VW ID.Buzz vs. Kia EV9: Denver 3-Row Electric SUV Comparison
Two boxy, family-first electric three-rows with very different personalities: the EV9 is the value-and-range space champ, while the ID.Buzz trades a little range for van practicality, third-row room, and unmistakable character. Here is the Denver breakdown.
ID.Buzz vs. Kia EV9 at a Glance
The Kia EV9 opens at a lower price, travels farther on a charge, and charges on a quicker 800-volt system. The ID.Buzz answers with a genuinely van-shaped cabin — far more space behind the second row, better third-row legroom, and a design that turns heads. Both seat up to seven; they simply prioritize differently.
Figures are manufacturer estimates and vary by trim. Ranges reflect each model’s longer-range trim. Cargo behind the second row is used for an apples-to-apples van comparison.
The Value Box vs. the Character Van
The EV9 is one of the smartest buys in the electric-SUV world. It starts around $54,900, its long-range trims reach 305 miles, and its 800-volt platform charges from 10 to 80 percent in about 24 minutes. It is roomy, well-built, and backed by Kia’s 10-year battery warranty.
The ID.Buzz counters with the one thing an SUV cannot fake: it is a real van. That upright body yields dramatically more space behind the second row (about 75.5 vs 43.5 cubic feet), sliding rear doors for easy access, and the best third-row legroom in this group. And it does it all wrapped in the most charismatic design on the road.
Both include standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both seat up to seven, and both handle Colorado winters with available all-wheel drive. If maximum range and the lowest price lead your list, the EV9 delivers; if space, character, and family comfort matter more, the ID.Buzz makes the joyful case.
Full Specification Comparison
| Specification | VW ID.Buzz | Kia EV9 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $59,995 | $54,900 |
| Drivetrain | RWD or AWD | RWD or AWD |
| Usable Battery | 91 kWh | 76.1 or 99.8 kWh |
| EPA Range (max) | 234 mi | 305 mi |
| Horsepower | 282 hp RWD / 335 hp AWD | 201-379 hp |
| Charging Architecture | 400-volt | 800-volt |
| Peak DC Fast Charging | 200 kW | about 230 kW |
| Max Towing | 3,500 lb | 5,000 lb |
| Cargo Behind 2nd Row | about 75.5 cu ft | 43.5 cu ft |
| Max Cargo | 145.5 cu ft (3rd row out) | 81.7 cu ft |
| 3rd-Row Legroom | Class-leading | Very good |
| Apple CarPlay / Android Auto | Standard (wireless) | Standard |
| EV Battery Warranty | 8 yr / 100,000 mi | 10 yr / 100,000 mi |
The EV9 leads on price, range, charging speed, and warranty; the ID.Buzz leads decisively on usable cargo space and third-row room. Space and character versus range and value is the core trade.
Where Each 3-Row Electric SUV Pulls Ahead
The EV9 stretches farther on a charge and tops off a bit faster, but the ID.Buzz’s van shape opens up far more room where families feel it — behind the second row and in the third-row seat.
Why Denver Drivers Pick the ID.Buzz
It is a real van
The upright, sliding-door body gives the ID.Buzz far more space behind the second row and easier loading than the SUV-shaped EV9.
Best third-row legroom
VW gives the way-back seat genuine adult room — the ID.Buzz is built to carry seven in comfort, not just in a pinch.
Unmistakable design
Nothing else on the road looks or feels like the ID.Buzz; the EV9 is handsome, but the Buzz is an icon.
Denver-ready
Available 4Motion all-wheel drive, a built-in NACS charge port (no adapter needed), and Colorado EV incentives at Emich.
Room for Everyone, Space for Everything
The ID.Buzz turns its boxy shape into a genuine advantage. The upright body opens up an airy, lounge-like cabin with industry-leading third-row legroom, so adults can actually ride back there in comfort, and the sliding rear doors make loading kids and gear easy in a tight Denver parking spot. Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto keep your phone front and center on a large touchscreen.
Behind the second row you get about 75.5 cubic feet of cargo, and removing the third-row seats opens up a cavernous 145.5 cubic feet — more usable van space than any traditional three-row SUV in this comparison offers. An available electrochromic dimmable glass roof, a flat floor, and configurable seating make it as flexible as it is charming.
How the ID.Buzz Compares to the EV9
The Kia EV9 is arguably the value benchmark among electric three-rows. It undercuts the ID.Buzz on price, its long-range trims travel 305 miles, its 800-volt architecture charges quickly, and it comes with a 10-year battery warranty and a roomy, boxy cabin.
What it cannot match is van practicality. The ID.Buzz’s upright shape and sliding doors open up far more room behind the second row and a more spacious third row, and its design brings a personality the EV9 simply does not have. If you want maximum range per dollar, the EV9 is superb; if you want the roomiest, most characterful family EV, the ID.Buzz wins hearts.
Which 3-Row Electric SUV Is Right for You?
Choose the Volkswagen ID.Buzz if…
You want a genuinely spacious, characterful electric van with the best third-row room and the easiest family loading — and you value space and style over squeezing out extra range.
Consider the Kia EV9 if…
You want the lowest price, the longest range, quicker 800-volt charging, and a 10-year battery warranty, and an SUV shape suits you fine.
See the ID.Buzz for Yourself in Denver
Emich Volkswagen is your Denver-area ID.Buzz headquarters. Reserve yours, ask about Colorado EV incentives, and be among the first Front Range families to bring home the electric bus.
EV9 is a trademark of Kia Corporation. Comparisons use manufacturer-published data and are for shopping research only. Specifications and pricing are subject to change; the ID.Buzz is arriving in Denver — see Emich Volkswagen for current details.