The Kia EV9 has been named DrivingElectric’s ‘Car of the Year’ in its 2024 awards, which mark the best new electric vehicles.
As well as winning the overall ‘Car of the Year’ award, EV9 - priced from £64,995 - also scooped the ‘Best Premium Electric Car’ prize.
The award comes as the EV9 has been given a five-star rating in the latest Euro NCAP safety tests.
The DrivingElectric Awards celebrate the best new electrified cars and vans that money can buy. Each category winner is decided by the publication’s judging panel, taking into account factors such as overall value for money, performance, and practicality.
The EV9 continues to make an impressive name for itself in the UK, prior to first customer deliveries of the 7-seat EV commencing in January 2024.
DrivingElectric’s panel of judges commented on the EV9’s double award-win: “The Kia EV9 alters the electric landscape, offering huge space and a premium feel – all at a sub-premium price. No EV offers this kind of practicality for the money.”
Paul Philpott, president and CEO of Kia UK, said: “The EV9 was already one of the most anticipated cars of 2023, and our UK dealer network has received more interest in this car ahead of launch than almost any other Kia vehicle to date. Our new flagship EV takes Kia into a new segment and puts us up against some very keen competition. But our established reputation as an electrification leader makes this an entirely natural – and hotly awaited – next step for the brand, and we're delighted to see the car recognised already by DrivingElectric for what it offers customers.”
This is not Kia’s first success at the DrivingElectric Awards: last year the brand collected a quartet of awards for the EV6 GT, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro EV and previous generation e-Niro.
The Kia EV9 offers a choice of 6-seat or 7-seat configurations, a rear-wheel, single motor powertrain or an all-wheel, dual motor powertrain, as well as three comprehensively equipped trim levels.
In the Euro NCAP tests, the EV9 achieved 84 percent for adult occupant protection, 88 percent for child occupant protection, 76 percent for vulnerable road users including pedestrians and 83 percent in the safety assist category, which rates a vehicle based on the availability of crash avoidance technologies.
Prices correct as of 06/12/2023 and are subject to change.
