The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently announced that the 2024 Kia EV9 has now earned the coveted Top Safety Pick award, thanks to updated headlights that address the issue of glare. The three-row electric SUV performed well in almost every test conducted by the IIHS, with the exception of headlight performance, which initially prevented it from receiving the award. However, with the introduction of new headlights in February 2024, the EV9 now meets all the necessary criteria for the Top Safety Pick award.
The updated headlights on the EV9 maintain strong illumination while eliminating the blinding glare that was present in the previous version. This hardware change has resulted in the headlights now receiving a top rating of “Good” from the IIHS. It is important to note that only EV9s built after February 2024 with the new headlights will be eligible for the award, as hardware changes cannot be made over-the-air.
In addition to the improved headlights, the EV9 received excellent ratings in other important safety categories. It achieved a “Good” rating in small and moderate overlap crash tests, as well as in the updated side impact test. The EV9 also received “Good” ratings for forward crash prevention, seat belt reminders, and child seat anchor access.
Despite now qualifying for the Top Safety Pick award, the EV9 did not receive the higher Top Safety Pick+ award due to the IIHS not yet testing it with the updated moderate overlap crash test. Additional testing will need to be conducted before the EV9 can potentially earn the higher safety rating.
In conclusion, the 2024 Kia EV9 has significantly improved its safety rating with the introduction of updated headlights that address the issue of glare. With strong performance in various crash tests and safety features, the EV9 now meets the criteria for the Top Safety Pick award. Additional testing will be conducted to determine if the EV9 can achieve an even higher safety rating in the future.
