Compare the2025 Kia EV9VS 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Kia EV9 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Cadillac Escalade IQ doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

Both the EV9 and the Escalade IQ have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Kia EV9 (Built after January 2024) achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Escalade IQ has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The EV9 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Escalade IQ’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV9 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Cadillac covers the Escalade IQ. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Escalade IQ ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 38 percent more Kia dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the EV9’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Cadillac is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 6 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

The EV9 has a standard locking charge port with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The Escalade IQ doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

For better stopping power the EV9’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Escalade IQ:

For better traction, the EV9 GT-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escalade IQ (285/45R21 vs. 275/50R24).

The EV9 GT-Line’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Escalade IQ’s 50 series tires.

The EV9’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Escalade IQ doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For greater off-road capability the EV9 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Escalade IQ (7.8 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the EV9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The EV9 is 2 feet, 3.1 inches shorter than the Escalade IQ, making the EV9 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The EV9 is 7.2 inches shorter in height than the Escalade IQ, making the EV9 much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The EV9 has 1.5 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more third row headroom than the Escalade IQ.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the EV9’s middle and third row seats recline. The Escalade IQ’s third row seats don’t recline.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the EV9 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Cadillac doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Escalade IQ.

The EV9 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Escalade IQ doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The EV9 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The Escalade IQ has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the EV9 as the 2024 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Escalade IQ has never been chosen.