Compare the2024 Mercedes EQS SUVVS 2024 Kia EV9

The EQS SUV’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The EV9 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The EQS SUV’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The EV9 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The EQS SUV has a standard Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The EV9 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The EQS SUV has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The EV9 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

The EQS SUV has standard Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The EV9 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the EQS SUV and the EV9 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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 and driver alert monitors.

The EQS SUV’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the EV9 runs out after 100,000 miles.

The EQS SUV has more powerful engines than the EV9:

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

The EQS SUV can travel longer on a full charge than the EV9 on a full charge:

For better stopping power the EQS SUV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the EV9:

The EQS SUV stops much shorter than the EV9:

For better traction, the EQS SUV has larger tires than the EV9 (275/45R21 vs. 255/60R19).

The EQS SUV’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the EV9’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the EQS SUV has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the EV9.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires optional on the EQS SUV can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The EV9 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The front and rear suspension of the EQS SUV uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the EV9, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The EQS SUV has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The EV9’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the EQS SUV’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the EV9 (126.4 inches vs. 122 inches).

The EQS SUV 450+ executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the EV9 GT-Line AWD (26 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 26.4 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the EQS SUV’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the EV9’s (36 feet vs. 40.6 feet).

The EQS SUV has .1 inches more front shoulder room and .8 inches more rear headroom than the EV9.

The EQS SUV has a much larger cargo volume than the EV9 with its rear seat up (22.7 vs. 20.2 cubic feet).

The EQS SUV’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the EV9’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the EV9 Land/GT-Line, the EQS SUV has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the EQS SUV to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The EV9 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the EQS SUV has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The EV9 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The EQS SUV also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The EQS SUV has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Kia doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the EV9.

Both the Mercedes EQS SUV and the Kia EV9 have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the second row seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the EQS SUV also offers an optional wireless charging system.

The Mercedes EQS SUV outsold the Kia EV9 by over 8 to one during 2023.