Kia EV9 - Reliability and safety

KIA was third in the 2024 Auto Express Driver Power owner satisfaction survey of brands, behind only Subaru and Tesla. Powertrains was the only category where the Korean firm fell outside of the top 10.

The EV9 bagged a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2023. An active bonnet system helps to mitigate injury risk for pedestrians, while a 360-degree camera system is standard on every model to help with low-speed driving.

Safety experts Euro NCAP awarded the Kia EV9 the maximum five-star rating when tested in 2023. Regarding similarly priced large electric SUVs tested around the same time, the Lexus RZ achieved better results in adult, child, and vulnerable road user protection, but the EV9 outperformed it in the safety assistance category.

The Kia EV9 comes stacked with safety technology as standards, such as autonomous emergency braking to help prevent or mitigate low-speed collisions with other vehicles and vulnerable road users in town. It also has a lane keep system to help keep you within your lane on the motorway and a driver monitoring system to let you know when to take a break. A traffic sign recognition system also lets you know important information, such as speed limits.

All EV9s come with blindspot monitoring to warn you of any cars that are along side when you go to change lanes, plus a 360-degree camera system with front and rear parking sensors to help when parking. Both of those are handy for such a large car, and are welcome standard features – especially when many rivals (often more expensive ones) make you pay extra for such features.

Warranty

All Kias get a seven-year warranty and that puts the EV9 clear of all its premium SUV rivals, except Lexus, which offers up to 10 years’ cover. This is only valid if annual services are carried out at a main dealer for the duration.

The 12 months of roadside assistance provided by Kia is a little stingy when plenty of manufacturers can cover up to three years.

Servicing

EVs have far fewer moving parts than ICE cars, so there aren’t any regular oil or spark plug changes. Regenerative braking means discs and pads need less frequent attention, too. As a result, maintenance tends to be less expensive, which is why (as of 2024) a three-year service plan for the EV9 comes to a reasonable £439.