Kia EV9 Wins 2024 Mama Favorite Plug-In Vehicle Award

Back in 2020, the Kia Telluride was not only the largest SUV in the Kia lineup, but it was also quickly becoming the most awarded SUV in history. After winning the “Triple Crown” of Automotive Awards with NACTOY 2020, Car Driver10 Best, and MotorTrend SUV of the Year, the Telluride has been doing a victory dance ever since. Most likely the inspiration for the boxy all-electric SUV, the Kia EV9, the same energy continues to win awards. For 2024, the Kia EV9 won the Midwest Automotive Media Association’s (Mama) Favorite Plug-In Vehicle Award.

The Kia EV9 is the new flagship of the Kia Corp, following the great success of the automaker’s first all-electric vehicle with no gasoline predecessor, the Kia EV6. MAMA chose the Kia EV9 as its Favorite Plug-in Vehicle Award for the outstanding performance of the 2024 Kia EV9 SUV, powered by a 76.1 kWh battery standard, able to generate 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Available in fire trims, the power output varies across the lineup. Designed with the Kia “Opposites United” philosophy, the Kia EV9 is boxy yet sleek with the new pattern for Kia battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), including Star Map Lighting in the front fascia and vertical headlights. And the interior is more digital than ever before.

As soon as consumers enter the Kia EV9, they’re greeted by 24 inches of digital screens, including a 12.3-inch touchscreen display and 12.3-inch instrument cluster display as the standard setup for the 2024 Kia EV9. For an added 12-inch heads-up display, consumers will find that the Kia EV9 GT-Line, able to generate 379 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. The entire lineup comes with smart-touch haptic controls and Kia Connect. With over-the-air (OTA) updates, Kia Connect on the EV9 will eventually be able to support the download and installation of apps for more personalized options.

Let’s not forget about safety. A strong selling point for Kia models, the automaker has been upgrading its suite of safety features every year. Just take a look at the long list of standard advanced safety features: blind-spot collision warning, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, forward collision warning, forward collision-avoidance assist (with pedestrian, cyclist, junction turning and detection, oncoming lane change and side & evasive steering detection), rear cross-traffic alert collision avoidance-assist, a parking distance warning for the rear and front, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, lane following assist 2, navigation-based smart cruise control with stop & go plus curve, smart cruise control with stop & go, highway driving assist 2, intelligent speed limit, a driver attention warning, and safe exit assist. It only gets more advanced with a blind-spot view monitor, parking distance warning for the side, parking collision-avoidance assist in reverse, and surround view monitor with 3D view on the Kia EV9 Land and GT trims.

“The three-row EV9 builds upon all of the strengths of the gas-powered Telluride: striking styling, an upscale and roomy interior, premium on-road dynamics, and of course a generous mix of the brand’s latest and greatest technology…As the industry pivots towards EVs, it’s important consumers have approachable, capable, and impressive products to choose from, and MAMA’s attentive nationwide membership of journalists, analysts, and other media professionals clearly recognized that when crowning the EV9 as its Favorite Plug-In Vehicle.” – Robert Duffer, President, MAMA

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Photo Source/Copyright: Kia Media