Verdict
The Kia EV9 costs RM368,668 against the Lexus GX’s RM780,000, leaving RM411,332 in the buyer’s pocket, while annual road tax is RM515 rather than RM2,352. For a Malaysian family able to charge at home or work, the EV9’s 99.8-kWh battery, 505-km range, 350-kW DC capability and seven seats make a very strong practical case. The GX answers with a 349-hp, 650-Nm 3.4-litre twin-turbo petrol powertrain, 1,063-litre boot and full-size spare, but it is a five-seater with far higher entry and tax costs.
Pick the Kia EV9 if you need seven seats, 505 km of claimed EV range and dramatically lower purchase and annual road-tax costs.
Pick the Lexus GX if you need its 1,063-litre boot, full-size spare tyre and 349-hp twin-turbo petrol powertrain.
Key differences
- Price: Kia EV9 RM368,668; Lexus GX RM780,000.
- Annual road tax: Kia EV9 RM515; Lexus GX RM2,352.
- Seating: Kia EV9 seven seats; Lexus GX five seats.
- Boot space: Kia EV9 333 litres; Lexus GX 1,063 litres.
- Wheelbase: Kia EV9 3,100 mm; Lexus GX 2,850 mm.
- Powertrain: Kia EV9 has two motors producing 380 hp and 700 Nm; Lexus GX has a 3,445-cc twin-turbo petrol engine producing 349 hp and 650 Nm.
EV9
- Seven seats and a 3,100-mm wheelbase.
- 99.8-kWh battery with 505-km range and 350-kW DC charging.
- Remote Parking Assist, head-up display and 14-speaker Meridian audio.
- 333-litre boot is much smaller than the GX’s 1,063 litres.
- Tyre repair kit instead of the GX’s full-size spare.
- No autonomous braking system is listed, while the GX gets one.
GX
- 1,063-litre boot and full-size spare tyre.
- 349 hp and 650 Nm from a 3.4-litre twin-turbo petrol engine.
- Autonomous braking, adaptive high beam and front foglamps.
- RM411,332 more expensive to buy.
- Only five seats versus the EV9’s seven.
- Annual road tax is RM2,352 versus RM515.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM368,668✓ | RM780,000 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM515✓ | RM2,352 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | E-GMP platform, 800V architecture | 24-valve DOHC, twin-turbocharged with direct fuel injection and dual variable valve timing |
| Capacity | — | 3,445 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 349 hp |
| Torque | — | 650 Nm |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 85.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.3 |
| Number of Motors | 2 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 380 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 700 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 99.8 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 505 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 11 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 350 kW | — |
| V2L | 3.6 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | 10-Speed Direct Shift |
| Gears | — | 10 |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 7 seconds |
| Top Speed | 200 km/h✓ | 175 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,015 mm | 5,015 mm |
| Width | 1,980 mm | 2,000 mm |
| Height | 1,780 mm | 1,890 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,100 mm | 2,850 mm |
| Weight | 2,648 kg | 3,110 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 80 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 333 litres | 1,063 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 285/45R21 | 265/70R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/45R21 | 265/70R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Full-size |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact C | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Korea (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 21" Alloys | 18" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 21" Alloys | 18" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) with FlexSteer adjustment (Comfort/Normal/Sport) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Centre Airbag | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Automatic For Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats in Second and Third Row | Available on two rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Bi-LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam and Sequential Indicators |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory and Massage Settings, Heating | 8-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function, Ventilated and Heated |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row with one-touch tumble, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row with one-touch space up | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Lexus Climate Concierge |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control with 3rd Row Air Vents | Rear Vents |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | Front |
| Power Sockets | 2 Sockets, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof and Rear Window Shades | Sunroof Shade and Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 12.3" Infotainment Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 14-speaker Meridian Sound System | 14" Touchscreen with Bluetooth, Navigation, Voice Recognition, Wired Android Auto, Wireless Apple CarPlay and 10-speaker Pioneer Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-PinchFour Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation (with Smart Card Key) |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go and Steering Assist | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Monitor | Yes, with Surround View Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, Remote Parking Assist | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8 years/160,000 km for EV battery | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used EV9 & GX for sale
EV9 vs GX FAQ
Is the Kia EV9 or Lexus GX better?
The EV9 is the better fit for a seven-seat family that can charge regularly: it has 505 km of range, lower road tax and costs far less. Choose the GX for its much larger 1,063-litre boot, full-size spare and petrol power.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus GX costs RM411,332 more than the Kia EV9: RM780,000 versus RM368,668. Its annual road tax is also RM1,837 higher, at RM2,352 compared with RM515.
Which has more luggage space?
The Lexus GX has 1,063 litres of boot space, substantially more than the Kia EV9’s 333 litres. The EV9 counters with seven seats, while the GX has five.