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2024 Kia EV9 News, Interior, Specs & MSRP – Kia’s second battery-powered vehicle is nearly certain to become a huge success. The EV9 combines the best elements of the highly sought-after three-row Telluride along with the underlying technology from one of our top electric vehicles that is the EV6 crossover and it’s the Kia EV9 is on target to hit US roads by the end of this year during a time when EV adoption is steadily growing momentum, and American customers are obsessed with SUVs. So it’s not surprising that the EV9 is the most anticipated EV of 2023.
Instead of dutifully waiting until the first electric vehicle arrives and I traveled across the Pacific to the home of Kia, South Korea to get an early test drive of a pre-series 2024 Kia EV9 to test whether it was worth the long wait.
Review
I was disappointed that one of the most ingenious features, the 360-degree swinging second-row seat, does not comply with US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety requirements, so it isn’t available in US versions. Bummer. We’ll be forced to deal and upgrade to the plush second-row captain’s chairs that slide that come with adjustable power adjustment, leg extension, and massage it’s a six-seater set-up that is a bit different from the previous Kia Carnival Prestige minivan.
There is plenty of legroom in the second row, which is spacious as well as the third row, which has enough legroom and headroom for this 5-foot10 inches adult. The EV9 is available with a seven-passenger layout and an adjustable second-row bench. Apart from individuals and cargo space, the EV9 offers plenty of room to carry cargo. It has 20.2 cubic ft of storage space in the rear of the 3rd row, opening the way to 81.9 cubes when all the back seats fold.
The front seats aren’t left unattended. The model I tested included heated and cooled surfaces with a wide selection of adjustments, extending to a complete recliner posture with leg rests while it was parked to charge. The EV9’s front seat massage isn’t as specific or as firm as I’d like however I was awed by the way it is activated periodically during long drives to ease tiredness and increase awareness.
In front of the driver’s seat lies the EV9’s tri-display monolithic infotainment suite that builds upon Kia’s renowned dual-12.3 inches screens, and an unassuming 5-inch monochrome display that shows at-a-glance climate control info. Kia is once more revising its software and is now presenting its EV9 driver sporting a fresh personalized home screen that displays greater information at a glance through customizable widgets as well as shortcuts. This new version has enhanced over-the-air updates as well as compatibility with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Digital Key support for certain Android and iPhone phones.
Keys with capacitive Haptic for Audio, Map Source, and others seem to vanish in the surface of the dashboard below which is a wood on my particular example and looks appealing, but it is difficult to precisely hit when driving. Practically speaking, I’m happy that these shortcuts now stand apart from the physical buttons for temperature control and the control of fan speed below. The overall experience of the dashboard is as if it’s an improvement in the organization over the already excellent EV6 formula.
The EV9 features a highly Hyundai Ioniq-like 5-stalk shift knob that is attached to the column of the steering to switch between the park, drive and reverse. If you look closely, you’ll be able to see that this device has a start button. It’s a space-saving feature that can free up the console’s center for the storage area and cup holders that are forward-positioned This is a nice feature.
If I could pick just an additional ergonomic flaw is the location of the terrain and drive buttons on the EV9’s 4-spoke steering wheel. They are tucked away beneath the central hub, they were harder to access without bending my wrist awkwardly. I prefer the EV6’s large easy-to-use drive mode button which can be easily reached with thumbs at the 8 o’clock point. To be fair to Kia, the central button is more difficult to hit accidentally while shuffling steering, and the typical EV9 driver, who is driving an automobile full of family members is likely to not switch between the drive modes nearly as frequently as I am. As a driver who loves quickly stepping to switch into Sport mode for an instant passing, I’d love it if there was a compromise in this case.
As with the equally large Telluride similar to the Telluride, the EV9 can also be equipped with a rear-view digital display mirror that greatly improves visibility, particularly when the passenger is in the front or when tall equipment blocks the rear window.
The majority of my driving occurs on smooth-flowing highways, I had the chance to try out the latest version of Kia’s Advanced Highway Driving Assist technology and it improves by providing an improved and more precise steering aid for lane centering as well as automatic lane-changing assistance in the event that the turn signal is active. The EV9 will come with lidar sensors that are onboard which brings the number of external sensors and cameras up to 15 points. According to the report, it is EV9 can be described as “level 3 autonomous capable” in some markets, however, it’s not the case in other markets. EV will be only certified for hands-on driving assistance in the US when it launches.
Specs and Range
For the first year of its model, the EV9 will come with three different electric powertrain options. The standard Range model starts out with a 160-kilowatt motor which powers the rear wheels with a power output of 215 horsepower and 258 pounds-feet of torque. It is paired with a 76.1-kilowatt-hour battery. The upgrade into the Long Range model swaps in the larger 99.8-kWh battery. The EPA hasn’t yet come up by estimating range, but Kia has a target of about 300 miles in this model, which is the longest roaming option.
Both packs of batteries feature Kia’s latest chemistry, fourth generation, and heating pump technology to ensure the best performance and speed of charging for a range of temperatures. I was unable to recharge the EV9 myself in both days of test and the electric SUV can handle as high as 230 kW rapid charging via DC at an adequate station. This should be enough for filling the huge battery pack to 80 percent in just 25 minutes.
As with its E-GMP-based relatives, it will enable vehicle-to-load via an adapter that powers appliances or electronics via the onboard 3.68 Kilowatt inverter. Additionally, in some markets, the EV9 will also offer a vehicle-to-grid option, which users will configure and control via Kia Connect. Kia Connect app marketplace.
In the top list, it is the model I had the opportunity to try: the dual-motor configuration, which increases power by adding a second motor to the front axle. This brings the total system up to 379 horsepower (283 kW) and 516 pounds of torque. Along with Towing options The dual motor EV9 boasts the capacity to be 5,000 pounds. towing power, something that Kia warns that it could “significantly reduce electric range.” This is true for towing on any EV.
The basic Standard model has a 76.1-kWh battery. This model is the Standard Long Range model and models with all-wheel drive feature the larger 99.8-kWh battery. Kia claims that this Long Range EV9 should drive at least 300 miles before charging. Don’t be expecting the dual motor all-wheel drive version to boast a similar range. All EV9 makes use of Kia’s 800-volt electric design, which permits DC fast-chargers to recharge their battery rapidly. The EV9’s 11. kW onboard charger is close to the average of other competitors. However, its maximum speed of 230 kilowatts DC-fast charging can provide 149 miles of battery life within just 15 minutes.
Release Date and Price
It started with the Telluride Then the EV6 and finally, lightning strikes again in 2024 with the stunning Kia EV9. With this first positive impression, I’m looking forward to another ride that I’m sure I’ll be able to enjoy once its North American spec arrives at dealerships later in the season (the 4th quarter in 2023). In the weeks leading up to the official launch date, we’ll be able to learn more about the particular trims, the EPA-rated price, and the range.
After the first round of imports, Kia promises to shift EV9 production into the West Point, Georgia plant from 2024 onwards, so that the EV9 Kia’s first electric battery vehicle that is built in the US using components from around the world.