Kia EV9 and Telluride Earn 2025 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards

Kia continues to dominate the SUV market with two of its models securing top honors in the 2025 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards. For the second year in a row, the Kia EV9 claimed the title of “Best 3-Row Electric Vehicle,” while the Telluride maintained its reign as the “Best Midsize SUV” for an impressive six consecutive years.

Kelley Blue Book’s editors once again praised the EV9 for its well-balanced mix of affordability, performance, and driving range. Meanwhile, the Telluride stood out among a highly competitive field of midsize SUVs, earning recognition for its exceptional value and capabilities.

“There are several great contenders in this class, and we had long conversations exploring all their various virtues. But we couldn’t get away from the obvious and logical conclusion — the Kia Telluride is too good to be toppled,” said Brian Moody, executive editor, Kelley Blue Book. “It does everything a midsize SUV has to do and does it well. Factor in all the features for the price, and the Telluride looks even more attractive. Speaking for ourselves a moment, we like the chunky and cool styling, and we really enjoy driving the vehicle.” [1]

Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy Awards serve as a definitive guide for new-car buyers, spotlighting the top vehicles in key segments. The program evolves annually to reflect shifts in the automotive industry, ensuring shoppers receive the most relevant recommendations. Each award is the result of an extensive year-long evaluation process, which includes expert testing of nearly every new vehicle in the U.S., along with in-depth data analysis. Factors such as vehicle sales information, consumer reviews and ratings, 5-Year Cost to Own data, and vehicle pricing and transaction prices all contribute to determining the winners.