Kia's second dedicated electric-vehicle (EV) model after the EV6, the all-new Kia EV9 is a midsize three-row SUV. It will be one of the largest electric crossover SUVs on the road when it arrives later this year.
The EV9 is an all-new model for the Kia brand based on the concept vehicle shown at the Los Angeles auto show in 2021. This three-row SUV is fully electric with rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive (AWD) available. One of the largest EVs on the market, the EV9 has a spacious interior with a flat floor throughout the cabin. Kia will offer the EV9 with six- or seven-passenger seating configurations and a range as high as 300 miles.
The EV9 is easily recognizable, with a distinctive look that retains some familiar Kia design elements. Kia calls the new front-end style the "Digital Tiger Face," a variation on the brand's signature tiger nose grille. This new look features a body-color grille with small cube-shaped lamps that project through the bodywork. The lights are programmable to create a personalized pattern. These lights merge into the vertical headlights, with vertical running lights framing the whole grille.
Designed with classic SUV lines, the Kia EV9 has a shape similar to the brand's gas-powered Telluride. Dimensions are almost identical to the Telluride, except for the wheelbase, which is 8 inches longer, putting the wheels closer to the corners. The large fenders add to the bold design, framing the stylish, aerodynamic wheels. It may look boxy, but the EV9's shape moves from convex to concave, creating a very low 0.28 coefficient of drag. The front bumper has active air curtains to improve airflow further.
As Kia's most advanced model, the EV9 has a clean, high-tech look inside. Designers kept the style simple with very few physical buttons. One large curved display, comprising the driver display and infotainment system with climate functions in between, seems to float on the dashboard. Adding to the clean design, Kia placed the gear selector on the steering column, leaving more space for storage in the center console.
Haptic switches integrated into the dashboard provide shortcuts to infotainment features and remain hidden until the vehicle starts. Ambient LED lighting adds to the passenger cabin's futuristic appearance and premium style, as does the lit Kia logo on the steering wheel.
With an eye towards sustainability, the EV9's cabin features non-leather polyurethane trim on the seats with fabrics and carpets made from partially recycled materials. Kia uses no animal products in the EV9's interior and plans to phase out the use of leather across its model lineup.
Three rows of seats provide either six- or seven-passenger seating. With the flat floor and large cabin, second- and third-row seats offer good legroom and headroom, even for full-size adults. First- and second-row passengers can utilize "Relaxation Mode," which features a reclining seat with power-operated leg rest—ideal for lounging while the EV9 charges.
As a midsize SUV, the EV9 delivers on the expected level of utility with 20.2 cubic feet of cargo space with all three rows of seats in use. Cargo volume expands to almost 82 cubic feet with both rows of seats folded.
The EV9 will be available with either a single motor driving the rear wheels or as a dual-motor variant with AWD. The single-motor EV9 with a standard-range battery (76.1 kWh) delivers 215 horsepower. Kia will also offer the single-motor EV9 with an extended-range battery (99.8 kWh), which the automaker says should achieve a 300-mile range.
The dual-motor EV9 comes exclusively with an extended-range battery. Kia says it delivers a plentiful 379 hp and 516 pound-feet of torque, helping this big SUV reach 60 mph in about five seconds. The dual-motor EV9 can tow up to 5,000 pounds, adding to this SUV's considerable utility.
With the EV9's 800-volt charging system, Kia says the electric SUV can charge at speeds up to 230 kW from a DC fast-charging station, going from 10 to 80 percent charge in less than 25 minutes. The automaker also says the EV9 can charge at rates up to 11 kW from a Level 2 charger.
Kia equips the new EV9 with a full range of advanced driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control with steering assist and lane-keeping assistance, as well as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and bicyclist detection. The system can operate hands-free on a limited number of divided highways, similar to the current EV6. The system can also provide automatic emergency steering to help prevent or minimize collisions in certain situations. Like other Kia models, the EV9 will feature the innovative Blind-Spot View Monitor, which activates with a turn signal and displays the blind-spot view in the driver display.
The EV9 will be available with Remote Smart Parking Assist, which allows the driver to put the vehicle into a parking space or pull it out from outside the vehicle—a very convenient feature for fitting into a tight spot.
Kia hasn't released details of the infotainment system for the EV9, but based on other models in the brand's lineup, expect this new electric SUV to feature an intuitive display with available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The native navigation system will provide charging guidance, showing the expected distance to empty upon arrival at the destination.
The EV9 will come standard with an advanced digital key system that allows customers to lock, unlock, and drive the vehicle using a compatible Apple or Samsung phone. Digital keys are sharable via text message for added convenience.
The EV9 will be the first Kia to provide over-the-air updates, keeping the vehicle systems running smoothly with the ability to add new features without needing a service center visit.
When the EV9 comes to market later in 2023, it will be among the few midsize three-row electric SUVs available. Most competitors in this segment will be considerably more expensive, including the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Tesla Model X, and Rivian R1S.
Kia is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of April 5, 2023, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
Perry Stern has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years and has always been a car enthusiast. Driving almost every new car on the market, Perry has written for multiple publications in addition to his work for JDPower.com. Living in the Pacific Northwest, Perry is still crazy about cars, especially his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
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