Kia EV9 wins 'World's Best Car for 2024' title at WWCOTY awards

KUALA LUMPUR: With a string of accolades under its belt, the Kia EV9 adds another feather to its cap as it grabs the coveted title of 'World's Best Car for 2024' at the Women's Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) awards. The recognition coincided with the celebration of International Women's Day. 

A total of 75 women motoring journalists from 52 countries across five continents rigorously tested multiple car models and finally selected the Kia EV9. 

From the 63 contenders, the best vehicles in each category won in the first round of voting. The winners in their respective categories include - Volvo EX30 (Family Car), BMW 5 Series (Large Car), Kia EV9 (SUV), Volkswagen Amarok (4×4 & Pick-up), and Aston Martin DB12 (Exclusive Car).

The judges praised the innovative design, advanced technology, and versatility of Kia's EV. One of the judges, Tanya Gazdik from the USA, said, "The Kia EV9 is truly a game-changer for electric vehicles. It will be the vehicle we look back on down the road and say, 'That is when EVs became truly affordable, user-friendly, and desirable for all consumers.' No other vehicle has taken the same risks and pushed the design and engineering boundaries to the same limit."

Judge Sara Soria from Spain added, "Kia has developed a large SUV with an electric motor that stands out for its good aerodynamics, innovative design, and high levels of technology – with up to level 3 autonomous driving. And because it offers bi-directional charging and ultra-fast 800-volt charging."

Since its debut, the Kia EV9 has garnered widespread acclaim for its groundbreaking design, advanced technology, and eco-friendly performance. Some of the previous accolades include 

• ‘Top Three in the World’ finalist contender for the 2024 World Car Awards
• ‘Family Cars’ category at the Golden Steering Wheel 2023’
• ‘German Luxury Car of the Year 2024’

Key design and features highlights of the Kia EV9 include -  

• The Kia EV9 is a three-row SUV that is 5,015 mm long, 1,980 mm wide, and 1,780 mm tall. The wheelbase is measured at 3,100 mm
• The EV boasts a unique combination of bold styling and refined luxury, guided by ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy
• The key highlights include a ‘Digital Tiger Face’ with a ‘Digital Pattern Lighting Grille,’ vertical headlights, and Star Map LED daytime running lights

• The EV is offered in both six and seven-seat configurations globally. The front- and second-row seats come with a reclining option, and the second-row seats have the option of being turned 180 degrees to face the third-row
• The family-friendly interior is equipped with a ‘Panoramic wide display’ combining a 12.3-inch cluster display, a 5-inch segment display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment system display

• It also features hidden type touch buttons for start/stop and other functions, a Connected Car Navigation Cockpit, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, ten airbags, a Highway Driving Pilot system offering conditional Level 3 autonomous driving
• The EV is offered in two battery packs in the global markets - 76.1-kWh and 99.8-kWh offering a range of up to 680 km on a single charge

The Kia EV9 recently made its way to Singapore and Thailand and is expected to launch sometime this year in Malaysia as the automaker continues to expand its electric vehicle range across various markets.

Also read: Kia's bold move to start Electric Vehicle production in Thailand in advanced discussions