2024 Kia EV9 review: Driven ahead of Australian launch

November: EV9 driven in Australia

Kia's massive EV9 is a unique thing, for Kia and the market alike, which could result in a surprise success – even at $100k a pop.

Story continues: EV9 first international drive in Korea

With benchmark EV technology rapidly building Kia's reputation (and that of sister brand Hyundai), the next logical step on Kia’s journey was a flagship capable of showcasing its many talents in a truly unique offering.

And that’s the purpose of the Kia EV9 three-row large electric SUV.

Featuring the next evolution of Kia’s striking design language (including a large proportion of the detail design and form hinted at by 2021’s stunning EV9 Concept), the beautifully nuanced production EV9 manages to disguise its physicality by rejecting the curves of the EV6 for sharper edges and a more imposing, more futuristic shape. In the flesh, in any colour, it has presence. And looks sensational.

12

The beauty in this electric beast is all about what resides on top, and what all that additional metal achieves.

Given the sheer size of the EV9, it would be hard for it to go unnoticed. At 5010mm in length, it’s 200mm longer than a Sorento (which is already classed as a large SUV in Australia), riding on a vast 3100mm wheelbase that’s 285mm greater than a Sorento’s.

The EV9 is also 80mm wider and 80mm taller, so in terms of the real estate it occupies, it’s girthy … yet somehow looks svelte alongside a Sorento and has a superior drag coefficient (0.28Cd versus 0.32).

Underneath, the EV9 rides on an expanded version of the E-GMP platform that also underpins the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5/6 and Genesis GV60 – sharing their class-leading 800-volt charging capability – though in truth, the EV9’s wheelbase is only 100mm longer than an Ioniq 5’s. The beauty in this electric beast is all about what resides on top, and what all that additional metal achieves.

JUMP AHEAD

• How much is it, and what do you get?
• Interior comfort, space and storage
• What is it like to drive?
• VERDICT
• Specifications

How much is it, and what do you get?

The Kia EV9 will reach Australia sometime in the fourth quarter of 2023. Here's what you can expect when it arrives.

While the only spec available at the EV9’s South Korean international launch was a range-topping GT-Line AWD, the Australian line-up will include two additional variants – an entry-level EV9 (likely to be named ‘Air’) with a 76.1kWh battery and rear-wheel drive, and a long-range mid-spec variant (rumoured to be named ‘Earth’) with a 99.8kWh battery and either rear- or all-wheel drive.

If the long-range rear-drive EV9 gets the green light, so too will its impressive 541km of WLTP range – eclipsing the AWD version (497km) and, by a considerable margin, the standard-battery version (418km). The base EV9 is faster to charge than its big-battery alternatives (20 minutes from 10-80 per cent on a 350kW ultra-fast charger versus 24mins) and quicker to 100km/h than the long-range rear-driver (8.2sec versus 9.4).

12

But the high-output GT-Line remains unmatched for pace (0-100km/h in 6.0sec, or 5.3sec with Boost Mode activated) … at least until the rumoured EV9 GT appears.

Available in six- and seven-seat guises (though the EV9 will be seven-seat only in Australia), all we can confirm so far is that the range-topping EV9 GT-Line will be the most expensive Kia ever sold in this country, with an expected starting price in excess of $100,000.

Excluding the centre-row captain’s chairs, embedded lighting in the front ‘grille’ panel, and Highway Pilot tech that allows for Level 3 autonomous driving in certain markets, expect the Aussie EV9 flagship to feature every equipment trick in the book.

🔼 Back to top

12

Interior comfort, space and storage

From the driver’s seat, peering out across a broad, flat bonnet through panoramic glass, fronted by a relatively minimalist dashboard design inspired by high-end contemporary furniture, the EV9 both looks and feels premium.

While the A-pillar trims, upper door sections, lower dash, material inserts, and even the full-width loop-pile mats covering the flat floors are all recycled materials, the consistency of interior quality is so strong that you’d never know. The EV9’s plastics may not be squidgy, but they’re smoothly matte, evenly grained and finished, and feel classy.

They’re even tastefully coloured – especially the ‘cappuccino’ headlining of our seven-seat test car, with its wool-blend appearance.

12

The EV9’s front cabin exudes a high-tech warmth

A pair of 12.3-inch screens crown the dash top, merged by a 5.0-inch screen for the climate control (that’s more easily seen by the front passenger than the driver), though the EV9 also features physical toggles for individual temperature control and air direction, and has made a central design feature of the ‘barrel’ volume control, which reeks of common sense.

Joined by a classy steering wheel (with squared-off top and bottom) that also includes the drive-mode and terrain controls, plus logical grouping of all switchgear (and no capacitive nonsense!), the EV9’s front cabin exudes a high-tech warmth.

The few sour notes concern the dash trim in front of the passenger (an ugly, mottled grey plastic in the EV9 with the coffee headlining), plus doors that won’t house much more than a 600ml bottle, though a large centre-floor tray with rubberised inlay, and a usefully deep console between the front seats mostly compensates.

12

As for space and comfort, the EV9 is tremendous.

Upholstered in a supple two-tone bio-material that looks great and feels preferable to leather, both ‘relaxation’ front seats feature electric ‘ottoman’ under-calf extenders for supreme long-distance luxury.

Same goes for the fully adjustable, all-electric second-row captain’s chairs with massage functions and the ability to swivel … however, the Australian-market EV9 will omit these outstanding chairs for a three-person bench that fulfils the seven-seat brief but lacks enough under-thigh support, as well as electric adjustment.

12

We’ll also lose the centre console extension that acts as a table and houses a deep bin – replaced by an elbow-deep hole with a little pocket at its opening to house a mobile phone.

Yet quality in the second and third rows remains consistently luxe, while access and space in the third row (with electrically adjustable backrest rake) means the EV9 can truly provide adult-friendly comfort throughout.

Boot space is similarly impressive, Kia quoting 571 litres with the third row in use, and a massive 2320 litres with the second- and third-row seats lowered (electrically, via individual switches on the boot wall, mounted below a 250-volt, 16-amp power outlet).

🔼 Back to top

12

What is it like to drive?

With so much exterior presence and interior polish, disguising an entire floor crammed with weighty battery tech, it’s probably no surprise that the EV9 is anything but light.

Kia is yet to quote an official kerb weight, though “around 3000kg” is where the EV9 GT-Line sits – making it heavier than a Nissan Patrol, yet around 200kg lighter than its pricier US-market equivalent, the Rivian R1S electric SUV.

Most of the time, you’d never really know the EV9 was such a big-boned beast. With all that battery heft mounted low in its chassis, the EV9 doesn’t need to be manhandled to change direction, and in tight, flowing corners, there’s a satisfying degree of neutrality, and even some rear-end adjustment, to help the EV9 maintain your desired course.

12

Only once it starts to load up in a corner do you sense the outward momentum, yet the EV9 retains its neutral balance.

Combined with strong retardation from the left pedal and the dynamic benefits of having ‘i-Pedal’ apply some regenerative braking force as though it’s trail-braking the EV9 towards an apex, this electric beast knows how to boogie when it needs to, and achieves that end with consistency and finesse.

Only once it starts to load up in a corner do you sense the outward momentum, yet the EV9 retains its neutral balance. And the firmly, consistently weighted steering points accurately, though without eagerness – the EV9 is more about cossetting in a straight line.

Australian cars will feature a market-specific suspension tune and though the Korean-spec GT-Line we drove on fixed-rate dampers felt nicely wafty and mostly composed on good-quality Korean roads, it could be improved with some tightening and tweaking.

12

The GT-Line AWD more than matches its three-figure accelerative pace with considerable off-the-line punch.

Fast-moving freeways proved to be the EV9’s forte, with a quiet, effortless gait and an easy ability to cruise at 140km/h (the Koreans frequently ignore posted limits), with average energy consumption averaging around 28.5kWh/100km when driven hard, but soon settling to an easy 22.7kWh/100km even with long sections devoured at the aforementioned speeds.

In moderate city and freeway driving, the EV9 averaged 18.2kWh/100km, which points towards the 497km range claim being relatively accurate.

As for overall performance, the GT-Line AWD more than matches its three-figure accelerative pace with considerable off-the-line punch. Packing 283kW and at least 600Nm (or 700Nm with ‘Boost Mode’ activated which, after purchasing through the Kia Connect app, will then be applied permanently), the EV9 GT-Line is good for 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.0sec, or 5.3sec with that 100Nm ‘Boost’.

Yet regardless of torque output, the EV9’s silent-assassin status from a standing start remains unquestioned.

🔼 Back to top

12

VERDICT

"This is an ultra-modern, ultra-cool large electric SUV"

As the first mainstream large three-row electric SUV, the Kia EV9 immediately sets a standard that similarly priced rivals will be struggling to match … when they eventually appear.

Right now, Kia’s EV9 flagship is not only the most premium vehicle ever offered by the brand, it’s a completely unique selling proposition – its only rivals being the Rivian R1S in North America and, soon, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV in optional seven-seat form. Both are priced substantially higher than the EV9.

Yet the Kia rarely, if ever, feels like a cheaper alternative. Sure, it’s not a Bentley, but then you argue it benefits from a taste level unimpeded by the constraints of the past.

This is an ultra-modern, ultra-cool large electric SUV that is elegantly classless, yet is afforded all the benefits of being a Kia when it comes to warranty, servicing and even social standing when separated from the affectations of affluence.

It's a pity we won’t see the six-seat EV9 because it is truly excellent as a refined luxury express. The seven-seater only falls behind if you’re regularly seating adults in the second row, yet even then, that’s not enough to disregard what is easily the most accomplished Kia ever.

🔼 Back to top