Premium Electric SUV Comparison: Volvo EX90 vs Kia EV9
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The market for large premium electric Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) is becoming increasingly crowded. While the segment was previously dominated by European brands, Korean manufacturers are now showing their mettle with innovations that are no less radical.
Two names drawing attention are Volvo EX90 and Kia EV9. Both offer a three-row chassis configuration, packed with cutting-edge technology, and instant performance typical of eco-friendly cars. Yet each brings a different design philosophy and technical approach.
The design lines tend toward a minimalist, smooth, aerodynamic emphasis. The signature headlight, the ‘Thor’s Hammer’, has shifted to digital matrix LED technology that can open and close mechanically when the lamps are switched on.
In contrast to the EX90, the Kia EV9 presents a bolder face with its Bold for Nature language. Its silhouette is boxy with sharp, aggressive lines. The front face adopts the Digital Tiger Face complete with vertical Star Map LED lighting that looks futuristic.
Visually, the EV9 appears more intimidating on the road and successfully blurs the line between concept car and mass-produced production car.
The materials used also focus on sustainability. Instead of genuine leather, Volvo uses premium wool fabric or Nordico material created from recycled plastic bottles and bio-resin.
When it comes to third-row seating space, the EX90 offers legroom that is still reasonably comfortable for full-grown adults or older teenagers.
Meanwhile, the Kia EV9’s cabin is designed like a walking living room or lounge. The dashboard houses a dual panoramic display of 12.3 inches, still paired with several hidden tactile physical buttons for quick access to the climate control and audio.
A key advantage of the EV9 is its middle-row seating configuration option. Kia offers a Captain Seat variant with Relaxation Mode featuring a leg rest, allowing it to recline to nearly zero-gravity posturing when the vehicle is charging.
As a brand synonymous with safety, Volvo equips the EX90 with an invisible shield through advanced ADAS technology.
The Nvidia DRIVE computer processes data in real time to create a 360-degree map around the car, and can detect pedestrians up to 250 metres away in total darkness.
On the other hand, the Kia EV9 is no less impressive. Relying on the E‑GMP platform, the EV9 comes with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L).
This means the car can act as a giant power bank capable of supplying up to 3.6 kW to run household appliances during a blackout or while camping. A similar feature is also offered by the EV9.