Kia’s new flagship electric SUV, the EV9, has been awarded the top prize at the prestigious Red Dot Award: Product Design 2024 competition. The EV9 received the highest honour of ‘Best of the Best’ in the Cars and Motorcycles category, a testament to Kia’s bold ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy.
The Red Dot Awards are among the most sought-after recognitions for product design excellence. Evaluated by a jury of international design experts, the ‘Best of the Best’ accolade is reserved only for the most pioneering designs that set new standards.
This marks Kia’s 29th Red Dot award since 2009, highlighting the brand’s continued emphasis on innovative and influential automotive design. The EV9 win follows critical acclaim since its 2023 launch, including the 2024 World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle awards.
Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ ethos aims to harmonize futuristic design and sustainable values. The EV9’s exterior exemplifies this through its bold yet graceful styling, defined by an upright stance, smooth surfaces, and distinctive lighting signatures like the Digital Tiger Face.
As Kia’s first model under its three-step Design Sustainability Strategy, the EV9 eliminates animal-sourced leather and incorporates sustainable materials. This commitment to electric mobility aligns with the SUV’s environmentally-conscious positioning.
“The accolade is a recognition of the inspiring power of Kia’s design philosophy, ‘Opposites United’, that has guided us at every stage of the EV9’s development. Reinforcing Kia’s strong design identity, ‘Opposites United’ continuously inspires us to create products that are relevant and meaningful, and positively impact our customers’ lives,” said Karim Habib, Kia’s Head of Global Design.
Beyond design prowess, the EV9 offers substantial electric performance. With battery options up to 99.8 kWh, it can achieve up to 489 km of range. A dual-motor AWD variant produces 379 hp and can charge from 10-80% in under 25 minutes on DC fast chargers.
The EV9’s combination of bold design, sustainable principles, and long-range electric capability has resonated with critics and consumers alike. Other major awards include the German Luxury Car of the Year 2024 and North American Utility Vehicle of the Year 2024.
Kia’s first mass-market three-row electric SUV starts at $59,995 for the base Light RWD trim. Pricing tops out at $78,995 for the fully-loaded Land AWD GT-Line model.
The Red Dot ‘Best of the Best’ award solidifies the EV9 as a pioneering force shaping the future of electric mobility through inspired design and cutting-edge technology.
“With the EV9, we created an EV with a bold and authentic SUV character that pushes the boundaries, not only of design, but also of usability, connectivity and environmental responsibility. Receiving the Red Dot: ‘Best of the Best’ design award is immensely gratifying, not just for the Kia design team, but also for all our global colleagues, and represents our continuous push to bring innovative and inspiring solutions,” added Habib.
