Kia’s EV9 Nominated as Finalist for Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year

Kia’s flagship electric vehicle model, the EV9, has reached the 2024 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) final round.

According to industry sources, on the 31st, Kia EV9 was selected as the winning model in the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) category of the 2024 WWCOTY on the 29th, advancing to the final round. Along with the EV9, the vehicles that made it to the final include the Volvo EX90, BMW 5 Series, Volkswagen Amarok, and Aston Martin DB12. The 2024 WWCOTY winner, the highest honor of the awards, will be chosen among these five models by International Women’s Day on March 8.

The WWCOTY is determined by evaluating a jury composed solely of female journalists. This year’s ceremony, marking the 14th year, saw 75 female automotive journalists from 52 countries come together to evaluate 62 models. They selected the best model in each category based on safety, convenience, technologies, and value for money. Marta Garcia, Executive President of the WWCOTY, explained, “The qualities of the candidates were very high, making voting difficult.” She added, “All five models that made it to the final round passed rigorous driving tests and assessments.”

The industry expects one of the electric vehicle models to clinch the final victory. This is due to the trend reflecting the rapid transition to electrification in the global automotive market. Among the models that made it to the final round, the only electric vehicles are the EV9 and EX90. An industry insider stated, “The results of the WWCOTY awards serve as a reference for female drivers worldwide.” They also conveyed, “A model that can appeal to women, who are sensitive to trends, is expected to clinch the final victory.”

The EV9 is a flagship electric vehicle model based on the E-GMP dedicated electric vehicle platform. It boasts a grand exterior and an interior space that provides a new vehicle experience. Equipped with a large-capacity 99.8 kWh battery, it has achieved the longest single-charge driving distance of 311 miles (based on the 19-inch wheel 2WD model certified by the Ministry of Industry) among Kia’s electric vehicle lineup, thanks to the application of a 3D under cover, aerodynamic wheels, and an air curtain on the front bumper. The GT-line can reach 62 miles per hour from a standstill in just 5.3 seconds, based on a maximum output of 384 horsepower and a maximum torque of 700 Nm.

Various charging and operating features fitting for a flagship EV model have also been applied. These include a 400V/800V multi ultra-fast charging system that supports charging the battery capacity from 10% to 80% in just 24 minutes with a 350 kW charger, a battery conditioning feature that optimizes charging speed by controlling the battery temperature at the time of arrival at the charging station, and a three-zone independent control full-auto air conditioner that reduces power consumption by independently controlling the heating and cooling of the rear seats.