WINNER
Kia EV9
Kia played a blinder with the EV9. It’s as comfortable and well-equipped as a Range Rover, but it costs about half as much. To sweeten the deal, it’s built on the Hyundai Group’s industry-leading EV platform which means it has a real-world range of around 300 miles and charge times that are almost as convenient as refuelling a petrol car.
It’s also packed with party tricks, such as a bi-directional charging function. Such tech allows you to use a portion of the car’s battery capacity to power laptops and camping gadgets on the move using the three-pin sockets in the cabin. That’s great for keeping your kids entertained on long family trips.
But it gets better. It’s also great to drive. It’s obviously biased towards comfort, but it still puts on an impressive show when you point it down a twisty road. Its heavy battery pack acts like an anchor, lashing it into the road – and that allowed Kia to fit quick steering without worrying about overwhelming the car’s tyres. It’s a masterclass in how a big electric should perform. In fact, we think it’s Kia’s best car yet. And if you’ve read our verdicts on the rest of Kia’s model range, you’ll know that’s very high praise indeed.
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How much would the Kia EV9 cost to insure?
Based on a 45-year old male the Kia EV9 would cost £866.38 to insure. Compare prices in less than five minutes at Parkerscompare.com
*Insurance quotes are from parkerscompare.com in October 2024 and are based on a 45-year-old, employed, married male living in Huntingdon with 20 years NCD and no claims or convictions. Insurance quotes will vary depending on individual circumstances.
To find out more, read our full Kia EV9 review
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Volkswagen Multivan
The Multivan is a lot less fashionable and far more utilitarian than the EV9. That’s not to say it isn’t brilliant – it’s just serving a slightly different audience. The Multivan is the seven-seater you buy if you need a miniature school bus during the week and a mountain bike-carrying adventure rig for the weekend.
It’s an exceptionally well-packed car that’s packed with useful features such as swivelling middle seats and a sliding storage console that, when pushed to the rear of the cabin, can be transformed into a table. And while it might look like a van from the outside, it’s actually based on a stretched version of the Golf’s platform – so it feels rather like a normal car to drive. We love it.
To find out more, read our full Volkswagen Multivan review
Citroen Berlingo and e-Berlingo
The Citroen Berlingo/e-Berlingo is an even more utilitarian solution to the seven-seater conundrum. Sadly, it doesn’t get a lot of love because it’s based on a van – and image-conscious drivers hate to be associated with that class of vehicle. But, if you’re on a tight budget and need a practical seven-seater, you’ll struggle to do better.
At the time of writing, the most basic Berlingo cost just over £22,000 – and we defy you to find another car that offers more space for the same money. Pound for pound, even the bargain-basement Dacia Jogger can’t match it. The Citroen also has an unusually pleasant interior (for a van-based MPV) and a remarkably comfortable ride. Plus, if you’re the eco-conscious sort, you can even have it an EV.
To find out more, read our full Citroen Berlingo review
To find out more, read our full Citroen e-Berlingo review
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