Kia EV9 named German Luxury Car of the Year

The brand new Kia EV9 electric SUV has been named the German Luxury Car of the Year for 2024. The EV9 - Kia's first electric vehicle to feature three rows of seats - triumphed against eight other models from various manufacturers. 

The award-winning Kia EV9 is available to order now at Chapelhouse Kia in Southport, St Helens and Warrington, with units to be delivered later on in 2023. 

“With its extraordinarily variable and spacious interior, striking design, and ultra-fast charging technology, [the EV9] sets new standards in the SUV segment,” said Won-Jeong Jeong, President of Kia Europe.

“We are very proud that the EV9 was named 'German Luxury Car of the Year' even before its launch, as it is a strong signal that the Kia brand and its electrification strategy are recognised and awarded by German industry experts.” 

A jury of 27 trade journalists tested and evaluated a total of 48 new models. The German Car of the Year (GCOTY) competition is divided into five categories, including 'Compact', 'Premium', and 'Luxury', as well as 'New Energy' and 'Performance'. 

Each category champion, including the EV9, will now go through to the GCOTY final, where an overall winner will be chosen. .

The EV9 is Kia's largest model currently on sale in Europe. It is based on the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) - Kia's EV battery architecture. It benefits from 800-volt ultra-fast charging technology. The 99.8 kWh battery can charge from 10-80% in as little as 25 minutes, meaning you won't be hanging around at the charging station for long. 

The highly impressive 336-mile driving range will help ease range anxiety on those longer journeys too. 

Three trim levels are available, including the 'Air, 'GT-Line', and range-topping 'GT-Line S'. 

The EV9 offers a high level of comfort in any specification. For example, the 'GT-Line' version has electrically adjustable 'relax' seats in the front row as standard. These can be moved into a comfortable reclining position while parked or during charging stops. 

The EV9 is available as a seven-seater, or as a six-seater with two individual seats in the second row. There is a choice of relaxation seats, like those in the front row, or swivel seats which can turn 90-degrees towards the open door or 180-degrees towards the passengers in the third row, creating a sociable, relaxing space.