September 1, 2023 – Following its debut in the five-metre class, Kia immediately won over the 27-member jury of the “German Car of the Year 2024” (GCOTY) award. The three-row Kia EV9 electric SUV, has been selected in the “Luxury” category in the German Car of the Year 2024 competition. This includes all models with a base price of over 70,000 Euro. The Kia EV9 prevailed against 8 other models which were in the running.
The Kia EV9 is now the second model available as a dedicated battery-electric vehicle following in the footsteps of the multi-award-winning EV6, which was named European Car of the Year 2022. The Kia EV9 has been available to order in Europe since July, and the first units intended for European customers will be delivered later this year.
“As Kia’s new flagship, the EV9 plays a pivotal role in transforming our brand into a leading EV provider. With its extraordinarily variable and spacious interior, striking design, and ultra-fast charging technology, it sets new standards in the SUV segment,” said Won-Jeong Jeong, President of Kia Europe. “We are very proud that the EV9 was named 'German Luxury Car of the Year' even before it is launched, as it is a strong signal that the Kia brand and its electrification strategy are recognized and awarded by German industry experts.”
In the GCOTY competition, which was held for the sixth time this year, a jury of 27 trade journalists tested and evaluated a total of 48 new models. The competition is divided into five categories: “Compact,” “Premium,” and “Luxury” as well as “New Energy” and “Performance.” The jury will now select the overall winner from the five best in class, which will be announced at the beginning of October.
Long-range high-tech SUV with maximally variable seat configuration
The EV9 is the largest Kia model offered in Europe to date. Like the EV6, it is based on the E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform) electric platform and is also capable of 800-volt ultra-fast charging technology, giving it one of the best charging performances in its class. Under ideal conditions, the 99.8 kWh battery can gain up to 239km of driving range in as little as 15 minutes of charging.
The eSUV is available with rear-wheel drive powered by a 150kW motor with an all-electric driving range of up to 541km, according to WLTP, or as an all-wheel-drive vehicle powered by twin 141kW electric motors with an all-electric range of 497km (WLTP). The AWD version is also available as a sporty GT-line version, which can go from 0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and has a top speed of 200km/h.
The EV9 also offers a high level of comfort during breaks. For example, the GT-line version has electrically adjustable “relax” seats in the front row as standard. These can be moved into a comfortable reclining position while parked or during charging stops. The EV9 is available as a seven-seater or as a six-seater with two individual seats in the second row. There is a choice of relaxation seats, like those in the front row, or swivel seats that can turn 90 degrees towards the open door or 180 degrees towards the passengers in the third row.
The rear-wheel drive base model offers a comprehensive range of standard equipment. This includes bi-color artificial leather seat covers, three-zone automatic climate control, a sensor-controlled tailgate, electrically folding and re-opening backrests of the third row of seats, automatic flush door handles, V2L function to use the battery as a power source, fingerprint recognition and - as a Kia premiere - a digital car key (“Digital Key 2.0”). The standard range of assistance includes Highway Driving Assist 2 with Lane Following Assist 2 (LFA 2), Forward Collision-avoidance Assist 2 (FCA 2) with turning function and cross-traffic detection, and Smart Cruise Control. In addition, the GT-line features adaptive dual-LED headlights, the all-round view camera Blind View Monitor (BVM), Blind-spot Collision-avoidance Assist (BCA), and Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 (RSPA 2), which is available as an optional upgrade for the base line.
