Hyundai Ioniq 9 vs. Volkswagen ID.Buzz Tested: 3-Row EVs Compared

Car and Driver

21 hours ago

The EV landscape is starting to offer variety for buyers looking for a versatile three-row vehicle. Previously, only a select few EVs could seat more than five people, but now there's a raft of entries in a variety of forms. Look at these two new options, for instance: The Volkswagen ID.Buzz is a retro yet modern take on the old Microbus, while the Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a futuristic-looking SUV that now serves as the flagship of the Korean automaker's electric subbrand. They couldn't really look more different from each other, but they're competitors nonetheless thanks to their price points, intended missions, and specifications.
For this test, we matched up the top dual-motor versions of these electric family-mobiles. The Volkswagen's optional 4Motion all-wheel-drive setup produces 335 horsepower, while the Hyundai's most potent setup has 422 horsepower. They may be priced like luxury vehicles, with both coming in above $70,000, but they are also equipped like them. The Ioniq 9's fully loaded Calligraphy trim has power-operated second-row seats, multicolor ambient lighting, a head-up display, and a Bose premium audio system. The ID.Buzz we tested was also in its top trim, called Pro S Plus.
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Michael Simari
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Car and Driver
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Michael Simari
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Car and Driver
Interior and Exterior
Both vehicles have distinctive design themes inside and out. The ID.Buzz is instantly recognizable both as a van and as a throwback, with its two-tone paint scheme, slab-sided bodywork, and chunky wheel designs. The Ioniq 9, meanwhile, incorporates the same pixelated motif as the smaller Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 models, with little squares found everywhere from the headlights to the center console to the steering wheel. Its shape is almost wagon-like, and the odd-looking rear end has Volvo-style vertical taillights.
Inside, it's tough to choose between the two in terms of build quality and materials. The Ioniq 9 is plush and straightforward in its approach, with soft leather and interestingly textured inserts in the dashboard. It has a familiar set of easy-to-use controls and navigable screens for the gauge cluster and central infotainment display. The Buzz, meanwhile, is more kitschy thanks to its colored panels and an interesting mix of plastic and rubber materials. We don't prefer its user interface, as the touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel and the sometimes confusing infotainment menus don't make it simple to operate the radio or the navigation system on the fly.
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Greg Pajo
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Car and Driver
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Greg Pajo
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Car and Driver
It's immediately clear, however, that the ID.Buzz feels far more spacious inside. It's a minivan, after all, and the second- and third-row seats are more accommodating for adults. Even the third-row seats have a reasonably upright seating position with plenty of headroom. The Ioniq 9's second-row seats are quite comfy and feature lounge-style extendable ottomans in the top Calligraphy trim, but the functionality of this feature is questionable, as there's really only enough room for kids to be able to stretch their legs with the footrests extended.
The Ioniq 9 has the advantage in terms of ease of cargo adaptability. The second- and third-row seats fold flat at the push of a button, creating a relatively expansive load floor. While the ID.Buzz might appear to be a cargo-carrying maven on paper, the configurability of the seats is clunky. To collapse the seats, which don't fold flat into the floor, you have to pull various straps. Behind the third row is a false cargo floor with bins underneath that creates a flush surface with the folded third-row seatbacks, which is a bit of a weird solution.
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Michael Simari
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Car and Driver
Powertrain and Performance
If the words "dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain" are starting to sound repetitive, then you've probably been reading a lot about EVs. Both the Ioniq 9 and the ID.Buzz use this ubiquitous setup, although there are notable differences in their performance. Although both models come standard with lower-powered single-motor, rear-wheel-drive configurations, the Ioniq 9's top dual-motor configuration has 422 horsepower, far more than the ID.Buzz's 335 horsepower.
Hyundai Ioniq 9 Calligraphy
HIGHS: Comfortable and quiet ride, strong acceleration, good EPA range, fast charging.
LOWS: Third-row space is compromised, interior is too similar to cheaper Ioniq models, weird styling isn't for everyone.
VERDICT: The Ioniq 9 delivers a complete package, with the range, features, and performance to please most buyers.
Both test vehicles weigh over 6000 pounds, with the ID.Buzz coming in at 6174 pounds and the Ioniq 9 at 6034 pounds. That makes them considerably heavier than conventional gas-powered minivans and three-row SUVs, but their electric motors are still powerful enough to provide snappy acceleration. The Hyundai is the hot rod of the two, getting to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and running the quarter-mile in 13.1 seconds at 104 mph. The ID.Buzz, meanwhile, got to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 14.2 seconds at 97 mph.
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Greg Pajo
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Car and Driver
Despite being more powerful, the Ioniq 9 also holds the edge in terms of range. The EPA rates the Ioniq 9 at 311 miles and the ID.Buzz at 231 miles. The Buzz delivered just 190 miles of range on our real-world 75-mph highway test, and while we haven't yet tested the Ioniq 9's highway range, we expect it to easily beat the Volkswagen's.
Driving Experience
The Ioniq 9 provides a cushier ride. This vehicle is supremely smooth and floats over bumps, while the Volkswagen rides firmly and transmits a bit more road texture into the cabin. Both are quiet and comfortable on the highway, with the VW letting in a bit of extra wind noise because of its blunt front end.
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Greg Pajo
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Car and Driver
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Greg Pajo
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Car and Driver
Though neither of these family-mobiles is intended to be sporty, they don't completely keel over when you take them on a twisty road. As you'd expect from such a tall, upright vehicle, the ID.Buzz exhibits plenty of body roll and managed only 0.80 g on the skidpad compared with the Ioniq 9's 0.88 g. One editor commented that "the Buzz is best when you drive it like an old Microbus." The Hyundai is more planted and doesn't feel like as much of, well, a bus. But we like the VW's steering better, as it's a bit more communicative and better weighted compared with the Hyundai's numb, light-effort helm.
Volkswagen ID.Buzz 4Motion Pro S Plus
HIGHS: Charming personality, tons of passenger space, pleasant driving experience.
LOWS: Annoying screens and controls, lack of cargo configurability, unimpressive range.
VERDICT: The ID.Buzz is the emotional play, with tons of charisma, but its feature content and range performance don't measure up.
While driving the Ioniq 9 feels much like driving a Hyundai Palisade, only quicker and quieter, the ID.Buzz has an entirely distinctive feel unlike any other modern vehicle. The high seating position and the view out the expansive front windows will be delightful to some and off-putting for others, but we count ourselves in the former camp. It's altogether nostalgic and charming and will put a smile on your face.
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Michael Simari
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Car and Driver
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Michael Simari
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Car and Driver
And the Winner Is . . .
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is the logical choice between the two, and it takes the win thanks to its superior performance, intuitive user interface, and overall competence. Yes, the Hyundai costs more, but it has far more features than the Volkswagen and delivers more driving range and faster charging. It's the vehicle we'd want to live with every day. The ID.Buzz, on the other hand, is the irrational choice, as it tugs on our heartstrings but just isn't quite well equipped enough, versatile enough, or technologically advanced enough to keep up with its newer three-row competitor.
Michael Simari
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Car and Driver
Want to see these vehicles' specs side-by-side?
Check out the Hyundai Ioniq 9 & Volkswagen ID.Buzz on our new compare tool. Compare Cars
Specifications
2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Performance Calligraphy Design
Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 6-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $79,090/$79,570
Options: carpeted floor mats, $245; CCS to NACS charging adapter, $235
POWERTRAIN
Front Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC, 211 hp
Rear Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC, 215 hp
Combined Power: 422 hp
Combined Torque: 516 lb-ft
Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 110 kWh
Onboard Charger: 11.0 kW
Peak DC Fast-Charge Rate: 350 kW
Transmissions, F/R: direct-drive
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 14.2-in vented disc/13.6-in vented disc
Tires: Hankook Ion Evo AS SUV
285/45R-21 113V M+S Sound Absorber
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 123.2 in
Length: 199.2 in
Width: 78.0 in
Height: 70.5 in
Passenger Volume, F/M/R: 58/61/37 ft3
Cargo Volume, Behind F/M/R: 87/47/22 ft3
Curb Weight: 6034 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 4.4 sec
100 mph: 12.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 13.1 sec @ 104 mph
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.6 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.3 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.0 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 129 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 173 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.88 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY AND CHARGING
Observed: 62 MPGe
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 85/91/79 MPGe
Range: 311 miles
2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz Pro S Plus 4Motion
Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 6-passenger, 4-door van
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $69,545/$72,035
Options: panoramic glass roof, $1495; two-tone paint, $995
POWERTRAIN
Front Motor: induction AC, 107 hp, 99 lb-ft
Rear Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC, 282 hp, 413 lb-ft
Combined Power: 335 hp
Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 86 kWh
Onboard Charger: 11.0 kW
Peak DC Fast-Charge Rate: 200 kW
Transmissions, F/R: direct-drive
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 15.0-in vented disc/13.0-in drum
Tires: Continental ProContact TX10
F: HL235/50R-20 107T M+S +
R: HL265/45R-20 111T M+S +
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 131.1 in
Length: 195.4 in
Width: 78.1 in
Height: 76.2 in
Passenger Volume, F/M/R: 54/60/49 ft3
Cargo Volume, Behind F/M/R: 146/76/19 ft3
Curb Weight: 6174 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.5 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.2 sec @ 97 mph
100 mph: 16.3 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 5.4 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.2 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.3 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 101 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 174 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.80 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY AND CHARGING
Observed: 78 MPGe
75-mph Highway Range: 190 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 80/87/74 MPGe
Range: 231 mi
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
Reviewed by
Joey Capparella
Deputy Editor, Rankings Content
Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City. Read full bio