“What’s one in every of them price, then?” my neighbour asks, his eyebrow-raised glare locked on my seven-seat Kia EV9 GT-Line.
I wince. “About $140,000 on the highway.”
He curses one thing blasphemous, shakes his head… “For a bloody Kia?”
I remind him you’ll pay related for a similar-sized, fossil-fuel sucking Toyota LandCruiser. And actually, for $140k, are you able to consider something that’ll get as a lot consideration as this EV9 seven-seat monster coated in Ocean Blue matte paint?
He’s not for turning. He ambles again to his turbo-diesel Ford Ranger, questioning what the flamin’ heck’s gone improper with the world.
Should say I don’t completely disagree with him. This range-topping Kia EV9 GT-Line’s RRP is $121,000, then provides fairly ridiculous $18,000 (in Queensland) on-road expenses, pushing the invoice to $139,000 drive-away. For you NSW lot, it’s $140,200.
A mid-spec EV9 Earth is round $120,000 within the site visitors, whereas the entry-level Air is a relatively low-cost $107,000.
Over two weeks I examined the wallet-bashing GT-Line, then the entry-level Air.
Spoiler alert: I got here away pondering the Air the higher purchase, merely since you get the vast majority of the EV9’s clout and goodness, plus an additional $33k in your pocket. You additionally take pleasure in correct glass facet mirrors somewhat than daft please make them go away digital ones.
The case for the $140,000 Kia EV9 GT-Line
If you happen to’ve shed a great deal of cash to burn, and demand specification overload, after all it’s best to get the EV9 GT-Line.
I’ve a surgeon mate who was prepared to purchase one, however backed out when advised he couldn’t de-option the digital mirrors. They made his spouse sick, and he hated them. Ergo, Kia missed out on $20k as he purchased the cheaper EV9 Earth as an alternative. He’s nonetheless indignant about it.
Anyway, the GT-Line has twin motors, all-wheel-drive, 283kW/700Nm and 505km vary (WLTP) from its lardy 99.8kWh battery. With “Acceleration Increase” operate engaged it’ll one way or the other crack the 100km/h dash in solely 5.3 seconds.
Factor is, a lot of the important thing specification most patrons really need is on each EV9, the Air included. What the GT-Line brings you is the show-off stuff.
This consists of black 21-inch alloys (lined by aero plastic covers that didn’t fairly match appropriately on our take a look at automotive), twin sunroof, matrix LED headlights, Meridian audio (it’s bloody good), augmented actuality head-up show, suede headliner, a digital centre mirror, Rest entrance seats (energy leg relaxation and therapeutic massage seats), heated and cooled rear seats, an exterior V2L port, and it’ll remotely sensible park.
Seats are synthetic leather-based in black and white, and whereas rattling comfortable, warming, cooling, energy and massaging, they don’t look status sufficient for the cash. Name me quaint, however at this worth give me a cultured, single color tan leather-based cabin – BMW and Lexus do that so properly – or black leather-based with sporty purple stitching a la Porsche.
Maybe the brothel-like purple ambient gentle (see under) didn’t assist issues, however you’ll be able to select from 64 various colors.
There are some key advantages to going GT-Line over Air. For city life, it (and the mid-grade Earth) get a 360-degree digicam.
The EV9’s a whopper of a car. It doesn’t simply match parking areas, and its turning circle’s barge-like. You want at the very least a entrance digicam, and ideally the total {surround} view. The Air lacks each, making tight area negotiating in it an anxious process. No such bother for the GT-Line.
If you happen to’re planning on hauling, the twin motor GT-Line and Earth grades handle a powerful 2500kg tow capability. The Air’s lumbered with a depressing 900kg – you’ll handle a small trailer of backyard waste and little else.
The GT-Line’s 505km vary due to the massive battery is a win – the Air manages solely 443km. The Earth, in the meantime, trumps all with 512km vary.
The case for the $107,000 Kia EV9 Air
It’s $33,000 cheaper, and nonetheless has virtually all of the visible clout of the GT-Line. You may purchase an EV9 Air, then one thing like a petroleum Kia Cerato hatch as a second automotive with the cash saved.
The Air’s normal equipment’s hardly wanting. There are 19-inch alloys (with out the GT-Line’s not-great plastic covers), battery warmth pump and pre-conditioning, auto LED lights, sensible key, energy driver’s seat, heated and cooled entrance seats, synthetic leather-based inside, energy tailgate, wi-fi telephone charger, heated steering wheel, two 12.3-inch screens in a panoramic show, tri zone local weather management, related companies and a V2L socket within the boot.
After all the GT-Line has all of the above too, however such first rate inclusions within the Air (as you’d anticipate for $100k+) reveals it’s a deeply kitted out automotive to reside with.
That Air’s lack of surround-view digicam’s my greatest gripe, however the leatherette seats with their heating and cooling, plus energy for the motive force, make for a fairly luxurious cabin. I truly favor the delicate single-tone grey-black color scheme over the GT-Line’s brasher two-tone seats.
The centre console’s massive and sensible on all EV9s, however feels a bit plasticky at this worth. That’s not simply the Air, however the GT-Line too.
As a single motor it takes 8.2-seconds to hit 100km/h, however as with all EVs, the moment torque hit means the Air nonetheless feels energetic and fast sufficient from standstill. And right here’s the factor. It weighs a strong 300kg lower than the twin motor AWD GT-Line, and I reckon the general trip advantages consequently.
The Air runs on balloon-like Nexen 255/60×19 tyres, and this grade’s been given a distinct native suspension tune to the GT-Line on its whopping 21-inch rims shod in skinnier 285/45×21 Continental PremiumContact rubber.
All EV9s have a reasonably agency trip on metropolis streets and over poor surfaces, however the Air actually feels the plusher. Throw the massive seven-seater into corners and there’s respectable steadiness and road-holding. The GT-Line doesn’t exhibit as a lot physique roll because the Air, however you do really feel its further weight when rapidly altering route.
The GT-Line trumps the Air for wet-weather dealing with. Neither disgraces itself, however the Air’s extra eco-focused rubber and rear-drive nature imply the tail will slide when pushed. Fortunately, the soundness management mops issues up somewhat properly, nevertheless it will get your consideration.
Residing with the Kia EV9
The EV9 is a fairly particular household EV regardless of the grade.
After two weeks of residing with them, their skill, practicality and serene consolation have been standout. Which led me to my conclusion the Air makes a greater purchase.
It’s such a standout car regardless of the grade, you solely really want improve from the Air if there’s a non-negotiable on the others’ spec record, if you happen to undoubtedly will need to have an additional 50km vary, or if you happen to plan to usually tow one thing over a tonne.
House is huge in all EV9s. Second row seats supply unbelievable head and leg room, and the third row will fortunately home adults. Headroom is ample again right here, however the center row should slide ahead on runners (a great deal of area to take action) to present tolerable leg room.
The rear two seats rise and fold with a easy strap pull – unfussy and completely simple – as is the deal with or electrical button to maneuver ahead the center seats to grant entry.
With chairs folded it’s virtually van-like. Dropping each rows down we moved a pair of single beds (plus mattresses) with little drama, after which managed to get three bikes in there sitting upright (somewhat than laying down) because of the excessive ceiling.
Up entrance seat consolation’s excellent, particularly due to Merc S-Class-like cushiony head rests. The sprint feels ultra-modern with its panoramic panel containing the brace of screens. Once more, the very fact that is normal on the Air retains its worth proposition excessive.
Having the local weather management as bodily button’s a boon, however try the image above. There’s that little menu panel between the local weather and infotainment display. They want a strong prod to function, and are fiddly on the transfer. They’re a regression from simply regular rattling buttons which might have labored simply high quality right here.
Whereas grumbling, the GT-Line’s digital mirrors could also be one of the best examples I’ve but used – door-mount screens are massive and well-placed – however after every week residing with them, they did not persuade they’re higher than glass.
It’s more durable to belief what’s seen via a display, plus on the freeway particularly, there’s these rattling screens without end flashing away in your peripheral imaginative and prescient. It’s removed from stress-free.
Then on a moist day, water drops stubbornly stayed on the digicam, and the imaginative and prescient on the inside screens fogged up. The earlier this tech will get sidelined the higher. Kia should supply a delete for these on the GT-Line or it dangers shedding extra gross sales.
In one other win for the Air, all EV9s share 800V structure, permitting fast charging. Discover an ultra-rapid charger and also you’re from 10 to 80 p.c in solely 20 minutes.
They’ve the selection of 5 completely different regeneration ranges – switched via paddle shifters – together with an iPedal Max, which permits one-pedal driving on the town. The deceleration’s fairly robust, and it enables you to come to a whole cease.
An annoying flaw – and customary throughout most trendy Kias and Hyundais – is a means too nannying security suite.
Whereas the inclusions are welcome, you find yourself turning half of them off as they’re just too distracting and strict. If a security system compels the motive force to close it down, it’s failed as a security system.
It reads pace restrict indicators, however often incorrectly. Stray a couple of km/h over and also you’re greeted by flashing after which bongs. And people bongs don’t cease. It’s insupportable.
It’s such an enormous automotive than retaining between the lanes isn’t all the time simple. The lane maintain help works extra time consequently, that means there are fixed little tugs on the steering wheel, you get buzzed at and all of it feels overly jittery. There’s no stress-free right here.
Navigating menus to show these options off brings the following drawback. You’re being driver monitored, so with eyes off the highway, you’ve woke up one other choir of bongs.
As soon as turned off, the drive is rattling serene. You whisper alongside in close to silence round city, and it’s solely on the freeway the place tyre noise is marked. That applies to each the Air and GT-Line.
One final grumble. Whereas the EV9 GT-Line’s matte blue color seems to be groovy, I fear (rather a lot) about any harm on it. Can’t be a simple factor to restore. Because it occurred, this hard-working media car had the blue scratched barely on two door handles – not a fantastic look.
The pop-out door handles are too plastic-feeling for a automotive at this worth. BMW or Benz wouldn’t let one in every of its massive SUVs get close to the market with out far larger quality-feeling hand-grabbers.
As for power use, each EV9s – regardless of their weight and battery measurement variations (and the Air being single and GT-Line twin motor), our power use on take a look at proved remarkably related.
The GT-Line realised 18kWh per 100km on the town, and 19.5kWh/100km total – fairly a bit below the official 22.8kWh/100km determine.
The Air did a splash larger on the town – 18.2kWh/100km – however 19.3kWh/100km total. Its official quantity is nineteen.5kWh.
Contemplating the dimensions and mass of these items, all financial system figures have been spectacular. Vary, we discovered, could possibly be properly trusted.
Conclusion
For me, one of the best bits of the EV9 are range-wide. Its Blade Runner-type seems to be, huge and sensible cabin area, seven seats, 800v structure, and silky, quiet trip. Spend $107,000 or $140,000, these goodies stay.
Positive, the GT-Line spoils you, and if you happen to will need to have correct towing capability, it or the mid-grade Earth should be picked over the Air.
It’s an higher massive SUV meant for households, so I don’t actually see the purpose of sizzling hatch-beating acceleration, because the GT-Line provides. When are you going to make use of it? The Air’s extra sedate tempo higher fits a automotive like this.
A win for the Air will not be having to endure digital facet mirrors, but when I might select to enhance its specification, it actually wants a 360-degree digicam resulting from its measurement. The choice of the longer vary battery within the base degree could be appreciated too.
It’s laborious to see any purchaser being dissatisfied with EV9 possession. Simply makes positive you really want to spend an additional 5 determine sum to maneuver up from the higher worth entry-level Air.