Kia EV9 Earns Top Marks in Segment Comparison
Leads in Body, Powertrain, and Cost-Efficiency
Kia announced on May 14 that the Kia EV9 received high marks in a recent comparison test of large electrified SUVs conducted by Germany's leading automotive magazine, Auto Bild, outperforming the Volvo EX90.
Auto Bild, published in Germany, is a highly trusted outlet among European consumers. Its evaluation results are often used as an important reference when purchasing vehicles.
This particular comparison drew industry attention as it featured a head-to-head between two large electrified SUVs: the "2024 World Car of the Year" (EV9) and the "2025 World Luxury Car of the Year" (EX90). The evaluation covered seven categories: body, convenience, powertrain, driving performance, connectivity, eco-friendliness, and cost-efficiency, with the EV9 GT-line (AWD) and EX90 Twin Motor AWD models as the test vehicles.
The EV9 outperformed its competitor in three categories?body, powertrain, and cost-efficiency?and received comparable scores in the remaining categories, achieving a total score of 589 points, surpassing the EX90's 571 points.
According to Auto Bild's measurements, the EV9 accelerated from a standstill to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds and from 80 km/h to 120 km/h in 3.5 seconds, outperforming the EX90, which recorded 5.8 seconds and 3.7 seconds, respectively. Auto Bild explained, "The EV9 demonstrated superior acceleration performance thanks to its approximately 120 kg lighter vehicle weight and highly efficient electrification system compared to the EX90."
The EV9 also demonstrated excellent energy efficiency during real-world driving tests, proving the outstanding performance of its battery management system (BMS). Auto Bild conducted a test drive of approximately 155 km under unusually harsh conditions. The EV9 achieved an energy consumption of 27.9 kWh/100 km, about 20% more efficient than the EX90's 33.5 kWh/100 km.
Additionally, the EV9, equipped with an 800V system, supports a maximum charging speed of 210 kW, enabling charging from 10% to 80% battery capacity in about 24 minutes. In contrast, while the EX90 supports a 250 kW charging speed, its 400V system resulted in an actual charging time of 32 minutes, which is longer than that of the EV9.
The EV9 also held an advantage in the cost-efficiency category, which evaluates vehicle price competitiveness and warranty conditions. Auto Bild noted, "The EV9 offers performance on par with the EX90 at a much more reasonable price," highlighting the nearly 20,000 euro (approximately 31.5 million KRW) price difference between the two models.
A Kia representative stated, "We are proud that the Auto Bild evaluation has once again validated the E-GMP-based electrification technology and the market appeal of the EV9," adding, "We will continue to deliver high value to customers through a diverse lineup of electric vehicles."
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