2024 Kia EV9 vs 2023 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Subaru Outback underwent a notable facelift, featuring a redesigned front end with new LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark gray vertical cladding. This design gave the Outback an aggressive appearance, further accentuated by a simulated skid plate, fog lights in oversized housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim reminiscent of the Wilderness model. The Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the bold cladding, making it a more appealing choice for those who preferred a darker paint color to tone down the design's excesses. The Outback offered six trim levels, with the Onyx Edition becoming more accessible by including the base powertrain, reducing the starting price by $5,100 compared to the turbocharged version.

Inside, the Touring trim of the Outback impressed with its upscale Java Brown premium Nappa leather upholstery, contrasting beautifully with the black interior. The dashboard and door panels featured light gray contrast stitching, creating a cohesive and luxurious feel. Despite the use of hard plastic in some areas, the interior maintained a quality look and feel. However, the large infotainment screen and gloss black trim on the center console were prone to collecting dust and smudges, which was a minor drawback in an otherwise well-appointed cabin.

The 2024 Kia EV9 introduced a fresh design approach for Kia EVs, with a blockier exterior reminiscent of digital clock numbers. The octagonal wheel arches and sharply angled rear window added to its distinctive look. The lighting signature was a standout feature, with the "Star Map" daytime running lights outlining the "Digital Tiger Face" grille. The top trims, Land and GT-Line, featured a Digital Pattern Lighting Grille with customizable light points. The EV9's wheels continued the blocky theme, with the base 19-inch wheels offering a sense of motion and aerodynamics. Inside, the EV9's airy and fresh interior was enhanced by a light gray two-tone color scheme and dual sunroofs. The eight-way power-adjustable front seats provided comfort, and the SynTex seating surfaces were durable. The EV9's interior design emphasized a sense of space and modernity.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured horizontally opposed engines, known for their flat design and characteristic grumble. The standard engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, but the 3,781-pound test vehicle felt underpowered, especially during passing and climbing. The EPA estimated 28 mpg in combined driving, but real-world testing returned 25.6 mpg. The turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine in the XT models offered 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, providing better acceleration and responsiveness. However, the XT models were less fuel-efficient, with most rated at 25 mpg combined. The Outback's CVT mimicked an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the Active Torque Split AWD system varied power distribution for optimal traction. The X-Mode traction system and hill descent control enhanced off-road capabilities, making the Outback adept at handling challenging terrain. Despite its powertrain limitations, the Outback's suspension tuning provided a comfortable ride, and its handling was confident on mountain roads.

The 2024 Kia EV9 Light trim featured a single motor with 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, offering a 230-mile electric range. The Light Long Range model, with a 99.8-kWh battery, reduced horsepower to 201 but extended the range to 304 miles. The dual-motor AWD powertrain in the Wind and Land trims produced 379 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, with a 280-mile range. The GT-Line trim prioritized performance with 516 lb-ft of torque and a 270-mile range. The EV9's power delivery was smooth and refined, with good handling and minimal body roll. The regenerative braking system was adjustable, allowing for a natural feel comparable to gas-powered vehicles. The EV9's fast charging capability promised a 10 to 80 percent charge in 25 minutes on a high-speed DC fast charger.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a purposeful roof rack, flat door sill trim, and a dashboard storage shelf. The Touring trim offered comfort with a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and premium Nappa leather upholstery. The rear outboard seats were also heated, making the Outback cozy in cold weather. The spacious interior accommodated two adults and two teens comfortably, with ample legroom and storage options. The Outback's cargo space measured 32.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 75.6 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. The flat, textured plastic door sills served as steps for accessing the roof rack, enhancing the vehicle's practicality.

The 2024 Kia EV9 stood out with its spacious third row, offering 39.5 inches of headroom, surpassing competitors like the Kia Telluride and BMW X7. The third row provided 30.8 to 32.0 inches of legroom, depending on the middle row's configuration. The EV9 could seat up to seven passengers, with second-row captain's chairs available in higher trims. Cargo space measured 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 43.5 cubic feet with the third row folded and 81.7 cubic feet with only the front-row seats in place. The EV9's high and flat load floor facilitated easy luggage retrieval. The "floating" center console offered storage space, and second-row passengers in higher trims enjoyed a large drawer and tray table.

The 2023 Subaru Outback, except for the Base trim, featured a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with physical controls for volume, tuning, and climate control. The base model had a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims offered wireless connectivity for Apple and Android platforms, along with a navigation system and Harman Kardon premium audio. The Starlink system's usability improved, but the voice recognition system was lacking. Additional technologies included a camera-based digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera, though a surround-view camera was unavailable.

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 noteworthy, with over-the-air updates and the Kia Connect store allowing for feature upgrades and customization. This future-proofing approach allowed early adopters to benefit from ongoing developments and offered flexibility for used EV9 buyers.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized safety with new EyeSight cameras and an electronic brake booster. The IIHS awarded it top marks, including in the new side-impact crash test. EyeSight included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available in higher trims. The Automatic Emergency Steering system could steer within a lane to avoid obstacles. The Wide-Angle Mono Camera improved pedestrian and cyclist detection. However, the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems felt artificial, and the rear automatic braking system was incompatible with some driveways.

The 2024 Kia EV9 offered 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 in higher trims. Forward collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were standard, while reverse parking collision avoidance assist was reserved for top trims. The EV9 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA but received the highest rating from Euro NCAP.