Compare the2024 Kia EV9VS 2023 Mercedes EQS SUV

Both the EV9 and EQS SUV have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The EV9 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The EQS SUV’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The EV9 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The EQS SUV doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the EV9 and the EQS SUV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The EV9 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The EQS SUV’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV9 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the EQS SUV. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the EQS SUV ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Kia dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EV9’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 50 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 19 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

As tested in Motor Trend the EV9 GT-Line electric motors is faster than the EQS SUV 450+ electric motor:

On the EPA test cycle the EV9 gets better mileage than the EQS SUV:

For better traction, the EV9 GT-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the EQS SUV (285/45R21 vs. 275/45R21).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the EV9 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the EQS SUV.

The Kia EV9 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 850 pounds less than the Mercedes EQS SUV.

The EV9 is 4.6 inches shorter than the EQS SUV, making the EV9 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The EV9 has .5 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom and 1.5 inches more rear legroom than the EQS SUV.

The EV9’s cargo area provides more volume than the EQS SUV.

Maximum trailer towing in the Mercedes EQS SUV is limited to 3500 pounds. The EV9 AWD offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) is standard on the EV9, using the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the EQS SUV.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the EV9 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the EQS SUV only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The EV9 has standard front air conditioned seats and the EV9 Land/GT-Line also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The EQS SUV doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The EV9 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The EQS SUV has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the EV9 as the 2024 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The EQS SUV has never been chosen.