2024 Kia EV9 vs 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was characterized by its modernist and reductive design, which translated to a clean and simple aesthetic. This approach might not have appealed to those seeking a flashy luxury SUV, as Land Rover offered limited options for making the vehicle stand out, such as a Firenze Red paint colour and diamond-turned, multi-spoke 23-inch wheels. The test vehicle, finished in Eiger Grey with silver 23-inch wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, complemented by aluminum and shiny black trim, created a sophisticated atmosphere. The Range Rover Sport's design highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology in the taillights, contributing to its excellent aerodynamics with a drag coefficient of 0.29. The interior boasted a luxurious, high-tech appearance, featuring sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery, which added to the vehicle's overall appeal.

In contrast, the 2024 Kia EV9 introduced a fresh design direction for Kia EVs, while maintaining a distinctly Kia SUV look. Its exterior featured a blockier design reminiscent of digital clock numbers, with body lines following octagonal wheel arches and a sharply angled rear window. The lighting signature was a standout feature, with the "Star Map" daytime running lights outlining the "Digital Tiger Face" grille. The LED headlights varied in appearance depending on the trim, and the top Land trim offered a Digital Pattern Lighting Grille with additional light points. The EV9's design was a blend of innovation and familiarity, making it a unique addition to the Kia lineup.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and comfort with driver-focused engagement. It featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography trim, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft. The sold-out SV Edition One offered a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine. The Range Rover Sport's 395-hp inline-six provided ample power, accelerating to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. It had an eight-speed automatic transmission and an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, with a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms. The SUV's fuel efficiency averaged 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres, with a suburban highway drive returning 9.4 L/100 km. The Range Rover Sport's new vehicle architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35 percent, and its adaptive damping air suspension adjusted up to 500 times per second for optimal ride comfort and handling. However, it struggled to match the performance of sport-tuned SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz on twisty roads.

The 2024 Kia EV9 offered a range of powertrains, starting with the Light trim's single motor, rear-wheel-drive setup producing 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, with an EPA-estimated range of 370 kilometres. The Wind model featured a larger 99.8-kWh battery, reducing horsepower to 201 but extending the range to 489 kilometres. The top Land trim had all-wheel drive with dual motors, generating 379 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a range of 451 kilometres. The GT-Line prioritized performance, sacrificing some range for 435 kilometres. The EV9's power delivery was smooth and refined, with good handling and minimal body roll. Its regenerative braking system was adjustable, offering a natural feel comparable to gas-powered vehicles. The EV9's fast charging capability allowed it to go from 10 to 80 percent in 25 minutes on a high-speed DC fast charger.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained its Command Driving Position, offering a tall, airy feel with a low dashboard, upright windshield, and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with adjustable armrests. The Windsor leather upholstery was smooth and supple, with 20-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. The rear seat, however, was less accommodating, with limited legroom and hard front seatback panels. The cargo area offered 903 litres of space, expandable to 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded. The power liftgate and air suspension controls facilitated loading, and a full-size spare tire was included.

The 2024 Kia EV9 stood out with its spacious third row, offering 1,004 millimetres of headroom, surpassing the Kia Telluride, BMW X7, and Rivian R1S. Third-row legroom ranged from 783 to 813 mm, depending on the middle row's configuration. The EV9 could seat up to seven passengers, with second-row captain's chairs available in higher trims. Cargo space measured 572 litres behind the third row, expandable to 2,313 litres with only the front-row seats in place. The EV9's high and flat load floor made loading and unloading easier. The front storage space was adequate, with a floating centre console and a large open compartment on the floor.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment platform was often confusing and frustrating to use, with difficulties in accessing features and understanding its functions. The SUV's native digital assistant struggled with voice commands, failing to provide accurate directions. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power, along with Active Noise Cancellation.

The 2024 Kia EV9 took the curved screen concept to the next level with three screens in a single display. It included a 12.3-inch driver information display, a 5-inch Climate Display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a wireless charging pad. Higher trims featured a 14-speaker Meridian Premium Audio system. The EV9's connectedness was noteworthy, with over-the-air updates and the Kia Connect store offering additional features and upgrades. This future-proofing approach allowed owners to customize their vehicles over time.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with numerous safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Remote Park Assist was available, allowing the SUV to park itself using a smartphone app. However, the adaptive cruise control and steering assist technology were not as smooth or reliable as expected.

The 2024 Kia EV9 offered a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control with navigation-based machine learning and stop-and-go capabilities. Blind-spot collision avoidance assist and warning were standard, with the Blind-spot View Monitor available in higher trims. The EV9 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it received the highest rating from Euro NCAP.