Kia EV9 vs Lexus RZ: Specs Compared
Also searched as Lexus RZ vs Kia EV9 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Lexus RZ is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 126 mpg combined versus 89 mpg for the Kia EV9, a 37 mpg advantage and costs about $250 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Lexus RZ leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2024–2026
Kia EV9
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 13 configurations
2023–2026
Lexus RZ
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 16 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Kia EV9 | Lexus RZ |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 89 mpg | 126 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 101 mpg | 137 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 78 mpg | 115 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $850 | $600 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | Not available | Not available |
| Engines offered | Not available | Not available |
| Transmissions | Automatic (A1) | Automatic (A1) |
| Drivetrains | Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Electricity |
| EPA class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2024–2026 | 2023–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 13 | 16 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Kia EV9 vs Lexus RZ: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Lexus RZ burns about $600 of fuel annually against $850 for the Kia EV9. That $250 yearly gap compounds to roughly $1,250 over five years and $2,000 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City and highway economy: the Lexus RZ leads in both cycles — 137 mpg city and 115 mpg highway against 101 and 78 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.
Drivetrain and class: the Kia EV9 is offered with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, the Lexus RZ with Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
EV9 vs RZ: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Kia EV9 or the Lexus RZ?
The Lexus RZ is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 126 mpg combined versus 89 mpg for the Kia EV9, a 37 mpg advantage and costs about $250 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Lexus RZ runs about $600 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $850 for the Kia EV9 — a difference of roughly $250 per year.
What engines do the EV9 and RZ offer?
Kia EV9: no engine data on record. Lexus RZ: no engine data on record.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Kia EV9 as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Lexus RZ as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More EV9 comparisons
More RZ comparisons
Comparison id: kia-ev9-vs-lexus-rz