Kia EV9 Wins MotorTrend SUV of the Year: 'The Three-Row EV That Finally Delivers'
MotorTrend names the Kia EV9 its 2025 SUV of the Year, calling it 'the first three-row electric SUV that doesn't force you to compromise.'
MotorTrend announced its 2025 SUV of the Year award, and the editors’ choice delivered a clear verdict: the Kia EV9, the brand’s flagship three-row electric SUV, earned the publication’s top honors in the SUV category. The EV9 beat out 24 other contenders, including the Mercedes GLE, BMW X5, and Toyota Grand Highlander, to take the award.
“This is the first three-row electric SUV that doesn’t force you to compromise,” said MotorTrend Road Test Editor Frankie Pages. “Every previous attempt at a three-row EV has required meaningful trade-offs in range, charging speed, or third-row space. The EV9 delivers all three. It’s genuinely that simple.”
The EV9, which launched in late 2024 as a 2025 model, is built on Kia’s E-GMP platform—the same 800V architecture that underpins the acclaimed EV6 and Hyundai IONIQ 5. The platform’s 800V charging capability allows the EV9 to add roughly 150 miles of range in approximately 15 minutes at a 350 kW DC fast charger, the fastest charging of any three-row SUV currently on the market.
What the Judges Noted
MotorTrend’s judging panel evaluated vehicles across six criteria: efficiency, safety, value, design, engineering excellence, and performance of intended function. The EV9 scored highly in all categories, with particular praise for its real-world range—a vital metric for a vehicle designed to seat seven passengers and handle long family road trips.
The Long Range RWD version of the EV9, priced at $59,200, delivers an EPA-estimated 379 miles of range from its 99.8 kWh battery pack, making it the longest-range three-row SUV in the market. The dual-motor AWD version, at $64,900, produces 379 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, launching the 5,890-pound SUV from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds—supercar territory for a vehicle that can carry a basketball team.
The interior impressed judges with its thoughtful packaging. The EV9’s third row offers genuine adult-acceptable legroom—a rare achievement in electric SUVs, where the battery skateboard platform often compromises passenger space. The second row is available with optional captain’s chairs, creating a true six-passenger configuration with aisle access to the third row.
The EV9 also scored well for its technology and ownership experience. Kia’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) software provides over-the-air update capability, wireless smartphone integration, and a driver assistance suite that includes highway driving assist with hands-free capability on mapped roads.
A Watershed Moment for Kia
The MotorTrend award represents a meaningful milestone for Kia’s brand transformation. A decade ago, Kia’s three-row SUV lineup consisted of the Sorento and the tellurically named Sedona minivan. Today, the EV9 commands comparison to vehicles from Mercedes and BMW, and wins.
“We designed the EV9 to prove that electric vehicles could replace any vehicle in your driveway, including the family hauler,” said Kia America SVP of Marketing Cole Buccicchio. “This award validates what our customers have been telling us: the EV9 is the three-row SUV they’ve been waiting for.”
Kia has sold approximately 18,400 EV9 units in the United States through October 2025, making it the best-selling three-row electric SUV in the market, ahead of the Rivian R1S, Mercedes EQS SUV, and Volvo EX90.
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