High Reviews for the Kia EV9

The Kia EV9 claimed top honours as DrivingElectric’s ‘Car of the Year’ for 2024, a testament to its excellence among the latest electric vehicles. Not only did it secure the overall ‘Car of the Year’ title, but it also clinched the coveted ‘Best Premium Electric Car’ accolade.

The DrivingElectric Awards highlight the finest newly introduced electric cars and vans on the market. The winners in each category are chosen by the publication’s expert panel, considering factors like overall value, performance, and practicality.

Kia EV9 is Causing Good Impressions Already

Before its initial deliveries to customers in January 2024, the EV9 had already made a strong impact in the UK. With its victories in the ‘Best Premium Electric Car’ and overall ‘Car of the Year’ categories, the EV9 has propelled Kia into a new realm of acclaim, solidifying its position in the esteemed ‘Premium’ market segment.

DrivingElectric Award’s EV9

DrivingElectric’s panel of expert judges commented on the EV9’s double award-win: “The Kia EV9 alters the electric landscape, offering huge space and a premium feel – all at a sub-premium price. No EV offers this kind of practicality for the money.”

Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK, said: “The EV9 was already one of the most anticipated cars of 2023, and our UK dealer network has received more interest in this car ahead of launch than almost any other Kia vehicle to date. Our new flagship EV takes Kia into a new segment and puts us up against some very keen competition. But our established reputation as an electrification leader makes this an entirely natural – and hotly awaited – next step for the brand, and we’re delighted to see the car recognised already by DrivingElectric for what it offers customers.”

Kia has a track record of success at the DrivingElectric Awards. Just last year, the brand took home four awards for the EV6 GT, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro EV, and the previous generation e-Niro.

The Kia EV9 stands out among the latest EVs for its versatility in the market. It offers a range of options including six- or seven-seat setups, a rear-wheel, single-motor powertrain, or an all-wheel, dual-motor powertrain, alongside three well-equipped trim levels. With Kia’s reassuring seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, the EV9 delivers a blend of extensive customer choice, robust construction, and peace of mind.

Five-Star Euro NCAP Safety Rating

Europe’s leading independent safety testing body, Euro NCAP, has awarded Kia’s brand-new EV9 with a prestigious five-star safety rating. This recognition underscores the all-electric seven-seat SUV’s remarkable safety features and performance.

Highest Possible Safety Rating for EV9

Throughout the evaluation process, the EV9 excelled across four crucial categories. It scored 84 per cent for adult occupant protection, 88 per cent for child occupant protection, 76 per cent for vulnerable road users (such as pedestrians), and 83 per cent in the ‘safety assist’ category, which evaluates the vehicle’s crash avoidance technologies.

Euro NCAP specifically lauded the EV9’s passenger compartment for its stability in frontal impact tests, ensuring robust protection for occupants’ knees and femurs, irrespective of their size or seating positions. The evaluation highlighted the EV9’s ability to be a considerate partner in a frontal collision. In the side barrier test, the SUV secured maximum points, delivering strong protection for the driver and passengers’ critical body areas. Moreover, the EV9 earned praise for its advanced eCall system, designed to alert emergency services promptly in the event of a crash.

In the child occupant tests, the EV9 achieved even higher marks by safeguarding all critical body areas of simulated six- and ten-year-old passengers. Euro NCAP particularly noted the EV9’s adaptable airbags and its smart child presence detection system.

High-strength Electric-Global Modular Platform

During evaluations of the EV9’s safety assist technologies, Euro NCAP highlighted the effectiveness of its Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system. This system demonstrated adept responses to other vehicles, successfully avoiding collisions across most test scenarios.

Euro NCAP also spotlighted additional safety features of the EV9. The vehicle’s Lane Keep Assist (LKA) gently corrects its trajectory when drifting from the lane and intervenes more decisively in critical situations. The speed assistance system accurately identifies local speed limits, affording the driver the option to set the limiter automatically via the system.

The EV9’s safety rating is further strengthened by its robust Electric Global Modular Platform (e-GMP) and sturdy body structure. Coupled with an array of active driver-assist and safety features, this solidifies the EV9’s reputation for offering maximum convenience and safety on the roads.