Compare the2026 Mercedes EQS SUVVS 2026 Kia EV9

The EQS SUV’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.

The EQS SUV’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The EV9 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The EQS SUV has a standard Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies 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 EQS SUV. But it costs extra on the EV9.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The EQS SUV has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The EV9 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the EQS SUV and the EV9 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 and driver alert monitors.

The Mercedes EQS SUV weighs 494 to 1552 pounds more than the Kia EV9. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The EQS SUV’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the EV9 runs out after 100,000 miles.

The EQS SUV has more powerful engines than the EV9:

	Horsepower	Torque
EQS SUV 400 4MATIC electric motors	355 HP	590 lbs.-ft.
EQS SUV 550 4MATIC electric motors	536 HP	633 lbs.-ft.
Maybach EQS 680 electric motors	649 HP	700 lbs.-ft.
EV9 Light Long Range electric motor	201 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
EV9 Light electric motor	215 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
EV9 Land/Wind electric motors	379 HP	443 lbs.-ft.
EV9 GT-Line electric motors	379 HP	516 lbs.-ft.

On the EPA test cycle the Maybach EQS 680 gets better mileage than the EV9 GT-Line (84 city/84 hwy vs. 92 city/72 hwy MPGe).

The EQS SUV can travel longer on a full charge than the EV9 on a full charge:

			Miles
EQS SUV
	AWD	550 4MATIC Electric Motors	317 miles
		400 4MATIC Electric Motors	312 miles
		Maybach EQS 680 Electric Motors	300 miles
EV9
	RWD	Light Long Range Electric Motor	305 miles
		Light Electric Motor	230 miles
	AWD	Land/Wind Electric Motors	283 miles
		GT-Line Electric Motors	280 miles

For better stopping power the EQS SUV’s brake rotors are larger than those on the EV9:

	EQS SUV	EV9
Front Rotors	16.3 inches	14.2 inches
Rear Rotors	14.9 inches	13.6 inches

For better traction, the EQS SUV has larger standard tires than the EV9 (275/45R21 vs. 255/60R19).

The EQS SUV’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 EQS SUV’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the EV9 GT-Line’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the EQS SUV has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the EV9. The EQS SUV’s optional 22-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 EQS SUV 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 front and rear suspension of the EQS SUV 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 EQS SUV 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the EQS SUV’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the EV9 (126.4 inches vs. 122 inches).

The EQS SUV handles at .86 G’s, while the EV9 Land AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The EQS SUV executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the EV9 Land AWD (26 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Maybach EQS 680’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the EV9’s (36 feet vs. 40.6 feet). The EQS SUV’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the EV9’s (39 feet vs. 40.6 feet).

The EQS SUV has a much larger cargo volume than the EV9 with its rear seat up (22.7 vs. 20.2 cubic feet).

The EQS SUV’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the EV9’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

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

If the windows are left open on the EQS SUV 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 also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the EV9 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The EQS SUV’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, 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.

The EQS SUV’s optional power side swing out doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the sport utility. The EV9 doesn’t offer a power rear door.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the EQS SUV to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The EV9 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

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

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the EQS SUV Maybach has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The EV9 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The EQS SUV has standard heated front and middle row seats and optional heated 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.

Both the EQS SUV and the EV9 offer available massaging front seats. The EQS SUV Maybach also has standard massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging second row seats aren’t available in the EV9.

The Mercedes EQS SUV 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.

Both the Mercedes EQS SUV and the Kia EV9 have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the second row seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the EQS SUV also has a standard wireless charging system in the second row seat. The EV9 does not.