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Kia EV9 vs Mercedes-Benz VLE
Selected trimAirChange trim349 mi · 99.8 kWh · £66,645
Selected trim300Change trim397 mi · 115 kWh · Not available
At a glance
In this comparison, Kia EV9 leads on value for money, while the Mercedes-Benz VLE leads on motorway range, family practicality and charging speed.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Kia EV9 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
Choose the Mercedes-Benz VLE if...
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Mercedes-Benz VLE wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueKia
Kia
4.6
Mercedes-Benz
0
Motorway RangeMercedes-Benz
Kia
6.2
Mercedes-Benz
8.5
FamilyMercedes-Benz
Kia
6.1
Mercedes-Benz
10
ChargingMercedes-Benz
Kia
7.6
Mercedes-Benz
9
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Kia EV9Air | Mercedes-Benz VLE300 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £66,645 | Not available |
| Official range | 349 miles | 397 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 333 L | Not available |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 24 min | Not available |
| 0-62 mph | 9.4 sec | Not available |
Size Comparison
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Kia EV9
Mercedes-Benz VLE
Length
Kia EV95,015mm-185mm
Mercedes-Benz VLE5,200mm
Width
Kia EV91,980mm
Mercedes-Benz VLE1,930mm-50mm
Height
Kia EV91,780mm-120mm
Mercedes-Benz VLE1,900mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Kia EV9Air | Mercedes-Benz VLE300 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 5,015 mm | 5,200 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,980 mm | 1,930 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,780 mm | 1,900 mm |
| Turning circle | 12.3 m | Not available |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 420 mm spare | 470 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Kia EV9Air | Mercedes-Benz VLE300 |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 7 | 8 (better) |
| Boot space (seats up) | 333 L | Not available |
| Boot space (seats down) | 828 L | Not available |
| Frunk | 90 L | Not available |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 900 kg | Not available |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Kia EV9
- A 90 L frunk, one of 11 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with a front boot of 90 L or more.
- At 5,015 mm, longer than 90% of SUVs we track.
- 3,100 mm wheelbase, longer than 95% of SUVs we track.
Mercedes-Benz VLE
- At 5,200 mm, longer than 95% of MPVs we track.
- Built on an 800 V architecture, one of 2 MPVs we track with a 700 V+ battery system.
- 397 mile WLTP range, longer than 100% of MPVs we track.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Kia EV9 Air |  Mercedes-Benz VLE 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5.01m | 5.20m+185mm |
| Width | 1.98m | 1.93m-50mm |
| Height | 1.78m | 1.90m+120mm |
| Wheelbase | 3.10m | 3.43m+330mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 333L | Not available |
| Boot (seats down) | 828L | Not available |
| Frunk | 90L | Not available |
| Seats | 7 | 8 (better) |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 12.3m | Not available |
| Kerb Weight | 2,492kg | Not available |
| Towing Capacity | 900kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 99.8kWh | 115kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 349 mi | 397 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 210kW | 315kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £66,645 | Not available |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | MPV |
| Available | 2023+ | 2026+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Kia EV9Air | Mercedes-Benz VLE300 |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 349 miles | 397 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 291 miles | 331 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 24 min | Not available |
| Max rapid charge rate | 210 kW | 315 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Usable battery capacity | 99.8 kWh | 115 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | NCMA | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 800V | 800V |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Kia EV9Air | Mercedes-Benz VLE300 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 9.4 sec | Not available |
| Power | 150 kW | 200 kW (better) |
| Torque | 350 Nm | 480 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
Kia EV9
Air
Mercedes-Benz VLE
300
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Kia EV9
All 3 videos
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Kia EV9 Air
Tested 2023
Adult Occupant84%
Child Occupant88%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist83%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Kia EV9Air | Mercedes-Benz VLE300 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 7 years | Not available |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | Not available |
Buying options
Get a quote
Kia EV9
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Mercedes-Benz VLE
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
What are the Kia EV9 and Mercedes-Benz VLE like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 291 miles for the Kia EV9 and 331 miles for the Mercedes-Benz VLE - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Mercedes-Benz VLE goes roughly 40 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Kia EV9 or the Mercedes-Benz VLE?
The Mercedes-Benz VLE is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 50 mm narrower than the Kia EV9. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 470 mm of total clearance for the Mercedes-Benz VLE and about 420 mm of total clearance for the Kia EV9.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Kia EV9 or the Mercedes-Benz VLE?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 89% battery health for the Kia EV9 and 84% for the Mercedes-Benz VLE. That gives the Kia EV9 a modest edge in retained real-world range. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Kia EV9 comparisons
More Mercedes-Benz VLE comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Kia EV9 and Mercedes-Benz VLE rank among the best family EVsWhere the Kia EV9 and Mercedes-Benz VLE rank among long-range EVsWhere the Kia EV9 and Mercedes-Benz VLE rank among the best 7-seater EVsWhere the Kia EV9 and Mercedes-Benz VLE rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Kia EV9 and Mercedes-Benz VLE rank among the best city EVsWhere the Kia EV9 and Mercedes-Benz VLE rank among the cheapest EVs to run
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
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Easier to parkHyundai INSTER
Cross
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Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .