Kia EV9 named ‘Car of the Year’ 2024 by DrivingElectric

The Kia EV9 has been named as the 'Car of the Year' at the 2024 DrivingElectric Awards, which celebrates the best new electric vehicles on the market. 

The EV9 showcased its overall quality too, by making it a double win, scooping the prize for 'Best Premium Electric Car'.

The DrivingElectric judging panel heaped praise on the EV9 for its overall value for money, performance, and practicality. They said: “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.” 

These latest awards for the game-changing EV9 come hot on the heels of it being crowned 'Best Family Car' by Top Gear and having been shortlisted for European Car of the Year.

The EV9 is Kia's first fully electric SUV, and the brand's first EV to feature three rows of seats. It combines premium build quality with increased sustainability, and stunning design and tech, with all-round practicality and lounge-style comfort. 

The top-of-the-range 'GT-Line S' trim is available with a six-seat or seven-seat configuration. The six-seat model features two individual “Captain's chairs” in the middle row, which can even rotate 180-degrees when the EV9 is stationary, so you can interact more closely with those in the rear seats. 

Not only that, but the EV9 has a driving range of up to 349 miles from a single charge - an outstanding return for a car of its size. In fact, the EV9 can charge 148 miles of range in just 15 minutes thanks to its 800V ultra-fast charging technology. 

All trim levels of the EV9 are powered by a 99.8kWh battery, including the entry level 'Air'. The higher 'GT-Line' and 'GT-Line S' specs offer all-wheel drive with a dual motor and an impressive 378 bhp.

Paul Philpott is the President and CEO of Kia UK. He added: “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 its 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.”