Kia EV9 Outperforms Competitors in German Auto-Built Electric Large SUV Evaluation
May 15, 2025
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Autobilt, published in Germany, the home of the automobile industry, is a highly trusted medium for European consumers, and their evaluation results are used as an important criterion for vehicle purchase.
In particular, this comparative evaluation is significant in that it is a competition between the two electric large SUVs selected as "2024 World Vehicle of the Year (EV9)" and "2025 World Luxury Vehicle (EX90)."
The evaluation was conducted on EV9 GT-line (AWD) and EX90 twin motor AWD models in seven categories, including ▲body ▲ convenience ▲ powertrain ▲ driving performance ▲ connectivity ▲ eco-friendliness ▲ economy.
EV9 outperformed EX90 (571 points) with a total score of 589 points, with three categories: body, powertrain, and economy.
In the
body category, EV9 was evaluated to meet the needs of the European market for usability in recognition of its practicality and design completeness with a large interior space using a long wheelbase of 3,100mm, two-row independent seats, and a loading space of up to 2,393L (when folded in two rows).
In addition, EV9 scored high, outperforming or equalizing EX90 in various detailed evaluations, including overall driving quality, responsiveness, top speed, and total cost, in the powertrain category evaluating the completeness of the drive system.
Auto Bild's actual measurements showed that EV9 recorded 5.2 seconds from standstill to 100km/h and 3.5 seconds from overtaking acceleration from 80km/h to 120km/h, surpassing EX90, which recorded 5.8 seconds and 3.7 seconds, respectively.
The EV9 beat the EX90 despite the difference in output between the two vehicles, Auto Bild said, explaining that the EV9 achieved excellent acceleration performance thanks to its vehicle weight and high-efficiency electrification system, which is about 120 kilograms lighter than the EX90. ※ Highest output: EV9 GT-line 283 kW (385 horsepower), EX90 twin motor AWD 300 kW (408 horsepower))
EV9 proved the outstanding performance of the Battery Management System (BMS) by recording better overall than the EX90 in real-run evaluation.
Auto Bild's test drive of about 155 km under non-routine conditions showed EV9 had a total cost of 27.9 kWh/100 km, about 20% higher than EX90 (33.5 kWh/100 km). In response to the results, Autobild said, "EV9's battery management system is much more efficient."
In addition, the 800V system-based EV9 supported a charging speed of up to 210 kW on specification, allowing it to be charged in about 24 minutes from 10% to 80% of the battery capacity, but the EX90 supported a 250 kW charging speed, but due to the nature of the 400V system, the actual charging time was 32 minutes, which was longer than the EV9. ※ Based on German specification)
In the driving performance category, the EX90 showed an oversteer phenomenon in which the rear collapsed during high-speed cornering even though it was equipped with an air suspension, and the EV9 was evaluated as showing a stable driving sense and limited performance in road changes and corners based on the tightly coordinated chassis.
EV9 showed a clear competitive advantage in terms of economic feasibility, which evaluates vehicle price competitiveness and warranty conditions. "EV9 offers the same level of performance as the EX90 at a much more reasonable price," Autobild said, noting the prices of the two models, which differ by nearly 20,000 euros (about 31.5 million won).
EV9 has won the "2024 World Car Awards" and the "2024 Electric Vehicle of the Year" since its launch in 2023, and has proved its unrivaled competitiveness by sweeping the world's leading automobile awards, including the "2024 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year" and the "2024 Women's Worldwide Car of the Year" SUV category and overall winner. A Kia official said, "We are proud that the E-GMP-based electrification technology and EV9's marketability have once again been proven through this Autobild evaluation," adding, "We will continue to provide high value to customers through various electric vehicle lineups."
Editor Song Moon-cheol mc.song@carguy.kr
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
