Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2025 Kia EV9

midsize SUV / 4-door SUV

Fully electric
2025 Kia EV9 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: updated test

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Standard system

Seat belts & child restraints

Seat belt reminders
LATCH ease of use

Key

  • Good
  • Acceptable
  • Marginal
  • Poor

Small overlap front

The small overlap front evaluation consists of a driver-side and a passenger-side component. If the results of the two evaluations differ, then the combined small overlap rating is equal to the lower rating.

Driver-side

  • Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2024 Kia EV9 Wind 4-door 4wd

The Kia EV9, an all-electric SUV, was introduced in the 2024 model year.

Overall driver-side evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN2404
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 10
Footrest (cm) 6
Left toepan (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 7
Lower instrument panel (cm) 4

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN2404
Head
HIC-15 171
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 29
Femur (kN)
Left 1.2
Right 1.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.25
Right 0.36
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.7
Right 2.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 43
Right 70

Passenger-side

  • Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2024 Kia EV9 Light RWD 4-door 2wd

The Kia EV9, an all-electric SUV, was introduced in the 2024 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2024 EV9 conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Overall passenger-side evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP2407
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 10
Footrest (cm) 11
Right toepan (cm) 7
Center toepan (cm) 4
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 5
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Upper dash (cm) 6
Right lower dash (cm) 7

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP2407
Head
HIC-15 186
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 36
Maximum Nij 0.29
Chest maximum compression (mm) 20
Femur (kN)
Left 1.0
Right 1.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.39
Right 0.32
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.3
Right 1.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 59
Right 53

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP2407
Head
HIC-15 110
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 11
Maximum Nij 0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Femur (kN)
Left 0.8
Right 0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.27
Right 0.24
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.6
Right 0.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 36
Right 41

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2024 Kia EV9 Land 4-door 4wd

The Kia EV9, an all-electric SUV, was introduced in the 2024 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2024 EV9 conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF2402
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 9
Left (cm) 12
Center (cm) 15
Right (cm) 14
Brake pedal (cm) 14
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 3
Right (cm) 5
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 1
Rearward (cm) 1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF2402
Head
HIC-15 177
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.8
Femur force - right (kN) 1.3
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.31
Maximum tibia index - right 0.35
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.0
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 67
Right 82

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2024 Kia EV9 Land 4-door 4wd

The Kia EV9, an all-electric SUV, was introduced in the 2024 model year. Side 2.0 ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2024 EV9 conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS2408
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -29.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS2408
Head
HIC-15 25
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) -0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 12
Lateral force (kN) 0.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 21
Average deflection (mm) 17
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.18
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.23
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.3

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS2408
Head
HIC-15 66
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) -0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 9
Lateral force (kN) 0.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 15
Average deflection (mm) 14
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.19
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.08
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 1.8

About the side crash test

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Land trim
  • GT-Line trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual left and both right curves and fair on the sharp left curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Land trim
  • GT-Line trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2024-25 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 99.8 m None
Straightaway left edge 61.5 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 71.1 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 64.0 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 61.0 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 56.7 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 166.5 m
Straightaway left edge 165.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 79.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 75.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 66.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 62.6 m

Trim level(s)

  • Light Standard Range trim
  • Light Long Range trim
  • Wind trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve, fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves, and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve, fair on the sharp right and gradual left curves, and inadequate on the sharp left curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Light Standard Range trim
  • Light Long Range trim
  • Wind trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2024-25 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 108.2 m None
Straightaway left edge 63.0 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 66.8 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 52.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 50.2 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 45.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 174.6 m
Straightaway left edge 130.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 77.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 68.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 59.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 54.8 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: pedestrian

Rating applies to all 2024-25 models

System details

  • standard Forward Collision Avoidance Assist
Overall evaluation
Includes high-beam assist credit

Crossing child — day

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult — night

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult — night

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams and a warning was issued 1 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 15 mph and a warning was issued 0.6 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
DurationLong enough (90+ seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 60 seconds
Belt disengaged alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 30 seconds
Volume
Audio frequency
Technical measurements for this test
Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h 50 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h 64 dB
Difference between background and signal 13.5 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h 51 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h 63 dB
Difference between background and signal 11.6 dB
Dominant audio frequency 880 Hz

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimWind
Seat type leather

This vehicle has 4 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimWind
Seat type leather
1 2 3 6 4
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
4
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
6
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 69
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 14
Clearance angle (degrees) 80
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 13
Clearance angle (degrees) 70
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 14
Clearance angle (degrees) 74
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 31

6

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 14
Clearance angle (degrees) 86
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) N/A
Force (lbs) 14
Clearance angle (degrees) 83
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 33

4

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 17
Clearance angle (degrees) 82
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 81
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation