Finally! A Bona Fide Third Row in an Electric SUV
Combine the Kia Telluride three-row SUV and the Kia EV6 crossover and you get the all-new, all-electric 2024 Kia EV9 three-row SUV. This size emission-free vehicle, with a truly useable third row and not with a luxury pricetag, has been missing from the market, so expect the EV9 to fill that void as a popular family hauler. The 2024 Kia EV9 went on-sale in December 2023 and is available in all 50 states.
Kia invited the automotive media to experience the EV9 on a drive that went through Napa Valley, along the Silverado Trail, into Calistoga and then over the mountains to the Pacific Ocean before returning to our base at the beautiful Stanly Ranch Resort.
This Flash Drive will key on the EV9 GT-Line, one of five EV9 models. Our 150-mile drive was a good test on demanding country roads, with a bit of city and highway driving tossed in. Look for a full Road Test review on Clean Fleet Report after we have had the EV9 for a full week and the opportunity to put it through the paces of everyday driving.
Drive Modes
The four drive modes—Eco, Normal, My Drive and Sport—are selected from a toggle on the left side of the steering wheel. The modes are self-explanatory with Eco best when on long highway runs, Normal for everyday driving, and Sport when a bit more accelerator pedal response is desired. Each drive mode affects the steering wheel and accelerator feel. For a one time fee, a Boost mode can be downloaded through the dealer.
Power and Range
The EV9 comes in five models.
Light
230 miles All-electric range (AER)
76.1 kWh lithium-ion battery
Single electric motor
Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
215 horsepower (hp) and 258 pound-feet of torque (lb.-ft.)
0-60 mph: 7.7 seconds
Electronically controlled top speed: 118 mph
Curb Weight: 5,093 pounds
Max Towing: 2,000 pounds
Light Long Range
304 miles AER
99.8 kWh battery
Single electric motor
RWD
201 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque
0-60 mph: 8.8 seconds
Top speed: 115 mph
Curb Weight: 5,324 pounds
Max Towing: 2,000 pounds
Wind and Land
280 miles AER (with optional 20-inch wheels)
99.8 kWh battery
Dual electric motors
All-wheel drive (AWD)
379 hp and 443 lb.-ft. of torque
0-60 mph: 5.7 seconds
Top speed: 124 mph
Curb Weight: 5,794 pounds
Max Towing: 5,000 pounds with Towing Package ($1,500 option)
GT-Line
270 miles AER
99.8 kWh battery
Dual electric motors
AWD
379 hp and 516 lb.-ft. of torque
0-60 mph: 5.0 seconds
Top speed: 124 mph
Curb Weight: 5,886 pounds
Max Towing: 5,000 pounds with Towing Package ($1,500)
On the Road
Kia doesn’t call it torque vectoring, because with AWD and twin electric motors (one on each axle) there is nothing mechanical going on about applying the power and torque to the most in-demand wheel. It is all done electronically—seamlessly and smoothly. That confident handling is in a large part due to one pedal—or iPedal–driving. With a few pulls of the left side steering wheel paddle, the brake regeneration force reaches the maximum setting and you are in iPedal, where regenerative braking uses the motors to recharge the battery when slowing or coasting, converting kinetic energy into electric energy, which is stored in the battery.
Whether around town driving or seeking-out curves through the vineyards and pastures of Napa, Sonoma and Marin Counties, this was the most convenient, efficient and fun way to drive the EV9. Once the short learning curve of modulating the accelerator pedal is mastered in relationship to how aggressive the regenerative braking has been set, one-pedal driving in an EV is a smoother and faster experience than with a manual transmission. It isn’t necessarily better than a manual transmission, but different.
Our time behind the wheel included pushing the EV9 GT-Line above the posted corner speed limits. The grip and tire adhesion by the front MacPherson strut and 5-link rear suspension and 21-inch aero-design wheels, shod with Hankook iON EVO all-season tires, was unexpectedly excellent for a 5,886-pound, three-row SUV. Body roll was there, but easily manageable by letting the one-pedal driving do its thing. There was a confident and accurate feel to the steering when cornering, with a very tidy 2.93 cranks of the steering wheel (lock-to-lock) making for sharp and precise turning.
The EV9 also has the very handy auto hold feature where, at a stop light, the brakes are automatically applied, relieving the driver and reducing right leg fatigue from pressing on and holding the brake pedal.
The EV9 has standard ABS and power-assisted, ventilated front and rear solid discs. Handling and driving confidence were aided by the standard electronic stability control, electronic brake-pressure distribution and brake assist.
Smooth, Linear Acceleration
The Kia EV9 GT-Line isn’t marketed as a sports SUV, but the acceleration, handling and ride say different. The dual-motor AWD sends the 379 hp and 516 lb.-ft. of torque to all four wheels with a smooth and linear acceleration that doesn’t wait for gear shifts—because there are no gears! Such is the beauty of driving an EV.
Interior for Six or Seven
The third row will be a major selling point for the EV9 as will the spacious interior. There are other electric SUVs with a third row, but when comparing apples-to-apples, the EV9 offers the most cabin space for the lowest base price. This video shows the comfort and convenience features of the EV9 interior. However, the rotating or swiveling second row seats are not available in North America.
Built on an all-new dedicated EV-only platform, which will see service on future EVs from Kia as well as models from sibling brands Hyundai and Genesis. This design has a completely flat floor from the feet of the front passengers to those sitting in the far-back third row. Gasoline-powered SUVs can’t compare as there is no gasoline tank or transmission hump on the EV9. The sides of the EV9 are almost squared-off, so shoulder room is impressive.
Staying in the far back, the third row folds 50:50 and the cargo area has 12V and AC 125V/15A outlets, along with the connection for the onboard power generator giving the EV9 owner the ability to power a laptop and a bicycle tire pump, and the option to power a house for up-to three days in the case of an emergency. There are power releases to fold the second-row seats. When the two rows of seats are laid flat, the cargo area is an accommodating 82 cubic feet.
The driver and passenger get power adjustable heated and ventilated seats that are covered in two-tone SynTex, a synthetic material designed and engineered with a leather look and texture. The driver gets massage…ah! The SynTex-covered steering wheel has switches for the navigation-based cruise control, radio volume and channels, a button to activate voice recognition and the Drive Modes.
Second-row seats can be a bench for three or two power-operated captain’s chairs that are heated. The bench folds 60:40 while the captain’s chairs power slide. There is also a front trunk (frunk) with 3.2 cubic feet that holds 88 pounds.
Third-row leg room is an impressive 32.0 inches behind the captain’s chairs with 39.5-inches of headroom.
Front Cabin
The crisp design with a low slung dash has dual 12.3-inch horizontal color display screens, sandwiching a 5-inch information screen for the climate controls, all of which looks like one piece. The left screen is for the configurable digital instruments and the right for the infotainment system. It has a look of the future that is easy to understand and operate.
Sounds came from a 14-speaker (with a subwoofer and four tweeters) Meridian premium audio system with AM/FM/MP3/SiriusXM/HD Radio, with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Bluetooth connection for up-to two devices, wireless phone charging and a Wi-Fi Hotspot complete the technology. The front occupants get a 12V power outlet and USB-C data ports, while the rear rows get charge ports and air conditioning and heater vents.
The EV9 GT-Line has a color head-up display that includes augmented reality where the driver can opt-to project relevant information, such as turn-by-turn navigation and advanced safety alerts of the EV9’s surroundings.
Kia Connect provides access to vehicle systems including remote start and charging, and connects to a smartphone app for Apple and Android operating systems. The auto-dimming and rear view camera mirror is Homelink-equipped.
Identifiable Exterior
With a boxy design and the wheels set wide on the corners, the EV9 stands tall with up to 7.8-inches of ground clearance. Though not marketed as an off-road trail seeker, the EV9 Wind, Land and GT-Line models do come with all-wheel drive.
The Digital Tiger Face is the smooth area where a grille would usually be found, but an EV needs no grille. The digital light signature greets you when approaching, and is joined by small cube LED headlamps, positional lamps and daytime running lights. The long flat roof, with gloss black raised rails and a fixed rear glass panel and a front sliding sunroof, ends over the power lift gate with a spoiler concealing the rear window wiper. The rear LED combination lamps will be recognizable when driving down the road.
The near-flat sides have gloss black wheel arches and window trim, power retractable door handles and power-folding heated mirrors. The charge door is on the right rear fender. Gloss black and silver metal paint accents the lower doors and the front and rear bumpers.
Safety
The Kia EV9 comes with an extensive list of standard safety features beginning with front, side impact and side knee airbags and side air curtains with rollover sensors. Kia’s Drive Wise safety tech is robust with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including lane keeping assist, blind spot detection, forward collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic avoidance assist. Other safety features are hill start assist, surround and blind view monitor with parking sensors, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
The Highway Driving Assist is activated when the navigation-based adaptive cruise control is engaged. This technology, designed to aid in driving while reducing fatigue and stress, includes the ability to automatically change lanes on a highway by using the turn signal stalk.
Charging
The 10.9 kW onboard charger can charge up to 800 volts. When used with a 350 kW charger, it can deliver 100 miles in 10-minutes, and 10-to-80% in 25 minutes.
The EV9 can be plugged into a 120V common wall plug, but expect replenish times to be long and slow, as in 84 hours. The best bet for owners will be to install a Level 2 240V home charger that will take the battery from a 10-to-80% charge in under nine hours.
Since cold weather can affect the charging time and driving range, the EV9 comes standard with a battery heating system to pre-condition the battery to a temperature that will take a faster and higher charge.
The EV9 also has Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, where power can flow out of the battery and charge e-bikes, camping and outdoor equipment, or run your office while traveling. It also has Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) capability and soon will have Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capability. The latter two require additional equipment to be purchased and installed on your home.
Warranty
Powertrain – 10 years/100,000 miles
Battery – 10 years/100,000 miles
Basic – Five years/60,000 miles
Roadside Assistance – Five years/60,000 miles
Pricing
The 2024 Kia EV9 comes in five models with these base prices, including the mandatory $1,495 destination charge.
Light RWD $56,395
Light Long Range RWD $60,695
Wind AWD $65,395
Land AWD $71,395
GT-Line AWD $75,395
The first 2024 EV9 models are being built in South Korea and do not qualify for the federal $7,500 tax credit and individual state programs, unless you lease, which mean you will. Confusing? Speak with your tax advisor and dealer sales representative for clarification and details.
However, beginning in the third quarter 2024, the EV9 will begin production at Kia’s plant in West Point, Georgia. This will be the first Kia EV to be assembled in the U.S.A., which also means it may qualify for the federal and state tax incentives.
Observations: 2024 Kia EV6 GT
The 2024 Kia EV9 is designed for comfort for up to seven adults. Everyone sitting in any of the three rows will recognize the premium quality and the library-quiet smooth ride. The interior space is well-designed with top-notch fit-and-finish and comes with the latest technology and safety systems. Is the EV9 a luxury SUV? You tell us!
So how does the EV9 stack-up against its competition? If comparing all-electric SUVs that can seat up to seven and truly accommodate grown adults in a third row and have a base price under $57,000, the EV9 pretty much is in a class by itself.
Competitor SUV EVs such as the Audi Q8 e-Tron, BMW iX, Cadillac Lyriq, Tesla Models Y and X, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and Rivian R1S all either don’t sit as many, have a smaller third row, and/or cost more.
There is only one way for you to see if this game-changing SUV is right for you, and is the vehicle that finally moves you into the world of electrification. Head to your local Kia dealer and hope he/she still has a demo in stock.
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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Kia.
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