Forthing Taikon 5 vs Kia EV9
Two electric SUVs go head to head. Which EV is the better buy for Australian drivers in 2026?
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 12 Sep 2026, price 6 Sep 2026
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Forthing Taikon 5: we're still completing price, kerb weight, 0-100km/h, transmission and ground clearance, plus 2 others.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
No price
- no option data for this car
$97,000RRP
- cannot be matched: Sunroof not offered
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Track the Forthing Taikon 5 & Kia EV9
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Price Breakdown
Pricing for one or both models is yet to be confirmed for the Australian market. We will update this comparison when official RRPs are announced.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published ratings include no record for the Forthing Taikon 5. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Recalls on our record
Forthing Taikon 5
None open on our record
Kia EV9
- REC-006557 · published 6 Mar 2026Due to a software error, the Instrument Cluster may display a blank screen or may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2025
- REC-006250 · published 22 Jan 2025Due to a manufacturing defect, vehicles may have been assembled with missing seat mounting bolts.Year range on the notice: 2023 - 2024
- REC-006126 · published 22 Oct 2024Due to a software issue, the Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) system may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2023 - 2024
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging Times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.
How long to charge
64.4kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 80kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (11kW AC, 80kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
How long to charge
99.8kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 240kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (11kW AC, 240kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Forthing Taikon 5 features a 14.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 8.8-inch digital dash, while the Kia EV9 gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Forthing Taikon 5 stands out with ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Kia EV9. The Kia EV9 counters with ventilated seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Forthing Taikon 5 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Kia EV9 offers synthetic leather.
Drivetrain
The Forthing Taikon 5 runs a pure electric powertrain producing 150kW and 340Nm of torque, sent through its transmission to a FWD layout.
The Kia EV9 responds with a Electric making 160kW and 350Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.2 seconds.
The Kia EV9 has the clear power advantage at 160kW vs 150kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Battery: 64.4kWh (Forthing Taikon 5) vs 76.1kWh (Kia EV9), giving WLTP ranges of 427km and 519km. DC fast charging peaks at 80kW (Forthing Taikon 5) vs 240kW (Kia EV9).
Space & Comfort
The Forthing Taikon 5 measures 4,600mm long on a 2,715mm wheelbase, 410mm shorter than the Kia EV9 at 5,010mm (3,100mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia EV9 generally means more rear legroom.
For towing, the Kia EV9 leads with a 900kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 150kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
12.0m diameter
Average
Based on 12.0m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Interactive simulator: U-turns, parking & towing
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns are easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
Average
Needs a 3-point turn (one reverse)
Needs about 10.4 m to swing round without stopping. Road is 9.0 m.
U-turn on a wide street
≥ 10 m: 3-point turn
U-turn on a standard street
7 m: 3-point turn
Standard parking bay
2.0 m wide: fits with room
Tight carpark aisle
6 m: careful, tight swing
Narrow laneway
3.5 m: no room to turn
Turning circle ratings
Standard widths: AU local streets carry ~5.5–7 m of carriageway; main roads ~9–12 m. AS 2890.1 carpark aisles are ~5.8–6.6 m for 90° bays (2.6 m wide × 5.4 m deep).
Road, aisle, swing and off-tracking figures are indicative estimates from the published turning circle. Verify in person before relying on them.
True Cost to Own
Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.
Warranty: 7 years / 200,000km (Forthing Taikon 5) vs 7 years / 999,999km (Kia EV9). Both match on warranty length.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Forthing Taikon 5 if: You or prefer Forthing's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the Kia EV9 if: You prioritise performance, need stronger towing, or prefer Kia's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
Kia EV9: Top CarSorted Score, 67 vs 62
The Kia EV9 comes out ahead on the CarSorted Score (67 vs 62), taking 5 of 5 key spec rows below. The deciding gaps: safety (Kia EV9 ahead by 27), energy efficiency (Forthing Taikon 5 ahead by 22), reliability (Kia EV9 ahead by 19). The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Forthing Taikon 5 and Kia EV9?
The Kia EV9 is the cheapest at $97,000 before on-road costs.
Which has the longest driving range?
The Kia EV9 has the most range at 443km (WLTP).
Which charges fastest?
The Kia EV9 accepts the highest DC charging at up to 240kW.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Kia EV9 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating. ANCAP's published ratings include no record for Forthing Taikon 5, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which is the most powerful?
The Kia EV9 makes the most power at 160kW.
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Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
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