Kia EV9 vs Volvo ES90

The Kia EV9 starts from $97,000 before on-road costs, while the Volvo ES90 opens at $88,880. That makes the Volvo ES90 the more affordable entry point by $8,120.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $106,700 and $97,768 respectively.

Both models qualify for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, which is a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases. Depending on your tax bracket, this can save $5,000-$15,000+ per year compared to an equivalent ICE vehicle.

Both the Kia EV9 and Volvo ES90 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 6 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Kia EV9 and 9 in the Volvo ES90. The Volvo ES90 adds a 360-degree camera that the Kia EV9 misses.

How long each takes to charge — from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC — estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The Kia EV9 features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Volvo ES90 gets a 14.5-inch display and 9-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Kia EV9 stands out with V2L that you will not find on the Volvo ES90. The Volvo ES90 counters with head-up display, panoramic roof, ventilated seats, Harman Kardon audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Kia EV9 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Volvo ES90 offers nordico fabric. Climate control is 3-zone in the Kia EV9 and 4-zone in the Volvo ES90.

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 Volvo ES90 responds with a Electric making 245kW and 480Nm, paired to a single-speed driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds.

The Volvo ES90 has the clear power advantage at 245kW vs 160kW. In the real-world sprint, the Volvo ES90 is 1.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 76.1kWh (Kia EV9) vs 92kWh (Volvo ES90), giving WLTP ranges of 519km and 554km. DC fast charging peaks at 240kW (Kia EV9) vs 300kW (Volvo ES90).

The Kia EV9 measures 5,010mm long on a 3,100mm wheelbase, 10mm longer than the Volvo ES90 at 5,000mm (3,102mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Volvo ES90 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 333L in the Kia EV9 and 424L in the Volvo ES90, giving the Volvo ES90 a 91L advantage. The Kia EV9 seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Volvo ES90 leads with a 2,400kg braked capacity vs 900kg. That 1,500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 7 years / 999,999km (Kia EV9) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Volvo ES90). The Kia EV9 has longer coverage.