Kia celebrates EV9 ‘Best Large SUV’ win at the Fleet News Awards 2026

• Kia EV9 takes home ‘Best Large SUV’
• Kia is a finalist in four highly-fought categories, demonstrating the quality of its large model line-up

The fully electric Kia EV9 has been announced as the ‘Best Large SUV’ Award winner at the Fleet News Awards 2026, retaining its crown from last year.

The judging panel recognised Kia’s innovation, electrification leadership, and commitment to delivering practical, efficient, and technologically advanced vehicles for business users.

Kia EV9 wins ‘Best Large SUV’

Kia’s flagship electric SUV, the EV9, secured ‘Best Large SUV’. Its seven‑seat versatility, bold design, and impressive real‑world efficiency resonated strongly with the judging panel, who praised its suitability for both executive transport and high‑mileage fleet use. The EV9’s combination of space, refinement, and cutting‑edge technology has established it as one of the most capable large electric SUVs on the market. The EV9 won the same award at the Fleet News Awards in 2025.

Judging for the awards took place across four days, with manufacturer and supplier categories overseen by awards chair, Alison Moriarty, and assessor, Nigel Morris, director of employment tax at Ernst and Young.

The Fleet News Awards judging panel commented: “Versatile with either six or seven seats, last year’s winner retains its title. It was a game changer when it was launched and it’s standing the test of time. Make no mistake, this is a premium car, but at affordable money.”

Dave Williams, Head of Fleet at Kia UK, commented: “Winning a fleet award for our flagship model, the EV9, is a fantastic recognition of its excellence. The win reflects the breadth and maturity of our electric vehicle line‑up and the strength of our offering to UK fleet customers. We are proud to deliver products that meet or indeed exceed the needs of businesses today, and in the future, and the EV9 is one such vehicle that continues to impress despite now being one of the older electric models in our line-up.”

Kia’s EV9 is an all-electric SUV designed and built for modern lifestyles in the electrified era. The Kia EV9 is offered in a choice of ‘Air’, ‘GT-Line’ or ‘GT-Line S’ specifications in the UK, with ‘Air’ featuring rear-wheel drive, and the ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ versions fitted with all-wheel drive as standard. In addition, the flagship ‘GT-Line S’ model is offered with a choice of seven- or six-seats.

The EV9 is the largest of Kia’s UK electric line-up, serving as flagship to the EV6, EV5, EV4, EV3 and recently introduced EV2. The recently launched high-performance EV9 GT brings break-taking power to the already versatile grand touring ability of the EV9 and adding to its versatility.

Kia was shortlisted for four awards, underlining the brand’s growing strength and relevance in the UK fleet sector. Finalists included the EV3, EV6, EV9, and the recently launched and first dedicated electric commercial vehicle from Kia, the PV5.

Stephen Briers, Editor of Fleet News, said: “This achievement is worthy recognition of the excellent work delivered over the past 12 months. The standard of entries was exceptionally high across all categories. Fleets and suppliers alike demonstrated outstanding innovation and performance, while an ever-expanding range of car models made the judges’ task more challenging than ever.”

Kia’s success at the Fleet News Awards 2026 reinforces its position as a leader in electrification, with a growing portfolio spanning passenger cars, SUVs, and most recently commercial vehicles.