Compare the2025 Kia EV9VS 2026 Cadillac Vistiq

Both the EV9 and Vistiq 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 Vistiq’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 Vistiq 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 Cadillac Vistiq has not been tested.

Both the EV9 and the Vistiq 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.

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 Vistiq has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS 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 Vistiq’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 Cadillac covers the Vistiq. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Vistiq ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 40 percent more Kia dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it 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 Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Cadillac is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 12 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

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

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 Vistiq doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For greater off-road capability the EV9 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Vistiq (7.8 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the EV9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Kia EV9 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 1250 pounds less than the Cadillac Vistiq.

The EV9 is 8.4 inches shorter than the Vistiq, making the EV9 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 Vistiq doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The EV9 has 13.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Vistiq (158.8 vs. 145.6).

The EV9 has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 2.6 inches more rear legroom, .6 inches more rear hip room, .3 inches more rear shoulder room, .2 inches more third row legroom, .8 inches more third row hip room and .7 inches more third row shoulder room than the Vistiq.

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

Standard Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) on the EV9 uses 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. The Vistiq doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 Vistiq doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The EV9 (except Light/Wind)’s optional Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Vistiq’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The EV9 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Vistiq doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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

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