The brand-new Kia EV9 is slowly but surely making its way to North America. Some lucky buyers have already taken delivery. Next year, we expect the brand to ramp up production and put more customers behind the steering wheel of this good-looking three-row battery-electric SUV. But should you trust that it will protect you and your family in case of a crash or a minor accident? The answer is "yes." Here's why.
Ever since the Rivian R1S made its debut, everyone who wanted a zero-emission three-row SUV expected more options to appear on the market. Not many Canadians or Americans are willing to get a pricier Model X or a smaller Model Y.
Enter Kia EV9. With a fresh face and a size comparable to the popular Telluride, the crossover SUV came to steal market share from Rivian and Tesla. It might actually succeed!
A few days ago, Kia confirmed that it delivered the very first EV9 in the US to a couple who traded in their gas-powered Telluride for the all-electric crossover SUV. Naturally, now that the vehicle is real and ready for action, you might wonder if the EV9 is safe.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tested the versions that will be made available to American buyers. It revealed the single-motor EV9 Long Range RWD to be the most efficient, with a consumption of 38 kWh per 100 miles (2.6 miles per kWh) and a total range of 304 miles.
Sadly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) didn't test the EV yet. But the Europeans did! Euro NCAP gave the EV9 a five-star rating. It obtained the following individual scores:
84% for adult occupants;
88% for child occupants;
76% for vulnerable road users;
83% for the safety assist systems.
Euro NCAP tested the all-wheel-drive EV9 but confirmed that the ratings apply to the rear-wheel-drive variants as well.
Photo: Euro NCAP on YouTube
The organization says the vehicle offers great overall protection to passengers of any size. The video below shows how the EV performed when put to the ultimate test: sacrificing itself to protect the people inside. Crumple zones are vital in such situations.
The detailed report is available in .PDF form below if you want to check out exactly where the EV9 performed best.
Finally, are you terrified of what the "Kia Boyz" can do to your brand-new South Korean vehicle? Don't be. The brand's latest vehicles come with an engine immobilizer and updated security. On top of that, nefarious people following harmful social media trends are not savvy enough to use advanced theft methods like the key fob relay attack.
But if you still can't stomach buying a Kia or Hyundai because of the "Kia Boyz" trend, don't forget that Genesis is out there with EVs of its own that can come with innovative "easy access" features like facial recognition.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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