The Kia EV9 takes the win for electric luxury SUV of the year.
The KIA EV9 redefines expectations by delivering genuine luxury SUV experience without the traditional premium badge or price premium. This bold three-row electric flagship demonstrates Kia’s remarkable transformation from value-oriented mainstream manufacturer to legitimate luxury contender.
The EV9 strikes an impressive balance between futuristic design elements and traditional SUV presence—its commanding stance and distinctive lighting signature create unmistakable road presence, while avoiding the bland minimalism that characterizes many electric vehicles. The thoughtfully proportioned exterior houses a genuinely spacious interior that accommodates up to seven passengers in authentic comfort.
Inside, the cabin impresses with premium materials, meticulous assembly, and thoughtful ergonomics that create a genuinely luxurious environment. The comprehensive technology suite includes advanced driver assistance systems and connectivity features that rival established luxury brands, while the intuitive interface avoids the complexity that often plagues high-tech vehicles.
What ultimately secured the EV9’s position was its ability to deliver a complete luxury experience—from refined ride quality to whisper-quiet operation to genuine visual presence—without demanding the price premium typically associated with luxury badges. For discerning families seeking sustainable luxury transportation, the KIA EV9 demonstrates that prestige needn’t require traditional premium branding.
About The Allianz DSF VOTY Awards
The Allianz DSF.my Vehicle Of The Year (VOTY) Award ceremony is the first and only vehicle award event in Malaysia that does not hand out paid awards, nor does it charge winners or participating brands any fee whatsoever. Winners are allowed to use the VOTY event logo free of charge in all marketing materials. Event attendees are not even charged for their seat at the award presentation. All car manufacturers that operate in Malaysia are invited to participate free of charge. All they have to do is let our judges test drive their nominated vehicles.
The nominated vehicles must have been launched in Malaysia in the last 12 months and cannot be a localised minor facelift (body-kits, stickers, wheel upgrades, etc). All judging is independent and is put down to a vote before the winners are selected. Car manufacturers are not informed if they are winning or not before the event.
2025 marks a significant milestone for VOTY as Allianz celebrates its 16th year as the title sponsor of this prestigious automotive event. This year also commemorates Daniel Sherman Fernandez’s 25th year in the automotive industry, highlighting his longstanding contribution and commitment to automotive journalism in Malaysia.The judges for VOTY 2025 are Daniel Sherman Fernandez and Subhash Nair of dsf.my, Ross Hadi of gohedgostan.com and Joshua Chin of automacha.com.
