The Kia EV9 electrical SUV is the most recent within the increasing EV-branded household of electrical vehicles. It’s additionally by far the most important, utilising the 800-Volt E-GMP structure in a big SUV physique designed to accommodate as much as seven individuals. With all that in thoughts, learn on for our Kia EV9 evaluate.
Whereas it’s not low-cost, the EV9 comes loaded with tools and expertise to assist justify a circa-$100K beginning worth when it arrives in Australia within the fourth quarter of 2023.
Plus it comes with a daring design inside and outside that punches above its mainstream branding.
The Kia EV9 could have no direct rivals within the electrical automotive area; it’s closest rival on area and luxurious trinkets would be the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, though that will probably be about triple the worth and have a a lot larger deal with luxurious.
That leaves the upcoming Mazda CX-90 as its almost definitely contender, though it is going to additionally compete with any sizeable SUV, from the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Kluger to a Toyota LandCruiser or Nissan Patrol.
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Value and options
The Kia EV9 represents a large leap for the Korean model. It would immediately catapult Kia into the posh SUV air occupied by large title luxurious manufacturers.
However the Kia EV9 guarantees lots in return to justify its luxurious price ticket.
Whereas particulars are but to be introduced, it seems to be as if there will probably be three core fashions to the EV9 vary when it goes on sale in This fall 2023. A fourth mannequin – a excessive efficiency EV9 GT – will possible arrive round 2025.
Probably the most inexpensive mannequin would be the Kia EV9 Air.
It would get the smaller of the 2 obtainable battery packs (with 76.1kWh of capability) and get a single electrical motor driving the rear wheels.
Whereas the EV9 Air would be the entry-level mannequin it is going to include loads of equipment. That features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and matching 12.3-inch central touchscreen. In between them is a 5.0-inch display devoted to air flow controls.
The Air may even get an eight-speaker sound system and 19-inch alloy wheels.
Plus there will probably be Kia Join, which permits for over-the-air software program updates and the potential of a primary subscription service for added options.
The mid-grade Kia EV9 will probably be referred to as the Earth and can possible step as much as 20-inch wheels in addition to some further tools. It additionally seems to be set to get the dual-motor system and bigger 98.1kWh battery pack.
The EV9 GT-Line will get 21-inch wheels, twin sunroofs, electrical entrance seats and a 14-speaker Meridian sound system.
It would additionally get a digital key, one thing that would additionally make its method onto different mannequin variants. That key lets you program your telephone because the automotive key and likewise ship digital ‘keys’ to mates.
All EV9s will get Kia’s seven-year guarantee that additionally covers the high-voltage battery pack for as much as 150,000km.
Count on service intervals of 12 months or 15,000km.
Inside area
The Kia EV9 is a giant automotive and feels it. Its exterior dimensions sit between a Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol. Nonetheless, it has an extended wheelbase than both of these, one thing that advantages occupant area because of the comparatively compact electrical motors.
Up entrance there’s a broad sprint and chunky centre console. In addition to bodily buttons for the primary air flow controls there are contact buttons constructed into the sprint; press them and there’s a light kick to strengthen you’ve had the specified outcome.
It’s indicative of the eye to element, one thing that flows by to lighting. On the GT-Line we drove there was refined however efficient ambient lighting in addition to a Kia badge onv the steering wheel that glowed once you begin the automobile.
Many of the cupboard space in that centre console is nearer to floor stage in an open binnacle.
That’s as a result of among the cupboard space is reserved for these within the center row, with a deep pocket delving into the entrance centre console.
Whereas the EV9 will probably be supplied with a pair of lounge-like captain’s chairs for abroad markets, Australia will solely get the rear bench that takes three individuals, for an total seating capability of seven.
The sheer width of the EV9 means it received’t be a difficulty becoming three throughout that center row. And all could have ample headroom, though there’s a high-ish flooring because of the battery pack beneath.
Press a button to tilt the center seat ahead and there’s comparatively easy accessibility to the third row. Even in there it’s grownup pleasant for headroom. Leg area is much less forthcoming, although, and it’ll be a commerce off with the sliding center row to make sure everybody within the rear is cozy.
Talking of consolation, the entrance seats are terrific for assist, with the motive force’s seat of the EV9 GT-Line even getting adjustable bolsters; dial up Sport mode and so they decrease the central seat base barely and lift the helps holding your kidneys.
The EV9 additionally has a robust sustainability focus, with pretend leather-based used and varied bio-materials. There are some attention-grabbing finishes throughout the sprint, together with a wood-like strip and one other fashionable plastic that has some visible curiosity.
Efficiency and effectivity
The EV9 is on the market with two battery packs and both single- or dual-motor configurations.
The EV9 Air will get the smaller 76.1kWh battery pack with one electrical motor driving the rear wheels. It supplies maximums of 160kW and 350Nm and the driving vary is 418km in keeping with the WLTP normal.
That very same motor might be hooked as much as a bigger 98.1kWh battery to increase the vary to 541km. Nonetheless, that’s a combo it seems to be like Australia received’t initially get. That might partly be as a result of efficiency suffers because of the further weight and a change in voltage; the larger battery runs at a decrease 552V most versus 632V for the smaller battery. That in flip lowers the height energy to 150kW whereas sustaining the complete 350Nm.
Acceleration to 100km/h of the rear-drive fashions is 8.3 seconds for the single-motor/small battery combo and 9.4 seconds with the heavier, bigger battery.
The EV9 Earth is prone to get the dual-motor all-wheel drive system that will increase mixed system outputs to 283kW and 600Nm. An OTA software program replace will increase the torque peak to 700Nm as a part of a Increase mode, which prices further.
With the usual 283kW/600Nm it’s claimed to hit 100km/h in 6.0 seconds whereas Increase mode lowers that to five.3 seconds.
What’s not know is what tyres will probably be fitted to that EV9 Earth. If it comes with the 19-inch wheels from the Air then the claimed WLTP vary is 497km. But when it will get 20- or 21-inch wheels then that vary drops to about 470km.
That 470km vary is what you possibly can anticipate from the EV9 GT-Line, which can get the most important 21-inch wheels obtainable on the automotive.
It was that EV9 GT-Line mannequin that we drove in Korea not too long ago.
Regardless of the portly 2634kg of the dual-motor EV9 – yep, it’s a critically heavy machine – the GT-Line darts off the road with the keenness of one thing far sportier.
It thrusts occupants again into the seats properly and continues that surge in direction of triple futures.
Whereas there’s much less punch when it’s in control, there’s by no means a time when the EV9 feels undernourished.
It’s a brisk machine, and one which at all times responds with straightforward, easy grunt.
Whereas physics have their say in making certain it’s not as environment friendly as smaller electrical automobiles, by massive SUV requirements it’s spectacular.
Claimed consumption is about 25kWh per 100km and we bettered that by round 2kWh/100km throughout a few days of driving, a lot of it finished on a freeway (which is rarely significantly pleasant on an EV).
![All-new Kia EV9](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Kia-EV9.jpg)
Charging
Underpinning the EV9 is a bigger model of the E-GMP structure that additionally sits below the Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 in addition to the Genesis GV60.
It’s the most important mannequin but constructed on that structure, however that doesn’t change the basics, which embrace an 800V charging system.
It means the EV9 can profit from the 350kW charging stations (after they’re working…) and draw as much as 230kW within the course of.
Kia says it could cost from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 25 minutes.
Charging is finished by way of a Kind 2/CCS combo plug on the best rear of the automotive.
The EV9 may even have the {hardware} required for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) expertise, permitting the battery for use to energy a home of feed again into the grid. Nonetheless, it received’t initially be operational, with that performance to be added as a part of an OTA software program replace.
As a substitute, the EV9 will get the identical vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality of different electrical Kias and Hyundais. That permits it to offer as much as 3.68kW by way of a family powerpoint within the boot.
Trip and dealing with
It’s a giant, heavy physique within the Kia EV9 however one which has loads of dynamic expertise embedded.
We solely drove on 21-inch wheels, which often decide up sharper bumps to create some jiggling within the trip.
However over bigger ripples and bumps it’s impressively compliant and comfy, swiftly recovering in a single movement.
In fact, a number of the EV9’s weight is down low within the battery pack, one thing that retains the centre of gravity low.
So regardless of its boxy look it’s superbly planted by corners, with minimal leaning.
There’s additionally a great deal of grip from these 21-inch tyres, so once you lean on them they ship.
It’s clear there’s a great deal of functionality within the EV9 – and it’s functionality not but totally exploited. That’s as a result of vehicles coming to Australia could have an area suspension tune designed to raised put together them for our roads and tastes.
Maybe essentially the most spectacular a part of the EV9 is its refinement and cabin consolation.
Even on a freeway it’s suitably quiet, hushing not solely tyre noise however wind noise. It makes it a critically relaxed SUV.
![Kia EV9 looks striking in blue](https://evcentral.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Kia-EV9-2.jpg)
Speaking level
Can it tow a home, win a drag race, nice off-road, flip heads at Mardi Gras, and so forth
The Kia EV9s that come to Australia will miss out on among the extra superior tech obtainable within the electrical SUV elsewhere, at the least initially.
That features the “digital tiger face”, which has lighting embedded behind the plastic strip that replaces the grille. It’s designed to emulate a conventional grille and might even have altering patterns. However it received’t be coming right here.
Security
Passive and lively security gear, unbiased scores, points, what it misses out on, and so forth
The Kia EV9 comes loaded with normal security gear, beginning with 9 airbags; twin entrance, entrance aspect, rear aspect, aspect curtain and a centre airbag separating the 2 entrance occupants. Australia misses out on the motive force’s knee airbag being fitted in another markets.
There’s additionally a load of lively security gear, together with autonomous emergency braking, blind spot warning, rear occupant detection, exit help, rear cross site visitors alert and velocity signal recognition.
The EV9 will probably be obtainable with stage three autonomous driving functionality in some markets. However it received’t initially be supplied in Australia, partly as a result of our vehicles received’t get the 2 lidar (laser radar) within the decrease a part of the grille.
So as an alternative it’s the extent two autonomy that enables for gentle self-steering and velocity adjustment. Throughout our drive it appeared to work moderately effectively, though the lane preserve help system is often too desirous to take management.
Verdict
Rating: 8.5/10
The Kia EV9 electrical SUV is a giant automotive with large aspirations for the model – and it comes with a giant price ticket.
It’s the worth tag that would frighten some off, though Kia nonetheless believes it is going to have individuals queuing to personal an EV9.
Those that can stretch the funds will probably be rewarded with one of the spacious EVs available on the market – and one which delivers on daring design.
It’s additionally a automotive loaded with substance, from glorious driving credentials and a protracted listing of normal tools and tech.
Kia EV9 GT-Line
Value: About $130,000 (estimated)
Fundamentals: EV, 7 seats, 5 doorways, SUV, AWD
Vary: 470km (estimated)
Battery capability: 99.8kWh
Battery guarantee: 7 years/150,000km
Power consumption: 25kWh/100km (estimated)
Motors: 1 entrance, 1 rear, mixed outputs of 283kW/600Nm (700Nm with Increase mode)
AC charging: 11kW, Kind 2 plug
DC charging: 230kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 6.0 seconds (or 5.3 seconds with Increase mode)