2024 Kia EV9 vs 2024 Buick Envista

The 2024 Kia EV9 presented a bold evolution in Kia's electric vehicle lineup, showcasing a design that was both familiar and futuristic. Its exterior maintained the brand's signature style but introduced a more angular, digital clock-inspired aesthetic. The lighting features were particularly striking, with the "Star Map" daytime running lights and the "Digital Tiger Face" grille setting it apart. The top trims, Land and GT-Line, offered a unique Digital Pattern Lighting Grille, adding a constellation of lights visible only when the vehicle was on. The wheels complemented the blocky design, with the base 19-inch wheels providing a sense of motion, while the higher trims featured more geometric patterns.

Inside, the EV9 felt spacious and modern, enhanced by a light gray two-tone interior and dual sunroofs. The front seats were power-adjustable, with additional customizations available on higher trims. The SynTex seating surfaces were comfortable, and the fabric lining was durable. The interior design emphasized comfort and practicality, with thoughtful touches like the sliding center console and ample storage options for passengers.

The 2024 Buick Envista took a different approach, drawing inspiration from the Buick Wildcat EV concept. Its coupe-like profile and sloping roofline gave it a sleek, modern look, reminiscent of more expensive vehicles like the BMW X4. The front-end styling featured a split lighting design, with daytime running lights positioned above the real headlights, which flanked the grille. This design choice, combined with the shark-nose prow, gave the Envista a distinctive appearance.

The interior of the Envista was a step up from its predecessor, the Buick Encore, offering more space due to its longer wheelbase. Rear-seat legroom increased by three inches, and shoulder room was also improved. However, the coupe-like design resulted in slightly reduced headroom. The cabin featured a more streamlined look, with softer materials on the dashboard and door armrests. The seats were comfortable, and the flat-bottom steering wheel added a sporty touch. Overall, the Envista's interior provided a more premium feel compared to the Trax, while maintaining a practical and user-friendly design.

The 2024 Kia EV9 offered a range of powertrain options, starting with the Light trim's single motor, rear-wheel-drive setup producing 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. This base model had an EPA-estimated range of 230 miles. The Light Long Range model, with a larger 99.8-kWh battery, reduced horsepower to 201 but extended the range to 304 miles. The higher trims, Wind and Land, featured dual-motor all-wheel-drive systems with 379 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, offering a range of 280 miles. The GT-Line trim prioritized performance with 516 lb-ft of torque and a range of 270 miles. The EV9's power delivery was smooth, and its handling was stable, with adjustable regenerative braking enhancing the driving experience.

The 2024 Buick Envista shared its powertrain with the Chevy Trax, featuring a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. While the Envista did not offer an all-wheel-drive option, it differentiated itself from the Encore GX, which retained AWD availability. The Envista's suspension setup included a torsion-beam rear suspension for base models and a Buick-exclusive Watts Link rear suspension for models with 19-inch wheels. The Envista handled well on various road surfaces, offering a quieter and more comfortable ride compared to the Trax.

The Kia EV9 stood out with its spacious third row, offering 39.5 inches of headroom, surpassing competitors like the Kia Telluride and BMW X7. Third-row legroom ranged from 30.8 to 32.0 inches, depending on the middle row's configuration. The EV9 could seat up to seven passengers, with second-row captain's chairs available on higher trims. Cargo space was competitive, with 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 81.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior featured a floating center console and ample storage options for passengers.

The Buick Envista, with its longer wheelbase, provided increased rear-seat legroom and shoulder room compared to the Encore. However, the coupe-like design resulted in slightly reduced headroom. The Envista's cargo space was limited, with 20.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 42 cubic feet with the seats folded. Despite this, the Envista offered good outward visibility and a car-like driving position, making it easy to maneuver in tight spaces.

The Kia EV9 featured a cutting-edge infotainment system with three screens in a single curved display. The 12.3-inch driver information display, 5-inch Climate Display, and 12.3-inch infotainment screen provided a comprehensive user experience. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a wireless charging pad, were standard. The EV9's connectedness was a highlight, with over-the-air updates and the Kia Connect store offering additional features and upgrades.

The Buick Envista came standard with an 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch digital instrument cluster, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The user interface was similar to the Trax, with easy-to-use controls and a driver-oriented center stack. While the Envista lacked some optional tech features, it provided a solid infotainment experience for its price range.

The Kia EV9 offered a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot collision avoidance, and forward collision avoidance. While some features were reserved for higher trims, the EV9's safety offerings were robust. The EV9 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA but received the highest rating from Euro NCAP.

The Buick Envista's standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. Optional features like adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert were available. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.