2024 Kia EV9 vs 2025 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Kia EV9 presented a bold evolution in Kia's electric vehicle lineup, showcasing a design that was both familiar and futuristic. Its exterior maintained the brand's signature style, enhanced with a modern, blockier aesthetic reminiscent of digital clock numbers. The vehicle's body lines elegantly followed the octagonal wheel arches, and the rear window sharply angled upwards, almost meeting the roof spoiler. The lighting signature was a standout feature, with the "Star Map" daytime running lights creating a sleek outline of the new "Digital Tiger Face." The LED headlights varied between dashes and dots, depending on the trim, and the top Land trim offered a Digital Pattern Lighting Grille, adding a constellation of light points visible when the vehicle was on. Owners had the option to purchase additional lighting patterns, adding a personalized touch to their EV9.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Sienna retained its minivan roots while attempting to infuse more style into its design. The trapezoidal grille gave it a distinctive look, though it did little to shake off the "Dustbuster" metaphor. The Sienna featured upswept body lines, hidden sliding door tracks, and swollen rear fenders that wrapped into a rear end mimicking the front's cinched look. The narrow taillights with sharp corner spears added a touch of elegance, drawing a family resemblance to the Camry sedan. The Platinum package introduced new flower-petal wheel designs, replacing the previous split-five-spoke design. Despite these efforts, the Sienna still looked like a minivan, prioritizing practicality over style. The Magnetic Grey paint colour on the Limited with the Platinum package added a touch of sophistication to the lineup, which included LE, XLE, and XSE trims.

The 2024 Kia EV9 offered a range of powertrain options, 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, reduced horsepower to 201 but extended the range to 489 kilometres. 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. During testing in Napa Valley, the EV9 GT-Line impressed with smooth power delivery and refined handling, though it lacked the aggressive acceleration typical of electric vehicles. The regenerative braking system was adjustable, allowing for a natural feel comparable to gas-powered vehicles. Fast charging capability promised a 10 to 80 percent charge in 25 minutes on a high-speed DC fast charger.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, on the other hand, featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The front-wheel-drive model came standard, while the all-wheel-drive version added a rear-mounted electric motor. The net horsepower was 245, which was modest for a vehicle seating up to eight and towing up to 1,587 kilograms. Despite expectations of sluggishness, the Sienna performed adequately, with immediate torque from the electric assist motor(s) preventing it from feeling slow. The hybrid powertrain prioritized fuel economy, with an official rating of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. However, during testing, the Sienna averaged 8.9 L/100 km. The handling was predictable and secure, though not particularly engaging, and the brakes showed signs of strain during a mountain descent. The Sienna XSE offered a sport-tuned suspension for a slightly more dynamic drive, but overall, the ride was smooth and absorbent.

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 high and flat load floor facilitated easy luggage retrieval. Up front, storage space was adequate, with a "floating" centre console and a large open compartment on the floor.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna offered practical seating and cargo solutions, with power-adjustable, heated front chairs standard, and ventilated leather seats in the Limited with Platinum package. The second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were popular with teenagers, and the refrigerated compartment on the back of the centre console was a hit. The third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably, and the sliding side doors made loading and unloading easy. Storage space was generous, though finding secure spots for one-litre water bottles proved challenging. The Sienna offered 949 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 2,129 litres with the third row stowed. Maximum cargo capacity was 2,860 litres, less than rivals due to the non-removable second-row seats.

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. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a wireless charging pad, were standard. Higher trims offered a 14-speaker Meridian Premium Audio system and a head-up display. The EV9's connectedness was a highlight, with over-the-air updates and the Kia Connect store allowing owners to purchase additional features and upgrades. This future-proofing approach offered flexibility and customization options for both new and used EV9 buyers.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna's higher-spec models featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) system. The Limited with Platinum package included a four-zone automatic climate control system, a 10-inch head-up display, and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. The TAM system offered four connected services plans, with varying subscription periods. The digital assistant in the Drive Connect plan responded accurately to commands, though features were unavailable if the subscription lapsed. The Sienna Limited paired the infotainment system with a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system, though sound quality was muddied by excessive bass. The four-zone climate control system and digital rearview camera were appreciated, though the HUD lacked blind-spot warnings.

The 2024 Kia EV9 came with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), 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 on higher trims. Forward collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were included, though reverse parking collision avoidance assist was reserved for top packages. The EV9 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA but received the highest rating from Euro NCAP.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, which included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna also had automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The lane-centring assist performed well, though the adaptive cruise control required human intervention during sudden braking events. The Sienna introduced a new rear-seat reminder system, alerting drivers to movement within the cabin. The NHTSA gave the Sienna a five-star overall rating, though it scored lower in frontal crash tests.