Compare the2026 BMW X7VS 2026 Kia EV9

The X7’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.

For enhanced safety, the middle seat shoulder belts of the BMW X7 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Kia EV9 doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

The BMW X7 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The EV9 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X7 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The EV9 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X7 has standard Post-Crash Braking, which automatically apply 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X7. But it costs extra on the EV9.

Both the X7 and the EV9 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 X7’s corrosion warranty is 7 years and unlimited miles longer than the EV9’s (12/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X7 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the EV9.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the X7’s reliability 19 points higher than the EV9.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X7 first among large premium suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The EV9 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Kia is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 1 place higher in reliability than Kia.

The X7 has more powerful engines than the EV9:

The X7’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The EV9 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the X7 M Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the EV9:

The X7 stops much shorter than the EV9:

For better traction, the X7 has larger standard tires than the EV9 (F:275/40R22 & R:315/35R22 vs. 255/60R19).

The X7’s standard 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. The X7’s optional 275/35R23 front and 315/30R23 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the EV9 GT-Line’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the EV9. The X7’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the EV9 GT-Line.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X7 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 X7 offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the EV9; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The X7 offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The EV9 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the X7 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 X7 offers an available active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Kia doesn’t offer an active suspension on the EV9.

The X7 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.

The X7 xDrive40i handles at .88 G’s, while the EV9 Land AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X7 xDrive40i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the EV9 Land AWD (26.1 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X7 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the EV9 (8.7 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the X7 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The X7 has .7 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear hip room, 2.5 inches more third row legroom and 6.1 inches more third row hip room than the EV9.

The X7’s cargo area provides more volume than the EV9.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the X7. The EV9 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The X7’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The EV9’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The X7’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the EV9’s (5952 vs. 2000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Kia EV9 AWD is only 5000 pounds. The X7 offers up to a 7507 lbs. towing capacity.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the EV9 Wind/Land/GT-Line, the X7 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, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

If the windows are left open on the X7 the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the EV9 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The X7’s standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key standard on the EV9 doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the X7 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The EV9 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the X7 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The EV9 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The X7 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The X7 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.

The X7 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the EV9 Wind/Land/GT-Line.

The BMW X7 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Kia charges extra for Homelink® on the EV9.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 BMW X7 retains 41.98% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 35.24% resale value of the 2025 Kia EV9 after five years, which can save the BMW’s owner.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X7 and the Kia EV9, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X7 second among large premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The EV9 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The BMW X7 outsold the Kia EV9 by 41% during 2024.