2024 Kia EV9 electric SUV: Australia confirmed, EV9 GT due in 2025

The big new Australia-bound 2024 Kia EV9 electric SUV has been properly unveiled today, following a series of detailed leaks and last week's design-focused reveal.

JUNE 29: We've driven the EV9!

Get our full written and video review at the linked story below.

STORY CONTINUES: EV9 confirmed for Australia

JUMP AHEAD

• Design
• EV9 size, space & seating
• EV9 battery, power & acceleration
• EV9 driving range & charging speed
• Technology: Kia Connect & autonomy
• EV9 GT hero confirmed!
• What will the Kia EV9 cost in Australia?

Due in Australia in late 2023, the seven-seat Kia EV9 enters as the largest electric vehicle in the Hyundai-Kia group – and one of the largest EVs in the market – with Hyundai's Ioniq 7 not scheduled to reach Australia until sometime in 2024.

As with the our 2022 Car of the Year the EV6, and Hyundai's compelling Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 models, the EV9 is built in the Hyundai-Kia group's E-GMP dedicated EV platform. One of the key features of that architecture is the 800-volt electrical system, allowing for faster charging and more efficient battery integration.

(Buyers should note that the brands' other EVs, such as the Kia Niro and the Hyundai Kona EV – including the incoming new generation – feature a 400V architecture with slower charging capability.)

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Design: "Opposites unite".

Not just an off-brand spin on Paula Abdul's 'Opposites Attract', Kia's new design philosophy claims to target a "unique balance of natural and modern elements".

Asked by this writer today if he felt it was possible the EV9's styling goes beyond the 'sweet spot' for adventurous design, into the realm of deterrent, Kia design chief Karim Habib focused his language on "early adopters" – risk-takers by nature.

“I think, for who we are as a brand – first of all, Kia is developing products for early adopters. We want people who are open to new solutions, to new ideas, to, let’s say, the invigorating potential of change… we want them to come to our product," Habib said.

"But, as a designer, I truly believe our job as industrial designers is to visualise the intrinsic qualities of the product, and we believe this is a very innovative product. The design is really a representation of its technology and its innovation, and that quality to me is really a universal appeal.”

The EV9 introduces a number of design firsts for the brand, from that boxy and bold exterior to, in the cabin, a column-mounted gear shifter (as its stablemate Hyundai is doing) to free up space in the centre console.

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Hyundai Seven concept, Hyundai Ioniq 7 previewed

EV9 size, space and seating

The Kia EV9 will be offered as a three-row model in all forms, with buyers able to choose from seven- and six-seat layouts, with the latter introducing separated, comfort-focused "Captain's Chairs" in the second row.

Opting for the Captain's Chairs will allow first- and second-row occupants to recline to a sleeper position for long charging sessions, or the second-row seats can spin to chat with the third-row occupants.

Just like the concept that preceded it, the EV9 rides on a 3100mm wheelbase, which compares well to the Hyundai Ioniq 5's 3000mm wheelbase – itself longer than the large Palisade SUV's 2900mm footprint.

Overall length for the EV9 is 5010mm, longer even than the concept's 4927mm. The Ioniq 5 measures 4635mm long, while the Palisade comes in at a close 4995mm in facelifted form.

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Interestingly, Hyundai's Ioniq 7 concept has a wheelbase claimed to be "just under" 126 inches long, which converts to 3200mm – meaning the production version could be even longer than the EV9, although the Ioniq 7 concept's overall length is a hair shorter at 4996mm.

Other dimensions have the EV9 at 1980mm wide and 1755mm tall, compared to the Palisade's 1975mm and 1750mm.

Other numbers, such as boot space and under-bonnet space at the front end, are still to be revealed.

MINI MATCH-UP: EV9 size and space

Note: the tables in this story scroll horizontally.

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EV9 battery, power and acceleration

The EV9 will be offered in single-motor rear-wheel (RWD) and dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations.

• In its standard-range form, the RWD model will draw power from a 76.1kWh battery pack.
  • The standard RWD model will feature a single 160kW, 350Nm electric motor and claims a 0-100km/h time of 8.2 seconds.
• A RWD Long-Range variant and the AWD model will both get a huge 99.8kWh battery pack.
  • The RWD Long-Range variant, focused more on efficiency than performance, gets a single 150kW/350Nm motor and claims a 0-100km/h time of 9.4 seconds.
  • In dual-motor GT-Line form, the EV9 gets a motor at each axle with total combined outputs of 283kW and 600N, and a rapid 0-100km/h time of 6.0 seconds.
  • 💰 At a later date, buyers will have the option to unlock a torque boost to 700Nm, through the Kia Connect Store in the EV9's infotainment system. Pricing for this capability hasn't been revealed, but buyers who take the leap will sharpen their 0-100km/h time to 5.3 seconds.
  • A flagship EV9 GT was also confirmed in today's briefing, with a 2025 launch planned. Details of that model are still to come, but we'd expect a 0-100km/h time below 5.0 seconds...

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EV9 driving range and charging speed

For now, Kia has detailed driving range for only one variant: the RWD Long Range – sure to be the most impressive numbers in the range.

• The Kia EV9 RWD Long Range lists an estimated, WLTP-based driving range of "over" 541 kilometres.
• Using a 350kW ultra-rapid charger, the EV9's 800V system claims a 15-minute charge will result in 239 kilometres of driving.

Further details, such as 0-80% charging times and what to expect from the other models, are still to come.

RECAP: EV9 specifications

Note: the tables in this story scroll horizontally.

MINI MATCH-UP

Below is a table showing what we know of the EV9, compared with a few relatively close rivals. No EV offered in Australia right now is quite a match for the EV9 in size.

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Technology: Remote connectivity, over-the-air updates and autonomous driving assistance

Unlike the EV6 in its current pre-update form, the EV9 will introduce over-the-air (OTA) software updates not only to the Kia Connect infotainment system, but also to the driving and battery software to address issues and improve its efficiency and range over time. Including, as noted above, the ability to unlock more power and torque – for a price.

For now, Kia is offering no word on what other pre-installed features it will keep locked behind a paywall, but some brands have used the technology to offer paid access to heated seats and advanced driver assistance aids. Capitalism in its most evolved form...

The EV9 will also be the first Kia with Highway Driving Pilot (HDP), unlocking "conditional Level 3 autonomy".

With HDP, the EV9 is equipped with fifteen sensors, including two lidars, that allow it to scan its surroundings and detect objects in a full 360-degree field of view. This helps the car detect and respond to the road and other users, potentially preventing collisions.

The HDP system provides real-time assistance to the driver in various driving conditions, meeting the criteria for Level 3 autonomy "in certain areas", allowing for conditional driving automation where conditions and regulations permit.

"This allows the driver to take a temporary break from controlling the vehicle," Kia says – although, from a legal perspective, the brand is likely to remind drivers that they must keep their attention on the road at all times.

As for the EV6, buyers should expect Kia Connect to become available sometime in late 2024. And, no, there won't be an option to apply it retroactively for existing owners. The system requires a hardware change, and Kia appears uninterested in following Mazda's lead with an after-purchase upgrade package.

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Kia EV9 GT confirmed

Speaking at the EV9's global unveiling today, Kia president and CEO, Song Ho-sung, was all too happy to confirm plans for a hero EV9 GT.

"We're aware of growing demand for performance models, and I'm really glad for the interest and success of the EV6 GT," he said.

"I'm pleased to announce an EV9 GT version will be released in early 2025."

Obviously we'd be a while away from knowing any numbers for the EV6 GT, but why not look to the smaller but very performance-focused Kia EV6 GT and Ioniq 5 N models?

The EV6 GT delivers 430kW and 730Nm for a claimed 0-100km/h time of just 3.5 seconds, while the Ioniq 5 N's numbers – still to be confirmed – are expected to go even better, if not beyond 450kW.

Get one of those tunes into the EV9, and buyers might expect a 0-100km/h time somewhere close to 4.5 seconds... well below the 283kW/600Nm EV9 GT-Line's 6.0-second claim – or the 700Nm upgrade's 5.3-second figure.

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What will the Kia EV9 cost in Australia?

Dear reader, your guess is as good as ours – because you're a switched-on mob. The EV6 starts these days from $72,590 for the Air, while the GT-Line bumps that up to $69,590. Dig deep for the EV6 GT and you're looking at $99,950 before on-road costs.

You'd be hard pressed, then, to imagine the EV9 coming in below $100,000 – although Kia might try to scrape under that significant psychological barrier with a circa-$95k starting point...

The EV9 is due in Australia later this year.

Watch for more on the EV9 to come in the months ahead.

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The story to here

UPDATE 2: And now it's official!

Well, this story's developed fast. In the 30 minutes since we published the below images, the EV9 has been officially unveiled.

At this point, it appears the information below is as detailed as it's getting for now, with today's unveiling focusing more on design. Technical details are still to come.

We've added the new photos to our gallery, so click any of the shots below to see all of the official images. Watch for more details, including the flagship GT-Line model, to come later this month.

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UPDATE: Kia EV9 revealed in leaked marketing photos

Official photos of the big new Kia EV9 electric SUV have found their way online, appearing on the Instagram page Shorts_Car, offering a world's-first look at the Korean brand's third new EV.

See the photos below, and watch for more details to come later this morning with the EV9's official unveiling.

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Importantly for Kia, the EV9 will introduce a number of design firsts for the brand, including a bold new design language and, in the cabin, a column-mounted gear shifter (as its stablemate Hyundai is doing) to free up space in the centre console. What's old is new again...

On the tech front, the EV9 will debut Automode, bringing a number of autonomous-driving features that outshine anything offered in the brand's line-up so far.

Kia says Automode will offer a self-driving "Highway Driving Pilot", and while details are still to come, it will likely match Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist 2 system, which is considered a Level 3 system.

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Unlike the EV6 and Niro, the EV9 will also introduce over-the-air (OTA) software updates not only to the infotainment system, but also to the driving and battery software to address issues and improve its efficiency and range over time.

It's also the first brand in the Hyundai Kia family to introduce an SUV of this size. In concept form, the EV9 was 4927mm long and rode on a 3100mm wheelbase – compared to Hyundai's Ioniq 5, which measures 4635mm long and has a 3000mm wheelbase.

To suit these massive dimensions, the EV9 is also expected to feature the largest battery ever offered by the group – making it larger than the 77.4 kWh pack featured in the Ioniq 5.

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According to an owner survey leaked in January – if it's accurate – the EV9 will also a driving range of around 467 kilometres in long-range rear-wheel-drive form.

Entry-level models are likely to be rear-wheel-drive, and the survey suggests a driving range of 354 kilometres at that base specification.

Stepping up to all-wheel-drive adds a second electric motor at the front axle, for a 294kW/519Nm total system output. The survey claims a 0-97km/h time of six seconds, with a towing capacity of 1600kg – but its driving range drops to 418 kilometres.

March 1: Kia EV9 detailed in our new renders

Mike Stevens

The big new Kia EV9 electric SUV is expected to make its global debut in the coming weeks ahead of an Australian launch due in late 2023.

Thanks to the video and screengrabs further below, published in February, we've pulled a classic 'zoom and enhance' to expose the EV9's key design features.

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As expected, the final production design will skew remarkably close to the concept car that debuted in 2021, with many of the show car's lines – looking something like the cutting-edge polygonal 3D models common in video games of the early 2000s – making their way to market.

The result is a retro-futuristic design that responds to the blocky Ioniq 5 of stablemate Hyundai, dialled to a new level.

Whether the EV9's striking looks will work on Australian buyers is a question we'll have to wait some months to see answered, although its price – likely to start upwards of $80,000, positioning it around $10,000 above the popular EV6 – might be the real sticking point for many.

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Of course, with supply bound to be as limited as it has been for the EV6 – Kia, as with other brands, blames its small allocations on Australia's lack of emissions regulations and heavy penalties in Europe – the company will probably sell all the EV9s it can get its hands on.

What do you think of the EV9's design as show in our renders? Check out the screengrabs further below for your own comparison.

February 2023: The upcoming 2024 Kia EV9 electric large SUV has been captured undisguised ahead of its reveal.

Jordan Hickey

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A video, uploaded to Instagram by @nacional.collector, reportedly depicts the production-ready EV9 in Santiago, Chile – likely during a photoshoot as the Korean brand prepares for its unveiling.

While the video is low-resolution, it isn't hard to see various similarities to the Concept EV9 revealed at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, particularly at both ends of the car.

To prepare the EV9 for production, Kia has added conventional side mirrors, larger headlights and tail-lights, and a toned-down side profile, likely with EV6-like pop-out door handles.

NOTE, March 1: The video below now appears to have been stricken from Instagram, but the screengrabs in the post show you everything the video had to offer.

It also sports unique front and rear bumpers, and large alloy wheels, suggesting this example could be a flagship GT-Line or X-Line variant, or perhaps even a high-performance GT.

While it has yet to be officially unveiled, Kia Australia has confirmed the EV9 will arrive here by Christmas, with 400 units expected to land this year.

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Under the skin, the EV9 will ride on a stretched version of Hyundai-Kia's E-GMP electric vehicle architecture, as found underneath the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Genesis GV60.

It will be heavily related to the Hyundai Ioniq 7, which is also expected to debut later this year.

A leaked customer survey from Kia America has provided some insight into the EV9's specifications, with single-motor and dual-motor variants likely.

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As it shifts closer to the launch of the seven-seat EV9, Kia's US division has sent out a survey to current Telluride owners, with questions surrounding pricing, powertrains and driving range.

At the bottom end of the range, the EV9 should offer a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive model with approximately 147kW and 340Nm, and a 354-kilometre driving range.

A mid-spec rear-wheel-drive variant is expected with a larger battery and a 467-kilometre driving range, while the base all-wheel-drive includes a second electric motor mounted to the front axle, for 294kW and 519Nm.

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It has a claimed driving range of 418 kilometres. A more-potent variant with 650Nm could reduce the range to 386km, with blacked-out styling and 10-millimetre higher ground clearance.

The survey suggested pricing could start from around US$56,000 (AU$79,500), rising to approximately US$73,000 (AU$104,000) for the flagship.

The 2024 Kia EV9 is expected to debut in the coming months, with a local launch due later this year.

Below: the Kia Concept EV9, from the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show

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