Compare the2024 Kia EV9VS 2024 Mazda CX-90

Both the EV9 and CX-90 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The EV9 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The CX-90’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The EV9 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The CX-90 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the EV9 has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S Premium offers Rear Cross Traffic Braking.

Both the EV9 and the CX-90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The EV9 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-90’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV9 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the CX-90. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CX-90 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 45 percent more Kia dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the EV9’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 69 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 29th, below the industry average.

The EV9 has more powerful engines than the CX-90:

As tested in Motor Trend the EV9 GT-Line electric motors is faster than the CX-90 Turbo S:

As tested in Motor Trend the EV9 GT-Line electric motors is faster than the CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the EV9 gets better mileage than the CX-90 running its gasoline engine:

The EV9 can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 230 to 304 miles, up to 10% further than the CX-90 PHEV‘s -mile range on a full charge and a full tank of fuel. The CX-90 PHEV has to start its internal combustion engine after only 26 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia EV9 higher (10 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-90 (6). This means the EV9 produces up to 12.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-90 every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the EV9’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-90:

The EV9 stops shorter than the CX-90:

For better traction, the EV9 GT-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-90 (285/45R21 vs. 275/45R21).

The EV9 offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The EV9’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The CX-90 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The EV9 GT-Line AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the CX-90 Premium Plus pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The EV9 GT-Line AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the CX-90 Premium Plus (26.4 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

The EV9 is 3.6 inches shorter than the CX-90, making the EV9 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the EV9 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-90 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the EV9 GT-Line AWD is quieter than the CX-90 Premium Plus:

The EV9 has 17.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-90 (158.8 vs. 141.6).

The EV9 has 1.5 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 3.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.6 inches more third row headroom, .4 inches more third row legroom and 1.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the CX-90.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the EV9’s middle and third row seats recline. The CX-90’s third row seats don’t recline.

The EV9’s cargo area provides more volume than the CX-90.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the EV9’s optional second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The CX-90 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The EV9 Land/GT-Line’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the EV9 and the CX-90 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the EV9 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-90 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The EV9’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-90’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The EV9 GT-Line has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the CX-90.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia EV9 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the CX-90.

The EV9 (except Light/Wind)’s optional Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The EV9 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The EV9 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The CX-90 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the EV9 as the 2024 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The CX-90 has never been chosen.