2024 Kia EV9 vs 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV

The 2024 Kia EV9 presented a bold evolution in Kia's electric vehicle lineup, maintaining the brand's signature design while incorporating modern, angular elements. Its exterior featured a blockier aesthetic, reminiscent of digital clock numbers, with octagonal wheel arches and a sharply angled rear window. The lighting design was particularly innovative, with the "Star Map" daytime running lights and the "Digital Tiger Face" grille, offering a futuristic touch. The top Land trim included a Digital Pattern Lighting Grille, adding a constellation of light points visible when the vehicle was on, and owners could purchase additional lighting patterns.

In contrast, the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV marked a significant departure from its traditional SUV roots, adopting a more aggressive and modern design. Built on the General Motors Ultium platform, it shared a long wheelbase with the Cadillac Lyriq, giving it a stretched appearance. The Blazer EV's styling included a tall hood, a reimagined front end, and boomerang-shaped taillights, providing a more assertive look compared to other electric SUVs. The vehicle was available in LT and RS trims, with the RS featuring a blacked-out front fascia and larger wheels. The interior of the RS and SS models offered a sporty feel with large round air vents and optional red leather upholstery, although some interior components felt less robust.

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, with a larger 99.8-kWh battery, provided a range of 489 kilometres but slightly reduced horsepower to 201. The top Land trim featured all-wheel drive with dual motors, delivering 379 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a range of 451 kilometres for the base and Premium Package versions. The GT-Line prioritized performance, offering 435 kilometres of range. The EV9's regenerative braking system was adjustable, allowing for a natural driving experience, and it featured fast charging capabilities, reaching 80% charge in 25 minutes on a high-speed DC fast charger.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV offered a single-motor rear-wheel drive with 340 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, and a dual-motor all-wheel drive with 288 hp and 333 lb-ft of torque. The RWD model had a 102-kWh battery, while the AWD version came with an 85-kWh pack. A forthcoming Blazer EV SS would feature a dual-motor AWD powertrain with 557 hp and 648 lb-ft of torque, capable of accelerating from zero to 96 km/h in under four seconds. The Blazer EV RS models demonstrated strong acceleration, with the AWD version providing better traction. The vehicle's handling was precise, though the stiff suspension compromised comfort on rough roads. The regenerative braking system was adjustable, enhancing driver involvement.

The 2024 Kia EV9 stood out with its spacious third row, offering 1,004 millimetres of headroom, surpassing competitors like 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 on higher trims. Cargo space was competitive, with 572 litres behind the third row, expandable to 1,231 litres with the third row folded, and 2,313 litres with only the front-row seats in place. The interior featured a "floating" centre console, providing ample storage space, though the shallow top-closing cubby might disappoint some.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV offered a spacious interior, though headroom and legroom were similar to the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6. The driving position was not as commanding as traditional SUVs, and the high side sills and deep dashboard created a unique feel. Cargo space measured 722 litres with the second row in place and 1,673 litres with the seats folded, less than the gasoline Blazer but more than the EV6. The Blazer EV lacked a frunk but featured a "presence activated" liftgate. The interior provided ample small-item storage, though some controls were moved to the touchscreen, requiring adjustment.

The 2024 Kia EV9 featured a three-screen curved display, with a 12.3-inch driver information display, a 5-inch Climate Display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a wireless charging pad as standard. Higher trims offered a 14-speaker Meridian Premium Audio system and a head-up display. The EV9's connectedness was notable, with over-the-air updates allowing owners to purchase additional features from the Kia Connect store, offering future-proofing and customization options.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV introduced a Google-based infotainment system with built-in Google apps, though it lacked standalone Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It featured a 17.7-inch touchscreen and an 11-inch digital instrument cluster, with sharp graphics and built-in route planning. The system supported over-the-air updates, promising new features over time. The user experience was generally positive, though the touchscreen's angle might inconvenience passengers. The Blazer EV also offered a hands-free start sequence, marking a shift towards a high-tech feel.

The 2024 Kia EV9 came with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control with navigation-based machine learning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and forward collision avoidance. Some features, like the Blind-spot View Monitor and reverse parking collision avoidance assist, were reserved for higher trims. The EV9 received the highest rating from Euro NCAP, though ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV included standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. The Super Cruise hands-free driver assist system was standard on SS and optional on RS trims. Crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.