DecodedCarsKia EV9 vs Toyota Highlander
2026 Kia EV9 vs 2026 Toyota Highlander — two standard SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.
The short version
That works out to about $1,050 a year less in fuel for the Kia EV9 (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).
The Kia EV9 is the bigger car, about 2 inches longer.
Across all model years since 2005, the Kia EV9 has had fewer recall campaigns (10 vs 47).
The two cars
The 2026 Kia EV9 is a standard SUV powered by electricity and rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 197 inches long and 78 inches wide on a 122-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 5,650 lb (4dr SUV AWD).
The 2026 Toyota Highlander is a standard SUV offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 2.4L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive. It measures about 195 inches long and 76 inches wide on a 112-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,123 lb (4dr SUV L FWD).
Basics
Efficiency
Performance & space
Safety & reliability
Interest
Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Kia EV9 if…
- You want an EV with more range (305 miles)
- You put reliability history first (10 vs 47 recalls since 2005)
Choose the Toyota Highlander if…
It doesn't clearly beat the Kia EV9 on any measure we track.
Pros & cons of each
2026 Kia EV9
- Long EV rangeUp to 305 miles on a charge (EPA).
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
2026 Toyota Highlander
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 35 MPG combined — 75% better than the average 2026 standard SUV (20 MPG).
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
- Seats up to 73 rows of seating.
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Full 2026 Kia EV9 specs →Full 2026 Toyota Highlander specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →