The Kia EV9 is not only a showcase of the Korean carmaker’s technological advancement, but also a reflection of its self-confidence. In fact, the design, which is described by the carmaker as “united opposites”, captures the whole essence of this over five-metre-long electric ark. So let’s settle into the six relaxing chairs and find out what it’s actually like to live with the EV9…
The Kia EV9 is unmissable not only on our roads, but also in car parks, where, with a length of 5015 millimetres, a width of 1980mm and a height of 1780mm, you simply don’t stand a chance of overlooking it. You’d almost want to say that this is an American car, or at least a model designed for the US, where huge SUVs are popular. In a way, we can be glad that such a big car has looked at our market, where there will also be a crowd of customers who will appreciate a car with 6 to 7 seats and emission-free drive.
Although the Kia EV9 looks very angular, it has very decent aerodynamics. The coefficient of drag is 0.28, which is really nice for a vehicle this big. The aerodynamics are no doubt aided by the retractable handles, the really cleverly covered chassis, the active air dam in the radiator grille and, last but not least, the wheel design.
These don’t lag behind the angular design, and the GT-Line version we tested included up to 21-inch wheels. What’s more, they’re shod on relatively high profile tyres (285/45 R21), so the overall diameter of the wheels is downright gigantic.
The futuristic look of the EV9 doesn’t actually differ much from the 2021 concept of the same name. The only thing missing is the “star” grille with an LED array, which the EV9 may have in the US, for example, but not yet in Europe due to legislation. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that Kia manages to push this design tweak at least for the most powerful GT version, which we will have to wait a while for.
But the actual lighting technique used is also worth it. The GT-Line version comes with new vertical matrix headlights as standard, which contain 32 LEDs and can illuminate the road beautifully and carve up oncoming traffic quite decently. It’s just a shame that the matrix headlights are only included on the GT-Line version. You can’t buy them in the entry-level Earth trim.
The LED taillights, which extend high into the pillars, are also an interesting graphic, and thanks to them, you won’t mistake the EV9 for another car at night. I don’t know if I’d describe the EV9 as a purebred SUV, which is mostly indicated by the prominent plastic underbody protection. Indeed, ground clearance is only a modest 177mm and judging by the road manners, the EV9 doesn’t even want to be an off-roader, but rather a perfectly comfortable highway cruiser.
One of the unique features of the EV9ka is the large glass surfaces. Unlike most modern vehicles, which have high interior window edges, the EV9 provides a more airy interior and great views to the outside.
But let’s start with the interior design. The EV9ka is an electric car that also demonstrates its eco-friendly nature by its choice of sustainable materials, such as textiles made from recycled PET bottles and the like. So in the context of the flagship’s position, you might find some of the plastics a bit cheap. In the GT Line version, however, everything is nicely matched and the blue interior is quite handsome. The result is a modern and extremely airy cabin, with a black ceiling and two sunroofs adding to the ambience.
The horizontal dashboard carries up to three displays. The two 12.3-inch ones weren’t enough, apparently, so they added a third in between, with a 5-inch diagonal. It’s used for climate control and is almost completely in the shade of the steering wheel, so you can’t always see the temperature readings. However, we appreciate that Kia has used matte finish displays that are not only glare-proof but also fingerprint-resistant.
Ergonomic quibbles include the placement of the start button at the end of the gear selector, as well as the placement of the drive mode and off-road mode selector buttons at the bottom of the steering wheel, where they’re almost completely out of reach for quick switching. The infotainment itself, which we’re familiar with from the EV6, for example, works quickly and has very nice graphics.
For example, you can view detailed statistics on energy consumption or use the intelligent route planner with optimal charging stops to get you to your destination as quickly as possible. Kia has mastered consumption analytics really well, and this is where other carmakers could learn a lot. Of course, software updates are OTA, or over-the-air.
The vehicle can be easily linked to a mobile app and remotely monitored and controlled, with a variety of advanced assistants and features in the app. You can also use the remote control on the key fob to, for example, park the car or get out of tight spaces. Adaptive cruise control learns the driver’s driving style, and then using the paddles under the steering wheel, it is possible to adjust the recuperation in up to four stages or leave it automatic. The i-Pedal function is also commendable in this regard, the ability to drive the car with just one pedal, whereby the EV9 stops on its own when you take your foot off the pedals.
The interior space and comfort is also unprecedented. Within the 6-seater tested, I’d say the most interesting seats are in the second row, which in this variant are fully electric, swivel and also have an armrest on the inside. Turning the seat is a matter of moments, as it is done by means of a safety catch at the bottom, which you just have to release and then just turn.
The third row of seats, which is often considered an imaginary “emergency room” that no one wants to sit on, is also found here. For the Kia EV9, however, there is no “emergency room” and there is a great and comfortable seating position. What’s more, these seats have electric recline control, so you don’t have to worry about sitting in an awkward position.
Passengers in each row also have storage, USB-C connectors and cup holders on hand. The body shape and the aforementioned large windows, then, ensure that plenty of light streams in, and you certainly won’t feel claustrophobic while sitting in the third row, either. At the same time, all the seats are very pleasantly soft and really comfortable even on longer journeys.
If you need a moving van, you can fold down the seat backs and use the huge trunk. Otherwise, its base 333-litre capacity is far from futile. You can also stow your luggage in the 90-litre ‘frunk’ under the front bonnet, as long as you opt for rear-wheel drive only. In the twin-engined version, the volume of the frunk has been reduced to 52 litres, but you can store both 230V and AC charger cables here with ease.
The Kia EV9 has a huge 99.8 kWh battery, and it is true that this capacity is usable and the total capacity is not given by the manufacturer. However, considering the total weight (almost 2.7 tonnes), the question logically arises as to how the car’s range is. In the case of rear-wheel drive, according to the manufacturer, the combined range should theoretically reach up to 774 kilometres according to WLTP in the city, and then 668 kilometres in the tested AWD version in urban traffic.
The average user of the AWD version, who will also benefit from the EV9’s power potential of nearly 400 hp under the hood and a combined max torque of 700 Nm once in a while, will get between 400 and 500 kilometers per charge. This was also the case during the test week.
It did rain constantly during use, and that always bumps consumption up a dozen kW with electric vehicles, but surprisingly we measured a very nice consumption of only 17 kWh/100km in the city. During the test week we got to a consumption of 24.6kWh/100km, a theoretical range of 405 kilometres with a fully charged battery. However, this consumption also reflected the short acceleration tests within the shoot, the activated off-road mode for 4×4 drive, due to flooded roads and so on.
Another advantage of the EV9 is that it uses an advanced 800V architecture, so it enables ultra-fast charging. The maximum it can use is up to 350kW and so in ideal conditions you can recharge the battery from 10 to 80% in just 24 minutes. The Kia EV9 is truly a top of the range family EV and many will appreciate the ability to attach a trailer weighing up to 2.5 tonnes (AWD version), or to prepare for all possible bi-directional charging systems (in addition to the V2L, we also find V1G, V2G, V2H and V2B).
The chassis is amazing for a car that weighs over two and a half tons and shod with 21″ wheels. You can feel the weight from it as you drive, but most of the EV9’s weight is in the chassis between the axles, which lowers the center of gravity considerably. It also manages to be surprisingly comfortable despite not having air suspension, but it doesn’t have an adaptive chassis either. Fast or sharp cornering doesn’t appeal too much to the EV9ka, yet it can negotiate long corners very quickly. Primarily, though, everything here is tuned for comfort…
There are two trims and they are almost fixed, including the one with all-wheel drive. The lower Earth 1st Edition trim is only bundled with the rear-wheel drive and will set you back a minimum of €74,990 VAT, the higher and tested GT-Line 1st Edition, with all-wheel drive, starts at €82,990 VAT included. Add to the test piece the 6-seater version with second-row relaxing seats for €790 and Snow White Pearl gloss body paint for €890. That works out at €84,670 for some really great equipment.
The Kia EV9 has proven to be a great competitor in its class and has rightfully earned the title of World Car of the Year 2024. It offers great dynamics, comfort, spaciousness and advanced technology. Its design may be polarizing, but you won’t miss it on the road.
