Kia EV9 wins 2024 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year

Kia's electric SUV, the EV9, has been named the 2024 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, making this the third time in five years that a Kia vehicle has won this award, following the Telluride in 2020 and the EV6 in 2023. The EV9's victory also celebrates its second consecutive win in the electric vehicle category.

The award, chosen by a jury of 50 automotive journalists from different media outlets in the United States and Canada, assesses and evaluates vehicles based on a set of criteria, which includes innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, driver satisfaction, user experience, and overall value. The EV9 stood out among its contenders, surpassing finalists in this category, such as Hyundai Motor's Kona and the Genesis Electrified GV70.

The North American Car, Utility, and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) was established in 1994. The awards are among the automotive industry's most prestigious recognition. They originally started with two categories — cars and trucks — and expanded to include utility vehicles in 2017. For this year's finalists, more than half of the top contenders were electric vehicles. With these vehicles dominating the competition, their growing influence on the U.S. automobile market is clear. Kia North America and Kia America CEO Yoon Seung-kyu commented on the win of EV9 in the three-row SUV segment.

The EV9, introduced in 2023, features a 99.8 kilowatt-hour battery, offering a range of 304 miles per single charge as rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The vehicle's entry into the U.S. market begins with a starting MSRP of $54,900 USD (approximately ₱3,051,726.30).