2024 Kia EV9 vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Kia EV9 presented a bold new direction for Kia's electric vehicles, with a design that was both familiar and innovative. Its exterior maintained the recognizable Kia aesthetic but was updated with a more angular, digital clock-inspired look. The vehicle's lighting signature was particularly striking, featuring the "Star Map" daytime running lights and a "Digital Tiger Face" grille. The top trims, Land and GT-Line, included a Digital Pattern Lighting Grille, adding a constellation of lights visible only when the vehicle was on. The wheels complemented the blocky design, with the base 19-inch wheels offering a sense of motion and aerodynamics, while the Land and GT-Line trims featured more geometric patterns.

Inside, the EV9 felt spacious and modern, enhanced by a light gray two-tone interior and dual sunroofs. The front seats were power-adjustable, with additional customizations available on higher trims. The SynTex seating surfaces were comfortable, and the fabric lining was durable. The interior design emphasized comfort and practicality, making it a pleasant environment for both drivers and passengers.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic, boxy profile with modern features, such as angular headlights, creating a visual link to other Land Rover models. However, its interior was more rugged and adventure-ready, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with more soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each offering various trims like S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound.

Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, equipped with the County visual package, showcased its vintage appeal with white wheels and retro graphics. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, and a panoramic glass roof. The X-Dynamic SE trim added 20-inch wheels and ventilated front seats, while the X trim included a digital rearview mirror camera. The V8 trim featured 22-inch wheels, leather and microsuede upholstery, and a center console refrigerator. The Carpathian Edition stood out with its dark exterior accents, and the Outbound trim offered additional cargo space by removing the third row.

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 an EPA-estimated range of 230 miles. The Light Long Range model, with a larger 99.8-kWh battery, reduced horsepower to 201 but extended the range to 304 miles. The higher trims, Wind and Land, featured dual-motor all-wheel-drive systems with 379 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, offering 280 miles of range. The GT-Line trim prioritized performance with 516 lb-ft of torque and a range of 270 miles. The EV9's power delivery was smooth, and its handling was stable, with adjustable regenerative braking and fast charging capabilities.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with the P300's turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The P500 and P525 supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engines delivered 493 hp and 518 hp, respectively. All engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission with full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity reached up to 7,716 pounds with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder engines. The Defender excelled off-road, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system, making it a capable and versatile SUV.

The 2024 Kia EV9 stood out with its spacious third row, offering 39.5 inches of headroom, surpassing competitors like the Kia Telluride, BMW X7, and Rivian R1S. Third-row legroom ranged from 30.8 to 32.0 inches, 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 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 81.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior featured a floating center console and ample storage options for passengers.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a blend of luxury and functionality, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 had an optional third row, while the Defender 130 offered three seats in the third row. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 providing up to 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 offered 78.8 cubic feet in the two-row version, while the Defender 90 provided up to 58.3 cubic feet. The cargo area featured practical hard plastic surfaces for easy cleaning.

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. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a wireless charging pad as standard. Higher trims included 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, enhancing the vehicle's customization and future-proofing.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, offering navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The straightforward setup included Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The touchscreen's simplicity complemented the Defender's utilitarian design, providing essential features without overwhelming users.

The 2024 Kia EV9 offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot collision avoidance, and forward collision avoidance. Higher trims included additional features like the Blind-spot View Monitor and reverse parking collision avoidance assist. The EV9 received the highest rating from Euro NCAP, but it had not yet been tested by IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender included standard safety features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. It also offered traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist features were noted to be overly sensitive. The Defender had not been crash-tested by IIHS or NHTSA at the time of writing.