Spec battle: 2026 Zeekr 009 vs 2025 ID. Buzz vs 2024 Mercedes-Benz EQV

Australia’s electric people-mover market is no longer the sleepy backwater it once was, with three sharply different options vying for family, fleet, and road-trip dollars. The Zeekr 009 arrives as a tech-laden shuttle, sporting power and comfort usually reserved for luxury SUVs.

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz, with its retro-inspired design, brings a sense of fun and versatility to the mix, spanning everything from affordable entry-level to performance-focused GTX variants.

Completing the trio, the Mercedes-Benz EQV leans on its established van pedigree and premium badge to appeal to those chasing space and a familiar star on the bonnet. Whether you’re drawn to outright opulence, clever practicality or established prestige, this trio covers the spectrum – so which one will best fit your family’s future? 

Pricing and variants 

There’s no escaping the elephant in the room: stepping into the world of electric people-movers requires a healthy budget, often with a price gap wide enough to park a Kombi in. The newly landed Zeekr 009 has swung in with a premium air at $135,900 before on-roads, undercutting the Mercedes-Benz EQV which in late 2024 got its first upgrade since it arrived in 2022. This included a $12,000 price increase: the EQV easily tops the chart at a hefty $161,723 before on-road costs.

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz, meanwhile, takes a broader approach, offering three distinct variants to suit different buyers. The standard SWB starts at a relatively palatable $87,990, while the LWB, with more cabin flexibility, nudges north of $91,000. For those after something sportier, the dual-motor GTX clocks in at $109,990, bringing all-wheel drive and a sharper turn of speed.

It’s a rare case where the mid-tier variant brings the most conventional value, with both ends of the spectrum – entry and flagship – catering to very different tastes. Compared to the Zeekr and Benz, the Buzz range offers a much lower cost of entry, but buyers chasing ultimate luxury and features may still find themselves drawn to the Zeekr’s plushness or the three-pointed star’s reputation.  

Performance and range 

Powertrain options differ greatly among the three. The Zeekr 009 is a proper powerhouse, delivering 450kW and a staggering 693Nm to all four wheels – performance car figures in a lounge on wheels. Not only that, it rockets to 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds, putting it in another league for acceleration. That comes paired with a massive 116kWh battery, giving the 009 a claimed WLTP range of 582km, eclipsing anything else here for long-haul capability.

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz is a tale of two personalities: the standard SWB and LWB variants use a rear-drive 210kW setup with a smaller battery, while the GTX gets twin motors and 250kW, dropping its 0-100km/h time to a brisk 6.4 seconds. All Buzz models sit in the low-to-mid 400km range (WLTP), with the LWB offering a smidge more range thanks to a slightly bigger battery, but the GTX trims that back a little in exchange for added performance.

The Mercedes-Benz EQV, meanwhile, is more reserved on all counts. Its front-wheel drive motor serves up 150kW and 365Nm – perfectly adequate for family duties, though its 12.1-second 0-100km/h time is well off the pace, and the 90kWh battery’s real-world range from its 363km WLTP rating won’t challenge the Zeekr’s headline figure.

For buyers, this is where the differences start to feel stark: the Zeekr blends outright performance and range, the Buzz gives you options to prioritise range or speed, and the Benz favours tradition and familiarity over electrifying stats – at a price.

Charging and practicality 

If road trips are on the agenda, the devil is often in the charging, cargo and towing details.

The Zeekr boasts a strong 205kW DC fast-charge rate, while the ID. Buzz is no slouch either, the SWB offering up to 185kW and the LWB/GTX stretching that to 200kW. The top 110kW DC charge rate offered by the Mercedes sits well behind its competitors, which means more time replenishing the electrons for those needing faster recharging out on the road. At home, both Zeekr and Volkswagen offer the typical 11kW AC charging, but here the EQV is a step ahead, offering 22kW AC – an advantage for those with access to three-phase power.

When it comes to hauling people and their kit, all three offer three rows of seating, though the Zeekr and Buzz use a more flexible 2+3+2 or 2+2+2 configuration, while the EQV is available as a 2+2+3 layout. 

Boot space is another tale altogether: the EQV offers the biggest numbers on paper (1030 litres with seats up, 4630 litres seats down), while the Zeekr offers 574/2979 litres. The ID. Buzz SWB is more compact, but the LWB and GTX variants stretch the boot from 306 litres to 2469 litres when the seats are dropped.

Tow ratings, too, are all over the shop: the Zeekr and EQV can’t tow at all, but the ID. Buzz is surprisingly practical, with ratings up to 1600kg (GTX), so if your family road trips involve a camper or jet ski, the VW is the singular option in this pack. The Zeekr is the only one to offer V2L (vehicle-to-load), so running an esky or charging e-bikes at the campsite is its party trick.

Payloads range widely as well: the EQV can haul the most, tipping the scales at 880kg, while the Buzz and Zeekr are more modest in their payload ratings.  

Size 

On the road, the three vans aren’t shrinking violets, but there is as much as half a metre difference in the amount of driveway space they’ll commandeer. The Zeekr 009 is the longest, at over 5.2 metres, with a wheelbase to match.

The EQV is only just shy of that, while the long wheelbase (LWB) ID. Buzz sits just under the five-metre mark, except for the SWB, which at 4.7 metres is also nimbler on its sub-three-metre wheelbase.

Width and height show less variance, but ground clearance is where differences could affect access: the Zeekr is fairly low (142mm), the EQV is lowest of the lot (just 110mm), while the ID. Buzz manages a bit more clearance (156mm for the LWB), which might be welcome for gravel driveways or regional roads.  

Connectivity and comfort 

Step inside and the personalities really diverge. The Zeekr leans in hard on luxury: it gets a 360-degree camera, panoramic sunroof with powered sunshade, and both heated and ventilated seats up front and in the second row – comforts that neither the Benz nor Buzz can match. It also comes with an 8.6-litre fridge between the two front seats that can be accessed from the second row – perfect for a family trip.

That said, the ID. Buzz gets a glass roof which can switch to opaque for a futuristic feel, plus front and rear cameras, heated seats up front, and the option for heated outboard rear seats.

The EQV is the only one in this set to skip a sunroof altogether, and it limits heated seats to the driver only (though it does have a digital rear-view mirror.)

Step into the second row of the Zeekr, and passengers also get the director’s chair experience, with massage controls their fingertips. By contrast, the ID. Buzz only offers massage function in the front row. The EQV does not get a massage function at all (unlike overseas), but does come with electric lumbar support for the driver and front passenger.

Wireless charging is standard across all models, and all three offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Wheel sizes run the gamut from 18 to 21 inches, with the ID. Buzz GTX standing out for its massive alloys 

Warranty and ownership costs 

After-sales confidence is largely even, with the Zeekr and all Buzz models covered by a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, plus eight years/160,000km for the battery. Mercedes plays the conservative card, matching the battery cover but capping its vehicle warranty at 100,000km.

Service costs over five years tell a similar story: the EQV is significantly dearer to keep on the road ($2705), while all three Buzz variants land at $1717. The Zeekr doesn’t list capped servicing; as the new brand on the block selling through a franchise dealership model, it’s worth a call to the dealer for the latest numbers.

Day-to-day running costs, according to the Green Vehicle Guide and our calculations, vary: the Zeekr is the most efficient of the bunch at $983 per year, while the EQV is the thirstiest ($1325 per year). If you’re chasing the lowest possible ownership cost, the ID. Buzz once again strikes a balance. 

Source: Green Vehicle Guide. Assumptions include efficiency according to ADR 81/02 lab tests, driving 14,000km a year, with an average cost of $0.36c/kWh. *5 year equivalent 

Verdict: Which one should you buy?  

Choosing between the Zeekr 009, Volkswagen ID. Buzz and Mercedes-Benz EQV is less about raw numbers and more about what you value most in a family mover.

The Zeekr 009 stands out for its sheer power, plush appointments, and long-range ability, positioning itself as the electric limousine of the people-mover set – though its newcomer status and price tag may give some buyers pause.

The ID. Buzz brings genuine flexibility and personality, with its broad range and clever design touches making it appealing for both the school run and the open road. If towing or keeping costs down is high on your list, the Buzz makes a compelling case.

The Mercedes-Benz EQV, meanwhile, leans heavily on its traditional van roots and premium badge. It offers space in spades and established dealer support, but falls behind in outright performance, charging speed, and running costs.

For now, safety-conscious buyers may need to weigh up the ID. Buzz Cargo’s Platinum ANCAP rating and take a leap of faith for the rest, as none of these people-movers carry a dedicated ANCAP score just yet.

Ultimately, each of these electric vans brings a distinct flavour to the table. The Zeekr 009 is all about comfort and performance, the ID. Buzz about charm and versatility, and the EQV about familiar luxury and space. Your choice will likely come down to which of these qualities best fits your family’s lifestyle – and how much you’re willing to spend to get there.