Overview
The Kia EV9 is the second all-electric vehicle to be introduced under the Korean automaker’s new “EV” series name. The EV9, like the EV6 crossover before it, rests atop Hyundai Motor Group’s 800V E-GMP platform, enabling ultrafast charging speeds as well as vehicle-to-load (V2L) power and the possibility for other applications. (More on it later.)
Since Kia originally teased the SUV concept in November 2021, we’ve been waiting for today’s actual reveal. This summer, a functioning prototype that roughly mirrored its initial design form was released. Kia released the first full photographs of the EV9, inside and exterior, in mid-March, reiterating some of the design themes mentioned during the recent presentation.
What Kia EV9 offers
Kia’s sticking to its famous “tiger face” front end, as well as a variety of seating options in the interior, including second-row swivel chairs that turn 180 degrees. Kia EV9 SUV will be offered with two battery sizes: a 76.1 kWh pack in Standard RWD and a Long Range 99.8 kWh battery in both RWD and AWD variants.
The Long Range RWD version of the Kia EV9 will have a range of 541 km (336 miles) on a single charge. We’d anticipate the official EPA estimated range to be between 300 and 310 miles because its figures were produced under the more lenient WLTP criteria.
Kia additionally stated that it will ultimately offer a “Boost” option that will boost the torque of the AWD SUV’s front motor to 700 Nm. That add-on will be available for purchase at a later date through the Kia Connect Shop, a new tool coming on the EV9.
According to Kia, the 800V platform will be able to achieve an estimated 239 km (149 miles) of range in just 15 minutes of DC fast charging, making it ideal for future road trips in the family-sized electric SUV. Another significant benefit provided by the E-GMP platform is its Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU), which allows energy to be discharged from the EV’s battery to power other devices. This is most commonly referred to as vehicle-to-load or V2L. According to Kia, the EV9 will be capable of delivering 3.68 kW of electricity to other items, such as a laptop, a small fridge, or charging another EV.
The EV9 will be the first Kia vehicle to use the automaker’s three-step Design Sustainability Plan, which involves phasing out leathers, boosting the usage of bio-based materials, and incorporating 10 “must-have” sustainable things into every model, from the base trim to the top-tier option. Here are a few samples from Kia’s electric SUV:
- Recycled suede and recycled thermoplastic olefin (TPO) in the dashboard
- Recycled fishing nets used in the floor carpets
- Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Pricing
The price for the Kia EV9 SUV is still unknown. Kia stated that their team “monitors multiple factors to determine the best price for customers.” We don’t know how it will end up, but it’s very likely that this SUV will be Kia’s most expensive model.
The first version will be produced in South Korea, but Kia plans to share global production plans for the EV9 in the near future. Pre-orders for the electric SUV will begin in South Korea in the second quarter of 2023, followed by other global markets including Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East in the second half of this year.
