America ’s most democratic electric vehicle , theTesla Model Y , is amaze a major refresh . Tesla already launch the Tesla Model Y Juniper in China , but now it ’s bringing the vehicle to the US .

Of naturally , the novel Model Y has to go up against a host of competitive electric vehicle , some of which are larger , some faster , and some even cheaper . The Kia EV9 has been hail for being one of the few full - sizing galvanizing SUV that offers a high - quality drive experience without completely breaking the bank .

Can the Tesla Model Y Juniper compete withthe Kia EV9 ? Is one vehicle better for you than the other ? Here ’s how the two pile up . Keep in mind that we ’re only looking at the newfangled Model Y Juniper for this comparing — not the previous - generation Model Y that has been available for some time now .

Design

The designs of thenew Tesla Model Yand the Kia EV9 are pretty different . The Model Y is more of a crossover voter - sized vehicle than an existent SUV , while the EV9 is much more like a traditional S.U.V. with a openhanded boxy shape .

The Model Y Juniper offer a few innovation updates over the previous genesis Model Y. For starters , the headlamp is a retentive short barroom at the front that ’s split into three sections , unlike the two distinct headlights from the previous model . That movement continues at the back with a light bar as the tail lamp . Other aspects of the vehicle have been made a little sleeker and a little more modern too .

The EV9 , on the other hand , is big and boxy . It ’s not as bosomy as the Model Y by any means , but it is larger in almost every dimension . On the front , it has Kia ’s angulate headlight with similarly designed tail lamp at the back . The EV9 has design touches like Kia ’s Digital Tiger Grille at the front , which is a unique looking at that many will appreciate .

Some matter about design are objective , like size . Overall look , however , is immanent , so you ’re going to have to decide for yourself which one you like the look of effective . This category is a link .

Winner : Tie

Interior and tech

The midland designs of the vehicle are fairly different too . Tesla Interior Department are known for their reductivism , and that continues with the latest refresh of theModel Y. At the front of the fomite , you ’ll one large showing , which is what you ’ll use for both infotainment and monitoring things like push speed . That ’s to say there ’s no display behind the steering bicycle for the driver . For the Model Y Juniper , Tesla has impart things like additional accent lighting , helping make the fomite look more modern .

Traditionally , the Tesla Model Y has volunteer an option for a third wrangle of seating , however we do n’t yet have confirmation that the Model Y Juniper will have that option . We simulate it will — but perhaps only when the vehicle gets a panoptic launch in the U.S. For now , if you need a Model Y Juniper , you ’re stuck with five seats .

That ’s not straight ofthe Kia EV9though . In fact , you ca n’t get an EV9 without three rows of seats . The EV9 comes with option for either six or seven seats , with the six - seat configuration replacing a second - row bench seat with two more luxurious captain ’s chairs .

Apart from the seating musical arrangement , theEV9is slimly more traditional in its internal invention — though that ’s certainly not to say it ’s not innovative . The vehicle has USB - C interface stud throughout , comfortable seating , and has features like the swiveling hind end ( if you get the captain ’s chairs in the middle ) . At the front of the vehicle , there are indeed two display , one for infotainment and the other for instrument monitoring — and there are extra controls outside of the sieve for things like clime and book .

Interior design , like exterior design , is mostly subjective . Do you want more room or a more minimalistic look ? You ’ll have to decide for yourself .

Performance

Next up is execution , however there are a few things to notice before we get stick around in . Notably , while Tesla has launch a rear - wheel driveandan all - wheel drive version of the Model Y Juniper in China , in the US , you could get a special edition version of the all - wheel drive exemplar . As such , we do n’t yet have any information about a potential Performance example if one ever gets released . And , we ’re stuck with the 0 - 100 km / total heat speedup speed of the RWD Model Y Juniper in China , which equates to 0 - 62 miles per hour — tightlipped but not the same as the 0 - 60 miles per hour f number tests available in the US .

The RWD Model Y can accelerate to 100 kilometer / h in 5.9 second , which is a definite increase over the former generation ’s acceleration fourth dimension of 6.6 seconds . The so - foretell launch edition new Model Y being deal in the US right now can do the occupation in 4.1 seconds , again an addition over the previous generation ’s power to get up to cannonball along in 4.8 seconds .

The Kia EV9 ’s times are not quite as impressive — though keep in brain the fact that the EV9 is n’t necessarily built as a performance vehicle as much as it ’s built as a hoi polloi mover . The EV9 comes in a range of mountains of dissimilar form , with the EV9 Light taking 7.4 seconds or 8.5 instant ( for the larger assault and battery pick ) , and the EV9 Wind have 5.4 seconds . The EV9 GT - Line can get to 60 mph in 4.7 minute .

The Moto Y is built for a sportsmanlike campaign , so it gets the win in this category .

success : Tesla Model Y

Range and charging

Range is another area where we do n’t yet have all the information about the Model Y Juniper . That ’s because the Chinese discrepancy of the Model Y are rated by the China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle ( CLTC ) , which is typically much less strict than the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) ’s rating process in the US . That said , we can at least compare CLTC ratings of both the Model Y Juniper and the previous - gen Model Y.

accord to the CLTC , the Model Y Juniper has a range of 593 km for the RWD model , which represents an improvement of around 39 klick or 24 miles . The AWD Model Y Juniper being sell in the US , has an estimated range of 320 miles , which is a 9 - mil betterment over the 311 - mi range of the previous generation AWD Model Y.

The range of the Kia EV9 varies quite a bit too , though . Thebase EV9 , call the Light RWD EV9 , has only a 230 - Admiralty mile range , with the Light Long Range RWD model offering a 304 - nautical mile range . The other models have between 270 and 280 miles of range .

The EV9 can charge faster than the Model Y though . The EV9 is establish on an 800V architecture , which mean it can charge at up to an telling 350kW , allowing you to charge from 10 - 80 % in only around 20 bit . The Model Y tops out at around 250kW.

Still , while charge speed is significant , kitchen range is more important and that ’s why the Tesla Model Y gets the win in this category .

Price and availability

The Kia EV9 is amply available in the US and has been usable for some clock time now . you could order one right now , with pricing set about at $ 54,900 for the EV9 Light RWD .

patently , old - generation Model Ys been available for some time too , but the Model Y Juniper has only just launched in the US and is very modified in term of availability . In fact , only the soup - up launching edition new Model Y is available in the US correctly now , and even then , it wo n’t deliver until at least March if you order one . It cost $ 59,990 . That said , we expect more versions of the Model Y Juniper to eventually become available in the US , and when they do , they will most likely be quite a bit cheaper than the launching version Model and approach the price of the previous - generation Model Y.

In its current edition , the Model Y Juniperis both more expensive and less available than the Kia EV9 . So the EV9 gets the win in this class . We ’re expecting that to change as the new Model Y get a full release , though .

Winner : Kia EV9

Overall winner: Tesla Model Y

The Model Y Juniper is quicker and has a longsighted range than the Kia EV9 , and that ’s what make it the victor here . Technically , Kia gets the win in the price class , but that ’s only because the Model Y Juniper is currently only available in the launch variant edition . When the Model Y Juniper does get a wider release in the US , it ’ll most in all likelihood be quite a morsel bum than the EV9 .

When that come about , though , the decision may be slightly different for you . Frankly , it ’s probably not worth deciding between these two vehicles ground on thing like performance . Instead , if you desire a large electric SUV , you should go for the EV9 . But if you need a smaller , crossover - sized fomite , then the Model Y is one to consider .