Kia EV9 Wins Two Awards During 2024 NWAPA Mudfest Event
Spring is the perfect time to get a good look at the capabilities of new cars available on the market. It’s not quite the summer, and the elements of heat and humidity come with their own problems to tackle. In the spring, there’s leftover slush if your state has winter and snow, and if not, there’s plenty of showers and thunderstorms to whip up some mud. It’s a perfect setting for the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) Mudfest event that happens every year. In fact, celebrating 30 years in 2024, the 2024 NWAPA Mudfest event saw a well-known all-electric SUV take home a couple of titles. We know it as the Kia EV9.
“The EV9 is an exhilarating and capable electric vehicle, pushing boundaries with its remarkable performance and drivability….We are honored to receive these two accolades from NWAPA for the EV9, as this recognition is a testament to Kia’s excellence in producing vehicles that redefine industry standards and captivate consumers.” – Steven Center, COO & EVP, Kia America
Successor to the Kia EV6 hatchback, the first all-electric vehicle by Kia with no gasoline predecessor, the all-electric SUV was first teased during the 2022 Chicago Auto Show. It took some time for the EV9 to come to the States from Europe, but finally made a splash during the 2023 Monterey Car Week alongside the EV6. According to the sales for 2024, the vehicle is already pretty popular, almost as popular as the EV6, with 5,579 units sold versus 6,110 units sold, respectively. We knew the EV9 was powerful, but now we know how capable it is when driving conditions get a little messy.
The strongest Kia EV9 is the GT-Line trim, powered by a 99.8 kWh battery and electric motor, able to generate 379 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive (AWD) is the standard, and that definitely helps with of- road action. Featuring an all-electric range (AER) of 270 miles, the GT-Line provides a fuel economy equivalent of 88 MPGe in the city and 72 MPGe on the highway.
During NWAPA’s 30th Mudfest competition, the EV9 came out on top of 20 SUVs, crossovers, and pickups competing. Held at The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, automotive journalists from the Pacific Northwest gathered for a two-day event that consisted of testing vehicles in various driving conditions. The first day tested vehicles with on-pavement courses that evaluated their acceleration and handling capabilities, followed by the second day that challenged their off-road capabilities. In the end, the Kia EV9 took home the “Outdoor Utility Vehicle” and “Three-Row Family SUV” awards for its exceptional handling on the road and when tackling challenging terrain. A nice little plus for consumers that like to go off-road, the EV9 also comes with a collection of innovative advanced driver assistance systems, such as blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, forward collision-avoidance assist, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, navigation-based smart cruise control with stop & go plus curve, and much more.
All Kia models are backed by an industry-leading warranty, including a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, and a 5-year or 60,000-mile limited basic warranty. Drivers who like to get muddy will be happy to know they can keep their Kia running smoothly for a long time. You can find the new Kia EV9 at Miami Lakes Automall today.
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