EV SUVs are the hottest and the most popular vehicle on the market today. Two chart-topping models are Kia EV9 and BMW iX EV. Both SUVs are fully electric and come with great advantages and benefits. While many claim Kia did their EV SUV version much better, is Kia’s EV9 better than BMW’s iX EV SUV? If that’s precisely what you’re wondering and want to discover, p on reading for the Kia EV9 VS BMW iX review!
Is Kia’s EV9 Better than BMW’s iX EV SUV: Side-by-Side Comparison
Feature | Kia EV9 | BMW iX |
---|---|---|
Released | Q4 2023 | June 2022 |
Range | 300 miles | 257 miles |
Horsepower | 379 HP | 523 HP |
Seating | 7-seater | 5-seater |
Starting price | $55,000 | $84,195 |
Is Kia’s EV9 Better than BMW’s iX EV SUV: What’s the Difference
EV9 from Kia and BMWE iX are amazing SUVs that are fully electric. Even though they have differences, they also have plenty in common. Let’s look at the biggest differences between these two models. This way, you can decide which EV SUV fits your needs better.

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Range and Horsepower
While EVs look similar, the range and horsepower are their biggest differences. Both SUVs are electric, but the EV9 has a much better range than BMW iX.
Kia EV9 can cover about 300 miles before you have to recharge it, while BMW iX can cover up to 257 miles at most on a single charge. Of course, when we consider other factors such as the weather and temperatures, Kia can also preserve miles much better than BMW iX due to their latest technology. We’ll talk more about that latest technology, but now, horsepower.
Kia EV9 has 379 horsepower with an all-wheel drive, but it is the case with the single-motor models. On the other hand, BMW iX has 523 horsepower, which makes it one of BMW’s most powerful electric vehicles on the market.
Cargo Space and Seating
Another big difference is in their cargo space and seating. Kia EV9 has 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row of seating, which can expand up to 81.9 cubic feet when the seats fold. It’s also worth mentioning that the Kia EV9 is a 7-seater, so you shouldn’t lack any space at all.
On the other hand, BMW iX has a cargo space of 35.5 cubic feet, which can expand up to 77.9 cubic feet when the seats fold. However, BMW iX is a 5-seater, making it attractive for bigger families. While the Kia EV9 has a much bigger and more versatile cargo space, BMW has a more comfortable 5-seating capability.
Recharging Speed and Efficiency
Kia EV9 has an 800V charging structure, a standard nowadays, and charges this electric vehicle from 10% to 80% in 12 to 15 minutes. However, a full charge can take up to 25 minutes, using the 350 kW DC charger.
On the other hand, BMW iX will take up to 31 minutes to charge to 80%, while a full charge takes up to an hour. The reason is that BMW iX supports only a maximum of 150kW chargers which can limit the charging efficiency.
While this might not make a huge difference in day-to-day driving and everyday use, it’ll make a big difference on longer trips. You will need to make almost the same number of stops, but you’ll have to spend less time recharging with the Kia EV9 compared to BMW iX.
Handling Extreme Weather
One huge advantage the Kia EV9 has over the BMW iX is it can handle extreme weather, unlike any other electric vehicle. Even though Kia only mentioned installing a heat pump that can preserve all available range while driving in cold and extreme weather conditions, it’s a highlight of the EV industry.
Kia EV9 is much better at handling extreme weather conditions and cold weather that can affect the battery and range than the BMW iX. Kia took the EV9 for the proper tests in Sweden, testing the battery efficiency and performance in snow, and it performed well.
However, not everything is that bad for BMW. They did the tests of their own, and plenty of tests proved that BMW iX could withstand cold weather well while achieving a decent mileage per full charge.
While both EVs can handle extreme cold pretty well, Kia’s EV9 has the upper hand going by the incredibly positive results from their tests in Sweden.
Price

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Both electric vehicles are available at different price points. While the Kia EV9 can go toe to toe with BMW’s iX in performance, it’s about $34,000 cheaper than the BMW iX.
Kia EV9’s base model has a starting price of around $55,000, while the BMW’s iX base model starts at $84,195. The price difference also shocked us, especially considering how many aspects Kia EV9 can compare to BMW iX, or even better yet, prove to be better than BMW iX in a couple of aspects.
Of course, Kia EV9 provides a lot more value for the price it costs, and it’s a purchase that you can easily justify. Even if you consider the top-of-the-line EV9 model, you’ll only have to spend about $62,000.
On the other hand, BMW’s iX can go as high as $105,100. Of course, you should also remember that the prices mentioned here are MSRP and aren’t subject to delivery, road, and registration fees you will encounter later.
Is Kia’s EV9 Better than BMW’s iX EV SUV: 5 Must-Known Facts
- Kia EV9 has a much better range than BMW iX, but the iX has more horsepower than EV9
- Kia EV9 is a 7-seater with much bigger cargo space, while BMW iX is a 5-seater with less cargo space but more cabin comfort
- When it comes to charging, the Kia EV9 chargers quicker than the BMW iX
- Both EVs handle cold and extreme weather well, but Kia EV9 has a slight advantage
- BMW iX is more luxurious than Kia EV9 but is also a lot more expensive
Is Kia’s EV9 Better than BMW’s iX EV SUV: Which One is Better?
Kia EV9 and BMW iX EV SUV are two incredible electric vehicles with different price points. If you’re looking for space and need a 7-seater electric car, there’s hardly a better EV than the Kia EV9 (after the Tesla Model Y). But if you’re looking for a comfortable 5-seater that is much more luxurious and you don’t mind paying the price, BMW iX is a great choice.
In our opinion, Kia EV9 is money well spent if you’re thinking of getting an electric vehicle. If it fits your needs and you like the style and type of the vehicle, it’s probably among the top valuable electric vehicles on the market today.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Ameer Mussard-Afcari/Shutterstock.com.