Kia EV9 Review: All-Electric SUV with 6-7 Seats

SUV with six or seven seats

Rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive

Three trim levels: Air, GT-Line, GT-Line S

Driving range from WLTP 313 to 349 miles

Design & Powertrain

The Kia EV9 has a modern, boxy SUV body style that fits seven seats, all of which can accommodate adults. Alternatively, the top of the range GT-Line S model can be specified with six seats; the two second row seats can swivel to face the doors, or can rotate to the rear to face the third row of seats.

With the third row of seats in use, the boot has 333 litres of luggage space; with the third row of seats folded down, the boot increases in size to a huge 828 litres. The all-wheel drive EV9 also has a massive 2,500 kg towing capacity.

The EV9 is fitted with a 99.8 kWh li-ion polymer battery. The Air rear-wheel drive model has a single electric motor producing 200 bhp and 350 Nm of torque; the GT-Line and GT-Line S models have dual motors generating 378 bhp and 700 Nm of torque.

Driving Experience

A stalk on the right-hand side of the steering column is likely to be your first interaction with the Kia EV9’s cabin, because this is where the start button and the gear selector are located.

As you drive off, if you have a clear road you may become aware of the performance car-like acceleration – the GT-Line and GT-Line S models take just 5.3 seconds to reach 62 mph from standstill.

But the overriding impression is likely to be of the near-silent progress, overall refinement, and exceptionally comfortable ride quality of the EV9. We’re talking Range Rover-like levels of refinement – except that the EV9 is all-electric, and the Range Rover isn’t – so the EV9 is actually more refined than a Range Rover.

The EV9’s low centre of gravity means that it feels secure through fast corners, but sharp corners can highlight the car’s weight, which is over 2.6 tonnes.

The steering wheel has a conveniently-located button for drive modes, giving the options of Eco, Normal and Sport – as well as My Drive which allows the drive modes to be personalized.

Next to the drive modes is a terrain mode button, giving the options of Mud, Snow and Sand.

The SUV features all-wheel drive in GT-Line and GT-Line S trim levels, so it exhibits good levels of grip, although the standard road tyres are likely to be the limiting factor if tackling any serious off-road terrain.

The EV9 has steering wheel-mounted paddles which allow you to change the level of regenerative braking. This a much better solution than hiding the brake regen settings in the touchscreen, because it allows instant adjustment.

Most car controls are on the 12.3-inch central touchscreen, which is linked to the 12.3-inch main driver’s instrument display via a 5.3-inch screen showing the climate controls. Having a separate screen for the climate controls is better than having to delve into the main touchscreen to adjust the heating and ventilation, and the three screens look like one big wide screen, but the screen with the climate controls is partially hidden behind the left-hand side of the steering wheel rim – the only main design fault with the car.

Range & Charging

The Kia EV9 GT-Line and GT-Line S models have an official WLTP combined range of 313 miles and a WLTP combined efficiency rating of 2.7 miles/kWh. The rear-wheel drive EV9 Air model has a longer combined range of up to 349 miles.

A heat pump is standard on all EV9 models; this uses heat from the electric powertrain to warm the cabin in cold weather, so any loss of the driving range in winter should be minimised.

The EV9 has an 800V electrical architecture which allows it to ultra-rapid charge at up to 210 kW, according to Kia’s figures. This translates to a 10% to 80% charge being possible in 24 minutes, or a 15-minute charge potentially giving an extra 155 miles of range. A 10% to 100% charge should take just over 9 hours at a home wallbox.

A vehicle-to-load system (V2L) is also standard on the EV9; this can power external electrical equipment via an adaptor plugged in to the charging socket, and there’s also a 3-pin plug socket in the boot.

Kia’s EV route planner makes automatic recommendations for charging stations on a journey, and the EV9 features Plug&Charge capability which allows Kia customers to start a charging session at a Plug&Charge-capable public charging station simply by connecting their vehicle.

The Kia EV9 is available in three trim levels: Air, GT-Line and GT-Line S.

The EV9 Air is rear-wheel drive, producing 200 bhp and 350 Nm of torque, with 19-inch alloy wheels and a range of up to 349 miles, and it costs from £64,995.
The EV9 GT-Line is all-wheel drive, producing 378 bhp and 700 Nm of torque, with 21-inch alloy wheels and a range of up to 313 miles. It costs from £73,245.
The EV9 GT-Line S shares the same basic specifications with the GT-Line, ie. it’s all-wheel drive, with 378 bhp and 700 Nm of torque, 21-inch alloy wheels and a range of up to 313 miles. It costs from £75,995. Standard equipment includes a front sunroof with tilting and sliding functions, a second-row sunroof with sliding blind, a head-up display, and a 14-speaker Meridian Premium Sound System.
Although it comes with seven seats as standard, the EV9 GT-Line S is also available as a six-seater, including second row swivel seats, from £76,995. The six-seat model is offered with a Pacific Blue exterior finish in either matt or gloss, or it can be ordered in the same colours as other seven-seat GT-Line S models.
All EV9 models have rear self-levelling suspension, heated and ventilated front seats and outer second-row seats, heated steering wheel, 6 x USB-C charge ports, and a 7-year/100,000-mile warranty.
The first EV9 UK customer deliveries will be from January 2024, starting with GT-Line S models, with Air and GT-Line models due to follow later.

Conclusion

The Kia EV9 can be viewed as a six or seven-seater SUV. Or it can be viewed as a Range Rover rival. Except that the Range Rover isn’t available with six or seven seats and an all-electric powertrain. So that means that the Kia has the advantage because of its zero tailpipe emissions, and it’s quieter and more refined because it’s all electric. It’s also cheaper – by around £50,000 at least – than a Range Rover.

Some people might say that the Kia doesn’t have the same badge prestige as a Range Rover, and if they want to pay an extra £50,000 for the badge, that’s fine. However the smart money says buy the Kia, which is extremely quiet, refined and comfortable, and the 0-62 mph time of 5.3 seconds in the case of the GT-Line S should surely offer enough performance for most people.