2024 Kia EV9 vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2024 Kia EV9 presented a bold evolution in Kia's electric vehicle lineup, showcasing a design that was both familiar and forward-thinking. Its exterior maintained the recognizable Kia aesthetic but introduced a modern, blocky style reminiscent of digital clock numbers. The vehicle's body lines followed the octagonal wheel arches, and the rear window angled sharply upward, almost meeting the roof spoiler. The lighting signature was a standout feature, with the "Star Map" daytime running lights outlining the new "Digital Tiger Face" and LED headlights varying by trim. The top trims, Land and GT-Line, included a Digital Pattern Lighting Grille, adding a constellation of light points 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 airy and fresh, enhanced by a light gray two-tone interior and dual sunroofs. The seats were comfortable, with various adjustments available as you moved up the trim levels.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport emphasized a sportier aesthetic within the Range Rover family, standing tall yet maintaining an athletic appearance due to its shorter wheelbase and chopped top. Large front air intakes and fake vents added to its sporty look, though from some angles, it appeared a bit too tall and narrow. The lineup included SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with the Dynamic SE offering a Stealth appearance package. Our test car, the SV Edition 2, was the highest-performance model, featuring 23-inch carbon-fiber wheels and a carbon-fiber hood. The interior was adorned with red leather upholstery and sport seats with light-up "SV" inserts, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic with a touchscreen, stubby shifter, and engine start button. The console, dash, and door panels were high, creating a cockpit-like feel, though it made the front seats feel a bit cramped. Material quality was up to luxury standards, though the use of reflective piano black plastic was a bit indulgent.

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 swapped the base battery for a 99.8-kWh pack, reducing horsepower to 201 but increasing range to 304 miles. The higher trims featured all-wheel drive with dual motors, producing 379 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque in the Wind and Land trims, with a range of 280 miles. The GT-Line trim prioritized performance with 516 lb-ft of torque and a range of 270 miles. During testing, the EV9 GT-Line delivered smooth power delivery and good handling, with adjustable regenerative braking and fast charging capabilities.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrains, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The SE base model featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The Dynamic SE offered a higher output of 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, plus a plug-in hybrid powertrain rated at 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography trim increased output to 543 hp and 590 lb-ft with the plug-in hybrid, and also offered a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two used the same V8 but with 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It achieved 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph. The Range Rover Sport excelled in handling with its sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring, while maintaining off-road capabilities with the Terrain Response system.

The 2024 Kia EV9 stood out with its spacious third row, offering 39.5 inches of headroom and 30.8 to 32.0 inches of legroom, accommodating up to seven passengers. Cargo space was competitive, with 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 43.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 81.7 cubic feet with only the front-row seats in place. The interior featured a floating center console with limited flat surfaces, but second-row passengers in higher trims enjoyed additional storage options.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered a two-row, five-seater configuration. Front-seat occupants found adequate headroom and legroom, with reclining rear seats and 20-way power-adjustable front seats. Cargo space measured 31.9 cubic feet behind the second row, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The vehicle's towing capacity was impressive, with turbo-six and V8 models rated at 7,716 pounds. The Range Rover Sport featured deep door pockets and large center-console cupholders for storage.

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. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a wireless charging pad and a Meridian Premium Audio sound system available on higher trims. The EV9's connectedness was notable, with over-the-air updates and the Kia Connect store offering additional features and upgrades.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport shared its screen setup with the larger Range Rover, featuring a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The minimalist design had functional shortfalls, with most functions requiring touchscreen interaction. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, and the SV Edition 2 featured "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience.

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 added features like the Blind-spot View Monitor and reverse parking collision avoidance assist. The EV9 had not been rated by IIHS or NHTSA but received the highest rating from Euro NCAP.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.