Kia EV9 tops German automotive magazine Auto Zeitung's electric car comparison

Kia EV9 has been ranked first in a comparison of electric SUVs by a German automotive publication, beating out local premium brands. The EV9 was awarded the '2024 World Car of the Year' in New York City in March, demonstrating its global appeal by topping the rankings in Germany's leading automotive publication.

The EV9 was recently ranked first in a comparison of three electric SUVs, including the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 and Audi Q8 e-tron, by German automotive publication Auto Zeitung. Along with Auto Bild and Auto Motor Und Sport, Auto Zeitung is one of the three most trusted automotive publications in Germany.

The comparative evaluation was conducted across five categories: body, driving comfort, powertrain, driving dynamics, and environment/cost.

The Kia EV9 (3,353 points) was ranked first in three out of five categories: body, dynamic driving performance, and eco-economy. It scored higher than the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 (3,317 points) and the Audi Q8 e-tron (3,233 points), proving its desirability.

"The EV9 deservedly won the first comparison test with an electric car from a German premium brand," said Auto Zeitung, "its competitive price and excellent performance are unrivalled."

The EV9 was praised for having plenty of interior space and being comfortable in the third row. In particular, the body scored the highest in eight out of nine categories. In the dynamic driving performance category, the EV9 scored higher than its competitors in the braking distance (cold), braking distance (hot), and traction categories, and in the eco-economy category, the EV9 scored well in the price and warranty categories.

The EV9 is a futuristic model that embodies the essence of Kia's design philosophy, 'Offerit United', and is the company's flagship electric SUV that blends luxury, eco-friendliness and more.

In particular, it is equipped with innovative electrification features such as a spacious cabin and a variety of second-row seating options, a large 99.8-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery, a 400-800 volt (V) fast charging system, and Vehicle to Load (V2L). In addition, it is a software-defined vehicle (SDV) with excellent product features such as the Kia Connect Store and over-the-air software updates (OTA).

In the automotive industry, there is a general consensus that the EV9's productivity is well-deserved. Prior to the Auto Jaitung comparison, the EV9 won two of the world's top three automotive awards, including the 2024 World Car of the Year and the 2024 North American Car of the Year, signalling to the world the productivity of domestic electric vehicles.

In addition, it has won prestigious automotive awards around the world, including the 2024 German Car of the Year Luxury Category, the 2024 UK Car of the Year, the 2024 Red Dot Award, the 2024 iF Design Award, the SUV of the Year by the Korea Automobile Journalists Association, and the Electric SUV of the Year by the Korea Automobile Journalists Association, solidifying its position as the "first mover of three-row electric SUVs" in the global automotive market.

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Photo Kia