2024 Kia EV9 vs 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Kia EV9 presented a bold new direction for Kia's electric vehicles, while still maintaining a familiar SUV aesthetic. Its exterior design was characterized by a blockier style, reminiscent of digital clock numbers, with octagonal wheel arches and sharply angled rear windows. The lighting signature was a standout feature, 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 only when the vehicle was on, and owners could purchase additional lighting patterns.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in three trims in Canada, maintained its fifth-generation design without revisions. It featured a chunky, boxy look with a long wheelbase and flat hood. The pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps aligned with Hyundai's design aesthetic, and the brand offered vibrant colours like Terracotta Orange and Atlantis Blue. However, the rear design suffered from mismatched proportions, with taillights positioned lower than ideal. Each trim had specific wheels, and the off-road-focused XRT trim added chrome and black trim, along with black roof rails.

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 a 370-kilometre range. The Wind model, with a larger 99.8-kWh battery, provided a 489-kilometre range but 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, and 435 kilometres for the GT-Line. The EV9's power delivery was smooth, and its regenerative braking system was adjustable, offering a natural feel. Fast charging capability allowed the EV9 to charge from 10 to 80 percent in 25 minutes on a high-speed DC fast charger.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, with all-wheel drive standard across the lineup. The eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission handled shifting, though there was noticeable turbo lag and occasional slow downshifts. The Santa Fe Hybrid combined a 1.6-litre engine with an electric motor for 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The XRT trim featured 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, improving off-road geometry. However, the Santa Fe was not designed for rugged off-roading, better suited for graded dirt roads.

The 2024 Kia EV9 stood out with its spacious third row, offering 1,004 millimetres of headroom, surpassing competitors like the Kia Telluride and BMW X7. 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 EV9's interior featured a "floating" centre console, providing storage space, though the shallow top-closing cubby might disappoint.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered ample space, with the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats had an adjustable cushion angle, and both the second and third rows could be folded with a button in the rear cargo area. Folding the third row provided 1,148 litres of space, and folding the second row expanded it to 2,267 litres. With all rows occupied, there was still 413 litres of space. The rear opening was wider and taller, making it easier to load items. Most trims could tow 1,587 kilograms, with the XRT trim capable of towing 2,040 kilograms.

The 2024 Kia EV9 featured a three-screen curved display, including 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, along with a wireless charging pad. 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 and the Kia Connect store allowing owners to purchase additional features and upgrades.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe included a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster, with navigation available on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad. The digital key feature allowed unlocking and starting the car with a phone or Apple watch. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display. Bluelink app connectivity provided remote access to climate control and vehicle alerts, with over-the-air updates ensuring the latest software.

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. However, some features were reserved for higher trims. The EV9 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA but received the highest rating from Euro NCAP.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a range of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and forward collision avoidance. Higher trims added features like rear parking collision avoidance and Highway Drive Assist. The NHTSA gave the Santa Fe a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it "Good" in most categories, with "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and LATCH.