Two industry titans come to a head with this pairing: longstanding Toyota and recently reinvigorated Kia, with different approaches to their range-topping family haulers. The Toyota Grand Highlander Max Limited is a burly hybrid; the Kia EV9 GT-Line, meanwhile, uses all-electric power. Toyota’s SUV wears conservative styling while the Kia’s design looks like it’s made for a sci-fi video game.
With these drastic differences in mind, this matchup represents a clash of car-building philosophies as much as a product evaluation.
The Grand Highlander Max makes use of the three-row SUV’s strongest powertrain. A 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine pairs with dual electric motors, one up front and one in the rear, to produce a total of 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic handles the shifting, and all-wheel drive comes standard. Acceleration is relatively rapid; 0–60 mph takes just 5.9 seconds at the track.
If the Grand Highlander faced off against a more conventional gasoline-only SUV, it might dust its rival with relative ease. The hybrid drivetrain is strong and responsive with plenty of low-end torque and pulling power
