Two electric SUVs. Both seat seven. Both arriving in late 2026. Both priced somewhere around $55,000-$60,000.
And yet the buyer for each one lives a completely different life.
The Subaru Getaway was designed by people who ski, hike, kayak, and camp. Everything about it — the standard AWD, the 8.3 inches of ground clearance, the roof rails, the NACS port next to a tow hitch — exists to get a family somewhere interesting and bring them back safely.
The Kia EV9 was designed for families who want a premium three-row electric SUV that feels genuinely luxurious. The GT-Line’s swivel second-row seats. The 800-volt charging that fills up in 24 minutes. The interior that impresses passengers who didn’t know they were in a Kia.
Same category. Very different answer.
The Numbers
| 2027 Subaru Getaway AWD | Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | ~$55,000 | ~$58,000 |
| Horsepower | 420 HP | 379 HP |
| EPA Range | 300+ miles | ~280 miles (AWD) |
| Fast Charging | 150 kW | 350 kW (800V) |
| Ground Clearance | 8.3 inches | ~6.9 inches |
| Towing | 3,500 lbs | 5,000 lbs |
| Third Row Adults | Comfortable | Tight |
| Built | USA (Indiana) | Georgia, USA |
| AWD | Standard | Standard |
Two numbers immediately define which person buys which car.
The Getaway charges at 150 kW. The EV9 charges at 350 kW.
The Getaway has 8.3 inches of ground clearance. The EV9 has roughly 6.9 inches.
If you live near a ski resort and charge at home overnight — Getaway. If you take road trips and care about how long you spend at a charging station — EV9.
Why the Subaru Getaway Makes Sense
Subaru built their entire brand identity on one promise: we’ll get you there, no matter what the weather does.
The Getaway delivers that promise electrically for the first time. Every unit comes with standard dual-motor AWD — not optional, not a package upgrade. The Symmetrical AWD system that has made Subarus beloved in Colorado, Vermont, and Michigan isn’t just carried over — it’s been refined for the electric platform.
420 horsepower is a number that deserves attention. That’s more than a Kia EV9 GT-Line. More than a base Hyundai Ioniq 9. In a three-row family SUV that can also handle a fire road, that power figure — and more importantly the instant electric torque delivery — gives the Getaway a character that feels genuinely adventurous rather than just adequately capable.
The 95.8 kWh battery targeting over 300 miles of EPA range is right where it needs to be. Not class-leading. Not embarrassing. Just enough to cover a family road trip day with confidence.
And here’s the detail that outdoor families will actually use: 3,500 pounds of towing capacity. A small camping trailer. A boat. A snowmobile trailer. The Getaway does it. Most other electric three-row SUVs struggle to tow meaningfully.
The honest limitation: 150 kW charging is adequate but not exciting in 2026. A 30-minute charging stop at a compatible station — not the 24 minutes the EV9 achieves — adds friction to road trips that the better-charging alternative doesn’t have.
Buy the Getaway if: You ski, camp, hike, or live somewhere that demands real AWD at least a few times a year. You tow occasionally. You charge primarily at home. The outdoor identity of the Subaru brand resonates with how you see yourself.
also read : https://driveglobalnews.in/toyota-camry-hybrid-vs-honda-accord-hybrid-in/
Why the Kia EV9 Makes Sense
The EV9 is the vehicle that made Americans reconsider what “Kia” means.
When it arrived at $56,000 as a genuine competitor to the BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS in the three-row luxury SUV segment — and then proceeded to outsell both of them on value — something shifted. The EV9 proved that Korean engineering had arrived at the level where badge loyalty no longer fully explained the price gap.
The 350 kW 800-volt charging is the EV9’s single most practically important advantage. Twenty-four minutes from 10% to 80% at a compatible station. On a family road trip covering 600 miles, you stop twice. Each stop is roughly as long as getting everyone a bathroom break and a snack. That’s not a compromise — that’s the EV experience working as designed.
The swivel second-row seats on the GT-Line are one of those features that sounds like a marketing gimmick until you experience it on a long road trip. The seats rotate 180 degrees to face each other — transforming the interior into a lounge while parked. Kids love it. Adults find it surprisingly relaxing at rest stops. It’s genuinely unique in the segment.
5,000 lbs of towing is the EV9’s biggest practical advantage over the Getaway. If you tow a larger camper or boat regularly — the EV9 handles weight that the Getaway can’t.
The limitation: the third row fits children better than adults for long trips. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 remains the better choice for adults-in-the-third-row situations. But for most families whose third row carries kids — it’s perfectly acceptable.
Buy the EV9 if: Road trips are frequent and charging speed matters. You need to tow more than 3,500 lbs. The interior experience and luxury feel are important to you. And the Kia’s polish and feature list make the price feel justified.
also read : https://driveglobalnews.in/tesla-just-killed-the-model-s-and-model-x-the/
The Honest Verdict
This isn’t a competition where one car wins outright.
Choose the Getaway if your weekends involve dirt roads, ski resorts, trailheads, or campgrounds. The charging limitation is real but manageable for people who charge at home and don’t road trip constantly.
Choose the EV9 if highway road trips are frequent, interior quality and luxury matter, you need serious towing capability, and you want the fastest-charging three-row EV under $60,000 in America.
Both are built in America. Both have ten-year warranties. Both will carry your family safely for 200,000 miles if you maintain them.
The question isn’t which one is better. It’s which one is better for the life you actually live.
Compare 5-year total ownership costs between both with our Car Ownership Cost Calculator.
