color scheme might be described as conservative or even “boring” by some, its restrained elegance speaks to a focus on enduring quality.
The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz, conversely, embraces a more playful and colorful design language, particularly in its lighter interior schemes. This aligns perfectly with its retro-futuristic persona. While it boasts visually interesting materials and a solid build quality, the ID. Buzz incorporates a greater proportion of hard plastics, particularly in areas frequently touched. The absence of extensive soft-touch trim on common contact points slightly detracts from its premium feel, especially when contrasted with the EV9. The ID. Buzz’s charm lies more in its unique aesthetic and expansive openness than in lavish material choices.
From an expert standpoint, the EV9’s commitment to more extensive soft-touch materials and its overall sense of solid construction give it a marginal win in premium EV cabins. Both offer durable, well-assembled interiors, but the EV9 simply feels a notch more substantial and less reliant on visual novelty for its appeal, a crucial factor for a durable EV interior meant to withstand the rigors of family life.
Cargo Space: Utility and Versatility
For families, the ability to haul gear is almost as important as hauling people. The cargo capabilities of the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz and 2024 Kia EV9, while both ample, cater to different philosophies of utility, with the ID. Buzz ultimately offering greater maximum volume.
Behind the third row, both vehicles offer comparable cargo space, approximately 10 cubic feet by our measurements – enough for a few grocery bags or small backpacks. However, the ID. Buzz’s design truly shines when the third row is folded, and especially when it’s removed entirely. With the third row down, the ID. Buzz liberates a substantial 30.8 cubic feet. The truly astonishing figure comes when the entire third row is removed: a gargantuan 48.9 cubic feet. This nearly doubles the EV9’s respectable 23.4 cubic feet with its third row stowed. This modularity, though requiring the manual removal of two roughly 60-pound seat sections, transforms the ID. Buzz into a truly cavernous cargo hauler, perfect for bulkier items or even small furniture. The optional cargo shelf, while useful for creating a flat load floor, does raise the floor height, a minor trade-off for its versatility. The ID. Buzz notably lacks a frunk, an increasingly common feature in EVs.
The Kia EV9, on the other hand, offers a more conventional and integrated cargo area. Its large cargo space expands significantly with the third row folded flat, and it features useful underfloor storage for stashing smaller items out of sight. Crucially, the EV9 also incorporates a small frunk, a convenient space for charging cables or emergency kits. While its maximum cargo volume doesn’t rival the ID. Buzz’s, the EV9’s cargo area is consistently easy to reconfigure and does not require physical removal of seats, offering a more hassle-free EV cargo capacity for everyday use.
For families prioritizing sheer volume and the flexibility to occasionally transport very large items, the ID. Buzz’s versatile electric van design is unmatched. For those who prefer the convenience of integrated, easy-to-adjust cargo space without the need for seat removal, the EV9 provides a highly practical and accessible solution, making it a strong contender for a family adventure EV.
Driving Experience: On the Road, On the Grid
Moving beyond static attributes, the electric vehicle performance and overall driving dynamics are crucial. As a seasoned evaluator, I’ve found that the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz delivers a surprisingly refined and engaging experience, contrasting with the 2024 Kia EV9’s more conventional, albeit capable, SUV demeanor.
The ID. Buzz, despite its van form factor and higher curb weight than the EV9, possesses a remarkable agility. Its 335 horsepower dual-motor AWD system provides smooth, quiet, and consistently responsive power delivery. Even in Comfort mode, acceleration from a standstill feels more immediate and spirited than in the EV9. The suspension tuning, while firm, exhibits a level of sophistication and composure that effectively isolates occupants from road imperfections. Unlike the EV9, the ID. Buzz’s suspension operates with impressive quietness, contributing to a more buttoned-up feel. Steering is light and precise, making the ID. Buzz feel much more nimble than its size suggests. The “B” mode on the gear selector offers nearly one-pedal driving, a convenient feature for city commutes, though a final brake pedal press is required for a complete stop.
Visibility from the ID. Buzz is generally good, with its short nose and expansive glass area creating a unique, commanding perspective. However, the unconventional windshield design combined with the front pillars can create minor blind spots, and the lack of a rearview camera mirror is a noticeable omission when the third-row headrests are up or passengers are onboard. Despite these minor points, the ID. Buzz behaves every bit like a pleasant, refined cruiser, making it a joy for everyday driving and epitomizing the future of electric vans.
The Kia EV9, with its 379 horsepower, offers more brute power, and its different drive modes (Eco, Sport) create a more discernible impact on the driving experience. Sport mode, in particular, unleashes a genuinely sporty feel. However, in this direct comparison, the EV9’s ride quality feels comparatively harsher and noisier than the ID. Buzz. Tire and wind noise are more pronounced, and the suspension, while capable, transmits more of the road’s imperfections into the cabin, leading to a somewhat rattlier sensation over broken pavement. The EV9 offers multiple regenerative braking levels, including a true one-pedal driving mode, which is a significant plus for many EV enthusiasts.
Outward visibility in the EV9 is generally good, akin to a conventional SUV, and it benefits from an available camera mirror and Kia’s excellent blind-spot camera views, which significantly enhance driver confidence. While the EV9 maintains a comfortable driving position, its B-pillar can obstruct some views.
Ultimately, while the EV9 offers a more overtly powerful and sporty option, the ID. Buzz’s smooth EV driving experience, superior suspension refinement, and unexpected nimbleness make it a surprisingly compelling choice for daily driving. For those prioritizing a truly composed and quiet ride, the ID. Buzz has a distinct edge.
Cold-Weather Efficiency: Range Anxiety and Real-World Performance
One of the most critical considerations for any EV buyer, particularly in regions experiencing colder climates, is cold weather EV performance and overall efficiency. Our rigorous testing revealed the 2024 Kia EV9 to be slightly more efficient and, critically, possess significantly greater usable range than the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz when temperatures plummet.
Our standard 110-mile cold-weather efficiency route, predominantly composed of interstate highways and country roads, provides a realistic assessment of an EV’s performance under stress. With ambient temperatures hovering between 17 and 21 degrees Fahrenheit, both vehicles operated under challenging conditions. Climate systems were set to Auto mode at a comfortable cabin temperature – reflecting how most users would operate their vehicles.
Before commencing the drive, the EV9 displayed an estimated 249 miles of range from its 99.8 kWh battery, while the ID. Buzz, with its 91 kWh battery, showed 198 miles. Both figures were approximately 30 miles lower than their respective EPA estimates, illustrating the immediate impact of cold weather on projected range.
At the conclusion of our 113-mile journey, the Kia EV9 had consumed 135 miles of estimated range, leaving 114 miles remaining. This translates to an average efficiency of 2.1 miles per kilowatt-hour (kWh). The Volkswagen ID. Buzz, after traveling 111 miles, consumed a more substantial 150 miles of estimated range, with only 48 miles remaining. Its average efficiency came in at 1.8 miles per kWh.
These numbers paint a clear picture. While both vehicles demonstrate the inherent challenge of sustained high-speed driving in freezing temperatures, the EV9’s larger battery and superior efficiency make its long-range electric car claims more credible under adverse conditions. The difference in remaining range – 114 miles versus 48 miles – is stark and profoundly impacts trip planning. For families considering EV range anxiety solutions, the EV9’s greater DC fast charging capabilities (up to 210 kW vs. 200 kW for the ID. Buzz) and superior cold-weather range offer a much-needed buffer. Neither vehicle is an ideal candidate for extended cold-weather road trips without frequent charging stops, but the EV9 unequivocally provides a more reassuring experience. This is a critical factor for understanding electric vehicle ownership costs in varied climates.
Which Is Right For You? A Concluding Expert Analysis
Having meticulously dissected the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz and the 2024 Kia EV9, it’s clear both represent compelling, albeit different, propositions in the burgeoning market for electric family vehicles. Your ultimate choice hinges entirely on your family’s specific priorities, lifestyle, and how you intend to utilize your primary vehicle.
If your primary need is unparalleled passenger space, particularly across all three rows, and you frequently transport multiple adults or growing teenagers, the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz is your champion. Its capacious interior, retro-chic aesthetic, and unexpectedly refined driving dynamics make it a joy to experience. It’s a statement vehicle, a nostalgic nod wrapped in cutting-edge EV technology. If you view your vehicle as more than mere transportation – perhaps a lifestyle accessory or a homage to automotive history – and its lower cold-weather range isn’t a deal-breaker for your typical usage, the ID. Buzz offers an undeniably charismatic and spacious solution.
However, if your family requires a more versatile, well-rounded, and pragmatically designed three-row EV that excels as a primary family vehicle, the 2024 Kia EV9 makes a stronger case. Its superior real-world range, especially in colder climates, combined with its more intuitive user interface, practical storage solutions, and robust interior quality, position it as a more conventional yet highly competent choice. The EV9 offers a more traditional SUV driving experience with added power, and its integrated cargo management is more convenient for daily use. For those looking for an EV that can confidently tackle longer journeys and offers a more reassuring sense of range, the EV9 minimizes EV range anxiety more effectively.
Both vehicles command a significant investment, and both deliver on the promise of electric family transportation. Neither is perfect for extreme cold-weather road-tripping without diligent planning. The ID. Buzz captivates with its personality and space, while the EV9 impresses with its pragmatism and all-around utility.
Ready to electrify your family’s journey? The transition to an electric vehicle is more than just a purchase; it’s an embrace of the future. Explore the unique features of the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz and 2024 Kia EV9 further, or better yet, schedule a test drive to experience their distinct personalities firsthand. Discover which of these exceptional electric vehicles truly aligns with your family’s evolving needs and aspirations.
