The long-awaited Kia EV9 has finally landed in Australia, with the sizeable three-row, seven-seat SUV placing household pleasant electrical motoring squarely on the desk.
It’s large, boxy and stuffed stuffed with tech, and — in its flagship grade — is quicker than most petrol-powered scorching hatches.
So, does electrification change the full-size SUV sport in Australia? Learn on.
What does the Kia EV9 price and what options do you get?
The Kia EV9 arrives in three trim ranges — Air, Earth and GT-Line — with the center trim to comply with a few months down the road.
For now, you possibly can have an Air for $97k plus on-road prices, which pairs a single-motor, rear-drive powertrain with a 76.1kWh battery, unlocking a WLTP driving vary of 443kms.
Or you possibly can have the top-spec GT-Line, at $121,000 plus on-road prices, outfitted with a twin-motor powertrain and AWD, in addition to a much bigger 99.8kWh battery which will increase your driving vary to 505kms.
The mid-tier Earth, at $106,500 plus on-road prices, will get the identical battery and powertrain because the GT-Line, however delivers slower acceleration as a result of it misses out on the flagship’s “Acceleration Enhance” perform. It does journey a little bit additional between expenses, although, with a WLTP vary of 512kms.
KIA EV9 AIR$97,000 (MSRP)
Customary options:
19-inch alloy wheels
Projection headlights with LED DRLs
LED taillights
Flush-closing door handles
Powered mirrors
Push-button begin
Synthetic leather-based seats (powered in entrance)
Second-row tilting for walk-in entry to 3rd row
Automobile-to-load (V2L)
Twin 12.3-inch inside screens with 5.0-inch local weather panel
Eight-speaker sound system
Wi-fi gadget charging
Heated and ventilated entrance seats
Good-powered tailgate
Kia Join and OTA
Fingerprint authentication
9 airbags
AEB Junction Crossing, Lane Oncoming, Lane Change Aspect
Freeway Drive Help 2.0
Tyre-pressure monitoring system
Lane Hold Help with Lane Comply with Help
Multi-collision braking
Entrance and rear parking Sensors
Good cruise with Cease and Go
Rear-view Digicam
KIA EV9 EARTH$106,500 (MSRP)
Provides:
Gloss-black wheel mouldings and aspect sills
Ambient temper lighting with illuminated brand on the steering wheel
Synthetic leather-based seats
Encompass View Monitor
Blind Spot View Monitor
PCA – Reverse
KIA EV9 GT-LINE$121,000 (MSRP)
Provides:
21-inch alloy wheels
LED headlights with LED DRLs
Roof Racks
Privateness Glass (rear)
Digital aspect mirrors
Twin tilt-and-slide sunroof
Distant Good Park Help
What’s powering the Kia EV9?
![Kia EV9](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Kia-EV9-power.jpg)
It’s a giant bus, the Kia EV9, however I can testify that neither the RWD or AWD variant feels in anyway gradual.
Let’s begin with the rear-wheel-drive Air, which scores a rear-axle electrical motor that churns out 160kW and 350Nm. Which, says Kia, will produce a 100km/h run of 8.2 seconds, and a high velocity of 190km/h.
These outputs may not sound life-changing in a automobile this measurement, however the zero-RPM torque rush ensures the EV9 Air feels greater than sprightly sufficient whenever you put your foot down.
Stepping as much as the AWD fashions provides a second front-mounted motor, upping the outputs to a complete 283kW and 700Nm. Within the Earth, that may see you dispatching 100km/h in 6.0 seconds, however that quantity drops to five.3 seconds within the GT-Line, owing to its “Acceleration Enhance” perform.
All fashions are constructed utilizing an 800V structure, which permits for speedy charging. In reality, Kia says the EV9 will go from 10 to 80 p.c charged in simply 20 minutes when plugged into an ultra-fast charger.
How sensible is the Kia EV9?
![Kia EV9 bootspace](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Kia-EV9-bootspace.jpg)
In a phrase? Very. The Kia EV9 is roughly Toyota LandCruiser or Nissan Patrol sized, stretching simply over 5.0m lengthy, round 2.0m extensive and round 1.8m tall, and falling into the upper-large SUV class.
In consequence, each EV9 will get loads of cargo room – some 573 litres with all seven seats in place, 1233 litres with the third row folded, and a whopping 2314 litres with each the third and second rows folded flat.
Fortunately, there’s loads of room for individuals too, particularly within the second row, which is mounted on rails that means that you can slide it forwards or backwards, relying on the realm you need to prioritise. Slid all the best way again (which, to be truthful, eats into the third row massively), and the second row is downright luxurious, with business-class ranges of legroom, together with USB charging ports and local weather controls and vents.
Now, the third row is much less spectacular – even in a automobile this measurement it’s greatest reserved for youths – however no less than moving into it’s a breeze, courtesy of the Kia’s second row, which doesn’t simply slide ahead but in addition lifts up and out of the best way, permitting you to stroll into the third row.
Towing is listed at 2.5 tonnes, and there’s a frunk up entrance, with RWD fashions getting one other 90-litres of storage, dropping to 52 litres within the AWD variations.
What’s the EV9 prefer to drive?
![Kia EV9 driving](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/KIa-EV9-driving-.jpg)
Actually, it feels as if electrification has revolutionised the massive SUV area, with the Kia EV9 feeling sooner, extra responsive and extra pleasing to drive than you may count on from such a giant automobile.
It begins with the RWD mannequin – which I feel is definitely the higher, lighter-feeling drive – which could supply much less energy, however undoubtedly doesn’t really feel sluggish whenever you plant your proper foot.
Your entire EV9 vary has undergone Kia’s complete native trip and dealing with program, and it’s at its greatest within the Air, I reckon. The most cost effective EV9 feels one way or the other agile on its toes, regardless of its weight (2310kg), and even acquits itself admirably in tight bends, with little in the best way off physique position, loads of grip, and responsive steering. The AWD model feels a little bit slower and doughier by corners, however considerably sooner, so which you like is as much as you.
Additionally actually spectacular is the cabin insulation, with the inside serene even at freeway speeds, whereas the trip itself feels well-suited to Aussie roads, although it does lean agency.
If I actually need to nitpick, I feel the eagerness of the acceleration will take some getting used to, with the EV9 demanding ultra-gentle inputs to maintain the velocity from rocketing skywards, particularly within the dual-motor variants.
And I nonetheless wrestle with Kia’s overzealous security techniques, which bong whenever you journey over what your automobile thinks is the authorized restrict. I do know, it sounds good in principle, however as a result of its speed-sign based mostly, which means bonging each time you go by a college zone, for instance, even when its midnight. You’ll be able to flip it off, however you’ll must do it each time you flip the automobile on.
However on the entire, it is a significantly spectacular all-electric household hauler, and there’s little or no to fault right here.
What’s the Kia EV9’s battery and automobile guarantee?
The Kia’s EV9 is roofed by the model’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, however the battery and the automobile’s high-voltage tools is roofed for seven years or 150,000kms.
Kia additionally caps service pricing, with three years costing $706, 5 years costing $1351, and 7 years costing $1997.
The Kia EV9 verdict:
Greater, bolder and extra premium than any Kia earlier than it, there’s little doubting the EV9 was a danger for the Korean everyman model. However on first impressions, it seems a well-calculated one, and one which proves electrical household pleasant electrical motoring has properly and actually arrived.