Verdict
The Kia EV9 costs RM368,668, RM16,304 less than the RM384,972 Volkswagen Touareg, and its RM515 annual road tax is far easier on Malaysian running costs than RM1,632. Its two motors produce 380 hp and 700 Nm, backed by a 99.8-kWh battery with 505 km of range and 350-kW DC charging. More importantly for families, it has seven seats and a 3,100-mm wheelbase. The Touareg counters with a much larger 810-litre boot, 250 km/h top speed, air suspension and a 335-hp, 450-Nm 3.0-litre V6 petrol drivetrain.
EV9
Pick the Kia EV9 if you need seven seats, lower annual road tax and an EV with 505 km of quoted range.
Touareg
Pick the Volkswagen Touareg if you need its 810-litre boot, 250 km/h top speed and air suspension, and can live with five seats.
Key differences
- Price: Kia EV9 RM368,668; Volkswagen Touareg RM384,972.
- Road tax: Kia EV9 RM515 per year; Volkswagen Touareg RM1,632 per year.
- Seating: Kia EV9 seven seats; Volkswagen Touareg five seats.
- Boot space: Kia EV9 333 litres; Volkswagen Touareg 810 litres.
- Powertrain output: Kia EV9 380 hp/700 Nm from two motors; Volkswagen Touareg 335 hp/450 Nm from a 2,995-cc V6.
- Top speed: Kia EV9 200 km/h; Volkswagen Touareg 250 km/h.
EV9
- Seven-seat cabin with second- and third-row ISOFIX positions.
- 99.8-kWh battery, 505 km range and 350-kW DC charging.
- 380 hp and 700 Nm, plus 3.6-kW V2L.
- 333-litre boot is 477 litres smaller than the Touareg's.
- 200 km/h top speed trails the Touareg's 250 km/h.
- No air suspension listed.
Touareg
- 810-litre boot despite its shorter 4,878-mm body.
- Air suspension front and rear.
- HD Matrix LED headlamps, night vision and autonomous braking.
- Costs RM16,304 more and annual road tax is RM1,117 higher.
- Five seats versus the EV9's seven.
- 335 hp and 450 Nm are below the EV9's 380 hp and 700 Nm.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM368,668✓ | RM384,972 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM515✓ | RM1,632 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | E-GMP platform, 800V architecture | 24-valve DOHC with Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | — | 2,995 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 335 hp at 5,300 rpm |
| Torque | — | 450 Nm at 1,340 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | V 6 |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 84.5 mm × 89 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.8 |
| Number of Motors | 2 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 380 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 700 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 99.8 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 505 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 11 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 350 kW | — |
| V2L | 3.6 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | 8-speed Automatic |
| Gears | — | 8 |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 200 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,015 mm | 4,878 mm |
| Width | 1,980 mm | 1,984 mm |
| Height | 1,780 mm | 1,702 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,100 mm | 2,984 mm |
| Weight | 2,648 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | — | 90 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 333 litres | 810 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 285/45R21 | 285/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/45R21 | 285/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact C | Bridgestone Alenza 001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 21" Alloys | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 21" Alloys | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) with FlexSteer adjustment (Comfort/Normal/Sport) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Air Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Centre Airbag) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Automatic For Rear Doors | Electronic for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats in Second and Third Row | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Night Vision | — | Yes |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | HD Matrix LED Headlights |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory and Massage Settings, Heating | 12-Way Power-Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row with one-touch tumble, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row with one-touch space up | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control with 3rd Row Air Vents | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 2 Sockets, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 3 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof and Rear Window Shades | Manual rear window blinds |
| Audio | 12.3" Infotainment Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 14-speaker Meridian Sound System | 15" Innovision Cockpit with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Dynaudio Consequence Sound System (730-Watts) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-PinchFour Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go and Steering Assist | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Monitor | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, Remote Parking Assist | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8 years/160,000 km for EV battery | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used EV9 & Touareg for sale
EV9 vs Touareg FAQ
Is the Kia EV9 or Volkswagen Touareg better?
The EV9 is the better family choice with seven seats, 505 km of quoted range and RM515 annual road tax. Choose the Touareg for its 810-litre boot, air suspension and 250 km/h top speed.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Touareg costs RM384,972, which is RM16,304 more than the Kia EV9 at RM368,668.
Which one has more luggage space?
The Volkswagen Touareg has the larger boot at 810 litres, compared with 333 litres in the seven-seat Kia EV9.
