Kia EV9 vs Volkswagen Touareg

Price and cost per week

Safety Rundown

ANCAP's published record does not give the Volkswagen Touareg a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.

Recalls on our record

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 a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.

Feature Showdown

The Kia EV9 features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Volkswagen Touareg gets a 15-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Kia EV9 stands out with ventilated seats and V2L — features our data doesn't list for the Volkswagen Touareg. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Kia EV9 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Volkswagen Touareg offers leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the Kia EV9 and 2-zone in the Volkswagen Touareg.

Drivetrain

The Kia EV9 uses a Electric producing 160kW and 350Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.2 seconds.

The Volkswagen Touareg responds with a Diesel making 170kW and 500Nm, paired to a auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8 seconds.

The Volkswagen Touareg has the clear power advantage at 170kW vs 160kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Volkswagen Touareg is 0.2s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Space & Comfort

The Kia EV9 measures 5,010mm long on a 3,100mm wheelbase, 121mm longer than the Volkswagen Touareg at 4,889mm (2,894mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia EV9 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 333L in the Kia EV9 and 810L in the Volkswagen Touareg, giving the Volkswagen Touareg a 477L advantage. The Kia EV9 seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Volkswagen Touareg leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 900kg. That 2,600kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); both turn in a 12.0 m circle, kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.

Cost to own

At 15,000 km a year, electricity for the Kia EV9 costs about $1,042 a year (21.7 kWh/100km) and fuel for the Volkswagen Touareg about $2,166 a year (7.6 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.

Warranty: 7 years / Unlimited (Kia EV9) and 5 years / Unlimited (Volkswagen Touareg).

Where each one leads

The Kia EV9: the longer warranty (7 years against 5).

The Volkswagen Touareg: the lower starting price ($86,790 against $97,000), more power (170kW against 160kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (810L against 333L) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 900kg).

The Verdict

Volkswagen Touareg scores higher, 68 vs 67

The Volkswagen Touareg scores 68 to the Kia EV9's 67 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 5 of the 7 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: practicality (Volkswagen Touareg ahead by 31 points), safety (Kia EV9 ahead by 23 points). Boot space with the seats up: 333L in the Kia EV9, 810L in the Volkswagen Touareg. Warranty: 7 years on the Kia EV9, 5 on the Volkswagen Touareg.

Common questions