Compare the2025 Kia EV9VS 2025 Lexus TX

Both the EV9 and TX 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 TX’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 TX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Kia EV9 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lexus TX has not been tested.

Both the EV9 and the TX 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Kia EV9 is safer than the TX:

The Kia EV9 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The TX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

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 TX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV9 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lexus covers the TX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the TX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Kia dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EV9’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 8th.

The EV9 has more powerful engines than the TX:

As tested in Car and Driver the Kia EV9 is faster than the TX 550h+ 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid:

As tested in Motor Trend the EV9 GT-Line electric motors is faster than the TX 500h 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid:

As tested in Motor Trend the EV9 GT-Line electric motors is faster than the TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the EV9 gets better mileage than the TX running its gasoline engine:

The EV9 can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 230 to 304 miles, up to 10% further than the TX 550h+ CVT‘s -mile range on a full charge and a full tank of fuel. The TX 550h+ CVT has to start its internal combustion engine after only 33 miles.

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the EV9’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Lexus only offers a regenerative brake system on the TX 500h/550h+.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia EV9 higher (10 out of 10) than the Lexus TX (7). This means the EV9 produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the TX every 15,000 miles.

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

The EV9 stops much shorter than the TX:

For better traction, the EV9 GT-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the TX (285/45R21 vs. 255/55R20).

The EV9 offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The TX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The EV9’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The TX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the EV9’s wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the TX (122 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

The EV9 GT-Line AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the TX 550h+ Luxury pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The EV9 GT-Line AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the TX 350 Luxury (26.3 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the EV9 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the TX 550h+ Luxury (7.8 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the EV9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The EV9 is 5.9 inches shorter than the TX, making the EV9 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Kia EV9 amounts to more than styling. The EV9 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is significantly lower than the TX (.34 to .35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the EV9 get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the EV9 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The TX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The EV9 has 5.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the TX (158.8 vs. 153).

The EV9 has 2.9 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 3.3 inches more rear legroom, 1.1 inches more rear hip room, 1 inch more rear shoulder room and 2.3 inches more third row headroom than the TX.

The EV9 GT-Line has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the TX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia EV9 and the Lexus TX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its October 2024 issue and they ranked the Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD higher than the Lexus TX 550h+ Luxury.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the EV9 first among upper midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The TX isn’t in the top three.

The EV9 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The TX 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 TX has never been chosen.