Kia EV9 vs Polestar 3: Specs Compared
Also searched as Polestar 3 vs Kia EV9 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Polestar 3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 97 mpg combined versus 89 mpg for the Kia EV9, a 8 mpg advantage and costs about $50 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Polestar 3 leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2024–2026
Kia EV9
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 13 configurations
2025–2026
Polestar 3
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 12 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Kia EV9 | Polestar 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 89 mpg | 97 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 101 mpg | 105 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 78 mpg | 89 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $850 | $800 ✓ |
| 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 | Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Electricity |
| EPA class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2024–2026 | 2025–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 13 | 12 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Kia EV9 vs Polestar 3: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Polestar 3 burns about $800 of fuel annually against $850 for the Kia EV9. That $50 yearly gap compounds to roughly $250 over five years and $400 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 Polestar 3 leads in both cycles — 105 mpg city and 89 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 Polestar 3 with Rear-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 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
EV9 vs 3: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Kia EV9 or the Polestar 3?
The Polestar 3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 97 mpg combined versus 89 mpg for the Kia EV9, a 8 mpg advantage and costs about $50 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Polestar 3 runs about $800 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $850 for the Kia EV9 — a difference of roughly $50 per year.
What engines do the EV9 and 3 offer?
Kia EV9: no engine data on record. Polestar 3: no engine data on record.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
Yes — the EPA classifies both the Kia EV9 and the Polestar 3 as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they compete directly.
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Comparison id: kia-ev9-vs-polestar-3