Question 1

Which has lower long-term cost — Kia EV9 or Toyota Grand Highlander?

Accepted Answer

Based on national-average assumptions, the Toyota Grand Highlander is about $11,531 cheaper to own over 5 years. The breakdown includes depreciation, insurance, fuel or energy, maintenance, financing, and registration. Your localized total may differ based on state fuel prices, insurance rates, and EV registration fees.

Question 2

Which is cheaper to insure — Kia EV9 or Toyota Grand Highlander?

Accepted Answer

Insurance varies by state, ZIP code, age, and credit tier. Enter a ZIP to see a localized estimate; both vehicles' national-average premiums are shown on the compare page.

Question 3

Which depreciates faster — Kia EV9 or Toyota Grand Highlander?

Accepted Answer

Depreciation over the first five years is itemized in the cost breakdown. Luxury and EV models typically lose more value in early years; segment leaders and Toyota/Honda hold value better.

Question 4

Is the Kia EV9 better than the Toyota Grand Highlander?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how you drive. The compare page scores both vehicles across five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, driver assistance, livability, and safety — combined into one MotiveGrid Score, alongside a 5-year cost breakdown and a clear verdict. Pick the one whose strengths match how you actually use a car.

Question 5

Why do these two vehicles get different ADAS (driver-assist) scores?

Accepted Answer

Our ADAS scale weighs sensor stack (radar + camera vs camera-only), hands-free operating domain (highway vs any divided road), driver-monitoring quality (eye-tracking vs torque sensor), and whether the system gets OTA improvements. Two vehicles can advertise the same feature names and still score 20+ points apart once operating envelope and update cadence are accounted for.

Question 6

Why does EV depreciation differ from a comparable gas vehicle?

Accepted Answer

EV residuals follow a different curve for three reasons. Aggressive manufacturer price cuts and subsidized lease deals compress the used market — a new EV often transacts well below MSRP, dragging down used values. Battery state-of-health uncertainty creates a risk premium on used EVs. And fast-improving charging speed, range, and ADAS hardware make a 3-year-old EV feel older than a 3-year-old gas car.

Metric	Kia EV9	Toyota Grand Highlander
MotiveGrid Score	70	82
Cost of Ownership	65	84
Powertrain	59	67
Driver Assistance	32	43
Livability	43	51
Safety	97	95
5-Year Cost to Own	$62,047	$50,516
Depreciation (5-yr)	$29,426	$13,143
Fuel / Energy (5-yr)	$5,770	$14,034
Insurance (5-yr)	$13,110	$11,935
Maintenance (5-yr)	$1,015	$2,000
Tires (5-yr)	$2,450	$1,900
Financing (5-yr)	$8,260	$6,358
Registration (5-yr)	$2,015	$1,145
Starting Price	$54,900	$42,260
Horsepower	215 hp	265 hp
MPG (combined)	—	24 mpg
Electric range	230 mi	—
Cargo volume	20.2 cu ft	20.6 cu ft
Seating	7	8
Drivetrain	RWD	FWD

Kia EV9 vs. Toyota Grand Highlander

Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.

Which vehicle is right for you

Cost of Ownership

Frequently asked questions

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