What is it?
Kia is well on its way to meeting its goal of having as many as seven battery electric vehicles available in America by 2027, and the latest entry to help meet this goal is the all-new 2024 Kia EV9. This fully-electric SUV is the largest offered by Kia, boasting three rows of seats, good cargo space, excellent performance, and standout styling. Available in a range of trim levels, the EV9 is the ideal electric people mover.

Not a Traditional SUV
“The Kia EV9 transcends all aspects of traditional SUV thinking and represents the pinnacle of Kia’s design and engineering capabilities,” said Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song. “Created to meet the needs of all family members, the EV9 also spearheads Kia’s rapid transition to a sustainable mobility solutions provider, not just by its advanced EV architecture, but also through the numerous recycled and sustainable materials used in its creation,” Song observed.

Stylish Design
While an electric powertrain makes it possible to create unique vehicle designs, the new EV9 sticks with the traditional SUV shape, albeit with a modern look. The front has a futuristic style with what Kia calls its “Digital Tiger Face,” a different take on the signature Kia tiger nose grille. The wide body-color grille is flanked by stylish vertical LED headlights that uniquely flow into the grille via small cube lamps that shine through the bodywork. Customers can program different patterns for a personalized look.

Traditional Shape
The EV9’s classic SUV silhouette is very similar to the brand’s popular Telluride, although there are distinct differences when viewed side by side. While dimensions are similar to Telluride, the EV9 has a longer wheelbase, providing more space for third-row passengers. The flat roof and beltline give the EV9 a clean style, while large fenders with geometric wheel arches create a bold look. A range of stylish wheel designs complete the look.

Surprisingly Slippery
It may have a boxy look, but the EV9 is actually quite aerodynamic. With a convex shape at the front and concave at the rear combined with the sealed underbody, the EV9 has a very low 0.28 drag coefficient. Active air curtains integrated into the front bumper further improve aerodynamics.

Model Lineup
The 2024 Kia EV9 is available in five trim levels: Light RWD, Light Long Range RWD, Wind AWD, Land AWD, and GT-Line AWD. Prices range from $54,900 for the base-level Light to $73,900 for the GT-Line.

Powertrain
Kia offers the EV9 with single or dual-motor powertrains. The Light features a single motor delivering 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque (201 horsepower with the extended battery), while the Wind, Land, and GT-Line get a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system that delivers 379 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. With its dual-motor powertrain, the EV9 GT-Line can reach 60 mph in just five seconds – rather quick for a three-row SUV. When properly equipped, the EV9 can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

Range
The EV9 is powered by a lithium-ion battery, which puts out 76.1 kWh in the entry-level Light and 99.8 kWh in the rest of the lineup. The Light single motor with the larger battery provides the longest range in the lineup, an EPA-estimated 304 miles. Dual-motor variants are estimated to travel up to 280 miles (270 in the GT-Line) between charges. While driving the EV9 GT-Line, the range indicated 281 miles at 97 percent charge, matching the EPA estimates rather closely. However, after driving 145 miles, the remaining range added up to 263 miles. The trip computer indicated 2.9 miles/kWh during our drive, which equates to 98 mpg – an impressive figure for a three-row SUV.

Charging
Built on Kia’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV9 is the only three-row SUV in America with an 800-volt charging architecture. This allows the big SUV to charge at a rate as high as 235 kW (210 kW with the larger battery). Plugged into a DC fast charger, the EV9 extended range can charge from 10-80 percent in about 24 minutes, gaining about 140 miles in 15 minutes. With a Level 2 charger, a full charge takes just under nine hours, easily done overnight.

Providing Power
Like Kia’s EV6, the new EV9 can be used as an external power source. With the ability to deliver up to 3.68 kW via the outlet adapter on the charge port, the EV9 can provide enough power for a worksite, camping trip, or even a house during a power outage.

High-Tech Look
The EV9 features a clean, high-tech cabin appropriate for such an advanced vehicle. One large curved display seems to float on the dashboard, encompassing the digital driver’s display and infotainment display, both measuring 12.3 inches, with a five-inch climate screen in between. The infotainment system is clear and easy to navigate, with simple customization to bring the most used features to the front. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard, with a wireless connection for added convenience.

Haptic Controls
Physical buttons are practically nonexistent in the EV9’s cabin, with haptic switches integrated into the dashboard providing quick shortcuts to navigation, media, and home. Adding to the high-tech vibe, these controls disappear when the vehicle is turned off. Below the dash are switches for climate control functions.

Good Storage
Kia provides plenty of storage space in the EV9’s cabin, adding to its versatility. A sizeable open bin below the center console easily handles a bag or purse, and the dual cupholders above can be retracted for additional covered storage space. The wireless phone charger is conveniently located behind the cupholders. There is also space below the center armrest, but this area is relatively shallow, without much room for anything significant.

Front Seats
During our first drive of the EV9, we spent most of our time in the top-level GT-Line, which features a stylish two-tone treatment on the front seats. Seats are trimmed in Kia’s synthetic SynTex leather, which could easily be mistaken for the real thing. Heating and cooling are standard with multiple power adjustments. Front seats also get a retractable leg rest – it doesn’t rise very high, so it can’t interfere with driving, but it does offer nice support. However, the leg rest is too low for some taller passengers. Overall, the seats provide nice support with good padding for a comfortable ride.

Second Row
Available with seating for two or three, our test vehicle had dual captain’s chairs in the second row. With heating and cooling available, seats offer up plenty of legroom and headroom. We rode in the rear seat for over an hour and found this space quite comfortable. For added convenience, a bin can slide back from the center console with a tray on top and good storage below.

VIP Relaxation Seats
Our EV9 was fitted with the second-row VIP Relaxation Seats, which can be reclined with a power-operated footrest, looking a bit like an airline first-class seat. Unfortunately, there just isn’t enough space for an adult passenger to take advantage of this setup – even with the seat in its rear-most position, the footrest puts your feet against the back of the front seat.

Third Row
Access to the third row is quite easy, with a second row that folds and slides out of the way. Seats sit up a bit higher than what we’ve seen in other three-row SUVs, making the space surprisingly comfortable for two adults. The second row can slide forward to provide additional legroom. The sunroof over the third row adds a nice open-space feel.

Cargo Space
The EV9 offers good utility with just over 20 cubic feet of storage behind the third-row seat – enough space for a few pieces of luggage. The third row easily folds flat, bumping the space to 43.5 cubic feet, and folding the second row provides almost 82 cubic feet of storage. An additional 3.2 cubic can be found up front in the frunk.

On the Road
After spending time in the excellent Kia EV6, we had high expectations for the new EV9 – and we weren’t disappointed. Kia invited us to Napa, California to properly experience this new electric SUV. We first noticed how quickly the EV9 accelerates from a stop with smooth, progressive power delivery. Even while cruising at highway speeds, a stab of the throttle will push you back in the seat. Getting up to highway speed is no problem for this big SUV, and the cabin remains very quiet, with almost no wind or road noise while moving along at 70 mph.

Brake Regen
The driver can dial in multiple levels of brake regeneration. At the maximum setting, the EV9 can be driven with one pedal. One-pedal driving means that lifting off the throttle produces enough regenerative braking to bring the vehicle to a complete stop without needing to touch the brakes. After some practice, we could manage the throttle to smoothly slow to a stop exactly where we wanted.

Handling
The EV9 is no sports car – nor is it trying to be – but handling is quite good. We tackled a few winding roads around the California wine country and found the steering to be precise with good feedback, and while there is some body lean when pushed in the corners, the grip remains quite strong. Having the batteries in the floor of the EV9 keeps the center of gravity low, adding to the stable ride. Brakes are strong and predictable, furthering our confidence in the overall drive.

Safety
Kia equips the new EV9 with the latest advanced driver assist features. These include forward collision avoidance with car/pedestrian/cyclist detection, blind spot alert, junction crossing and turning assist, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic avoidance, and adaptive cruise control. The EV9 also gets Highway Drive Assist 2, which combines adaptive cruise control with lane centering to alleviate some of the stress of driving on the highway.

Rating: 9.0
Kia has already proven its expertise in building electric vehicles, and this proof continues with the new EV9. One of the only electric three-row SUVs on the market, the EV9 delivers a stylish design, a roomy interior, and outstanding performance. We fully expect that the biggest problem with the EV9 will be keeping up with demand.