EFTM BEST AWARDS 2023: BEST CAR

We’re not looking to put cars through some rigorous test track and mark them off with scores that may favour one thing over another. Here at EFTM what we’re looking for is a standout, a vehicle that sets a new bar, that has a uniqueness to it. In 2021 it was the Porsche Taycan, and we think this year’s winner is as important – if not more important than that car to the market.

Speaking to Motoring journalists with values that strongly align with EFTM’s – it became clear very quickly which car would win this award. The all-new, and very fresh to Australian roads – KIA EV9.

If you think the Kia EV9 looks like it comes from the future, you’d be right. Except it’s here now. 

It is Kia’s new seven-seat electric SUV and the first full size family freighter from a Top 10 brand in Australia to run solely on electric power. 

It has decent real world driving range of up to 550km in ideal conditions (and comfortably 450km if you’re driving in less than optimal conditions such as freeway speeds all the time), is incredibly roomy and comfortable, and feels secure on the road. 

In the wet, you can feel the weight push the car around in tight turns and roundabouts, but you soon learn to take it easy in these scenarios. 

We chose the middle of the range Earth model grade (rather than the base model Air and flagship GT-Line) because we reckon that’s the sweet spot in the line up in terms of price (Air: $ 97,000 plus on-road costs, Earth: $106,500, GT-Line: $121,000). 

The single motor rear-drive Air is ok, but it’s worth stepping up to the dual motor, all-wheel-drive Earth, which also gets a heap more grunt (0-100kmh in about 6 seconds, which is hot-hatch quick). 

The top of the range GT-Line unlocks a slightly faster mode (0-100kmh in 5.3 seconds, yikes!), as well as gaining a panorama roof, premium audio, fancier wheels, and digital side mirrors.

But it’s these digital side mirrors which work against the EV9 in this instance. They’re hard to use when parking and making a three-point turn, and they have less visibility than the convex wide-view side mirrors on the other models. 

Which is why the Earth is the pick of the EV9 range in our opinion (until Kia ditches the digital side mirrors on the GT-Line).

It’s also an outstanding SUV for modern families. And it just happens to be electric. 

So it looks like Kia continues to have families covered with a great choice of options whether petrol or diesel (Carnival) or electric (EV9). 

We look forward to seeing more of these on the road soon. 

Congratulations to the KIA EV9 Earth – the EFTM BEST Award 2023 winner for BEST CAR.