Kia Goes All-Electric Big Time with the EV9

Kia is getting ready to add another EV model to the two in our Jackson Kia inventory. With the Kia EV6 winning awards all over the world, including “2023 World Car of the Year” and the Niro EV picking up a few of its own, Kia has decided to go big with its follow-up battery electric vehicle. The EV9 will be an all-electric 3-row crossover and the first one to be priced within the range of typical families.

Big and Bold Design

The EV9 immediately hits you with its very bold styling with a look that according to Autoblog has “the kind of bold bossy presence usually reserved for vehicles that cost twice or three times as much, including icons like the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen or Range Rover.” Some EV6 elements are present such as in the blacked-out windshield (A-) pillars and triangular D-Pillars and there is some of the Telluride’s squared-off stance.  However, its sharp body creases, solid surface front end, tech-looking wheels, and unique lighting treatments give it a look all its own.

“(Kia) is really an organization that really understands the importance of design,” said Karim Habib, the carmaker’s global head of design, “Where design thinking and design are becoming more of a real strategy to define not just how things look, but what products do you build.”

The traditional family “tiger nose” now appears as, and is called a “tiger mask” due to the lack of need for a grille. Zig-zag running lights highlight the front corners which become an anchor for up to 12 individual small rounded square lighting elements, and additional lighting elements hidden within the solid front panel. Headlight configurations are expected to alter with the trim level. 

Sizable Presence, Roomy Interior

At 197.4 inches, the EV9 is a little longer than the Telluride and a little wider as well. Cargo space is similarly cavernous ranging from 20.2 to 81.9 cubic feet depending on the seating configuration. Passengers have plenty of space as well thanks in part to the dedicated EV platform’s forward-extended cabin and flat floor.

The EV9 echoes the 2023 Telluride’s long single combination of the digital instrument cluster and infotainment display and the dashboard has a bespoke but similar horizontal design. It will seat seven or six if one opts for the 2nd-row captain’s chairs. You may see images of those chairs swiveling toward the door or rear row, but that won’t meet U.S. safety regulations, though Kia says they are working on it. Kia is dedicated to increasing its use of environmentally sustainable interiors using bio-based materials such as corn fibers, sugar cane, and natural oils, and this extended to the seats on all trim levels.

Three Drivetrain Configurations

A 76.1 kWh battery will be standard on 215 hp rear-wheel drive models with a 99.8-kWh battery as an option but will be standard on the 379 hp, two-motor, all-wheel drive models. The latter will have 516 lb-ft. of torque which can be expected to move the 3-row crossover from stationary to 60 in about six seconds. The always-asked question of range takes on even more importance, as a 3-row crossover can be expected to shoulder the household’s road trip duties. With the best range combination of RWD, the big battery, and 19-inch wheels, the current manufacturer’s estimate sits at about 300 miles. Adding AWD with the second motor and 20- or 21-inch wheels should lower that figure to 260 miles. Charging from 10 to 80% on a Level 3 fast charger is estimated at a short 25 minutes but reduces the ongoing road trip intervals to 240 and 208 respectively. 

Adding to the Niro and EV6, the EV9 will give Kia a classic three-tiered lineup to its EV offerings. There is no announced pricing on the EV9 as of yet, but estimates have it starting in the mid-50s and ending somewhere in the 70s. It will be a 2024 model and is presently expected to find its way to Jackson Kia’s showroom in the mid-to-late summer of 2023.