The Kia EV9, the brand's flagship electric SUV, has recently undergone rigorous safety testing by multiple organizations. The results are in, and they're impressive. Let's dive into the details of the Kia EV9's crash test ratings.
Euro NCAP Safety Rating
The Kia EV9 has achieved a stellar 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, the highest possible score awarded by the program. Here's how it performed across the four main categories:
- Adult Occupant Protection: 84%
- Child Occupant Protection: 88%
- Vulnerable Road Users: 76%
- Safety Assist: 83%
ANCAP Safety Rating
The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has also awarded the Kia EV9 a 5-star safety rating. This rating applies to all variants sold in Australia from November 2023 onwards and in New Zealand from October 2023. The scores were as follows:
- Adult Occupant Protection: 84%
- Child Occupant Protection: 87%
- Vulnerable Road User Protection: 76%
- Safety Assist: 85%
Key Safety Features
The EV9 comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including:
- 7 airbags (including a front-center airbag)
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction detection
- Lane Keep Assist (LKA) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK)
- Advanced Speed Assistance System (SAS)
Highlights from Crash Tests
- The passenger compartment remained stable in frontal impact tests.
- Good protection was provided to the knees and femurs of both driver and passenger.
- In the side barrier test, the EV9 scored maximum points, providing strong protection for all critical body areas.
- The EV9 scored even higher in child occupant tests, protecting all critical body areas of child dummies.
Advanced Safety Technologies
Euro NCAP highlighted the performance of the EV9's Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system, which responded well to other vehicles and avoided impacts in most test scenarios. The Lane Keeping Assistant (LKA) and speed assistance system also received praise.
Child Safety Features
The EV9 is equipped with an intelligent child presence detection system, which was noted positively by testers. However, ANCAP pointed out that the third row of seats does not have top-tether anchorages for child restraints, making it unsuitable for transporting young children in the third row.
Final Comments
The Kia EV9's 5-star ratings from both Euro NCAP and ANCAP demonstrate its strong safety credentials. With high scores across all testing categories and a comprehensive suite of safety features, the EV9 proves to be a safe choice for families looking for a large electric SUV. As always, while crash test ratings are an important factor in vehicle selection, they should be considered alongside other aspects such as real-world performance, reliability, and overall value when making a purchasing decision.
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