As anticipated, Kia has officially revealed its eagerly awaited EV9 SUV prior to pre-orders next quarter after giving us our first look at official photos last week. Kia offered interesting news on sustainability, autonomy, over-the-air upgrades, and vehicle-to-grid capabilities in addition to further information on some of the technology we’ve already seen in the company’s first third-row EV.
The first three-row electric Vehicle from Kia is briefly reviewed
The second fully electric vehicle to use the Korean manufacturer’s new “EV” series designation makes its debut: the Kia EV9. The EV9 rests atop the Hyundai Motor Group’s 800V E-GMP platform, just like the EV6 crossover that came before it, and provides rapid charging speeds in addition to support for vehicle-to-load (V2L) power and the prospect for other uses. (More below about that.)
Since Kia first hinted about the SUV concept in November 2021, we’ve been waiting for today’s official introduction. This was followed quickly by a working model that nearly matched its original imagined design form last summer. Midway through March, Kia released the first complete interior and exterior shots of the EV9, reiterating a few of the design cues from the most recent presentation.
The SUV’s distinctive digital take on Kia’s iconic “tiger face” front end and a variety of interior seating options, such as second-row rotating seats that can swivel 180 degrees, are examples of this. While that was undoubtedly plenty to catch our attention for a short while, we rapidly became interested in the full EV9 launch from Korea, which had been anticipated well before end of the month.
After seeing the entire Kia presentation, we now know a tonne more on this all-electric SUV, so there is a lot to excite potential buyers about.
Specifications and essential characteristics of the Kia EV9 SUV
Now, let’s get started because there is a lot that will happen. A 76.1 kWh pack in the Standard RWD option or a Long Range 99.8 kWh battery that is available in both RWD and AWD versions will be the two distinct battery sizes that the Kia EV9 SUV will be offered with.
Both the Standard and Long Range versions of the RWD EV9 will be marketed in North America, the Kia team affirmed when questioned. Although the company has not yet provided full performance specifications for each trim level, it has provided some:
RWD Long Range
• Single electric motor, 150 kW (350 Nm).
• Calibrated acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 9.4 seconds.
RWD Standard Range
• single electric motor, 160 kW (350 Nm).
• Calibrated acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 8.2 seconds.
AWD Version
• 282 kW is produced by two electric motors together (600 Nm torque).
• Calculated acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 6 seconds.
Kia currently projects that the Long Range RWD version of the EV9 will have a range of 541 km (336 miles) on a single charge. We would anticipate the official EPA projected range to fall between 300 and 310 miles because its calculations were generated using the more forgiving WLTP criteria.
Additionally, Kia stated that it would eventually offer a “Boost” option that would raise the front motor’s maximum torque of the AWD SUV to 700 Nm. The Kia Connect Shop, a new feature coming on the EV9, will be used to acquire that add-on at a later time.
Future drivers will be able to buy digital amenities as well as other amenities at their convenience through the Connect shop, all of which will be installed wirelessly without requiring a trip to the dealership, claims Kia. Kia revealed that the Connect Store will provide functions either as a one-time buy or subscription option when questioned by the media at the debut presentation.
A vehicle to everything!
The charging performance that the 800V E-GMP platform from Hyundai Motor Group can provide is one of the biggest selling features for EVs. Consumers have previously responded favourably to the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6’s incredibly quick charge rates, and the EV9 SUV should be no exception.
For upcoming road trips in the family-sized electric SUV, Kia claims that the 800V platform will be able to achieve an estimated 239 km (about 149 miles) of range in just 15 minutes of DC fast charging.
The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) of the E-GMP platform, which enables the draining of energy from the EV’s battery to power other devices, is another enormous benefit. Vehicle-to-load, or V2L, is the more popular term for this. According to Kia, the EV9 will be able to provide 3.68 kW of electricity to other items, including a laptop, a mini fridge, and other EVs that are being charged.
With the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, this feature was personally investigated by a lot of EV reviewers, but Kia is advancing things in the EV9 with another first. The vehicle-to-home (V2H) capability of Kia’s all-electric SUV will enable future owners to use the EV9 as a backup power source in case of crises or power shortages.
Additionally, Kia stated that in the future, owners of EV9 models will be able to add a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability, enabling them to resell any extra energy to their regional energy grid. The implementation of this function will require cutting through a lot of bureaucracy, but if it is successful, it might completely transform the playing field.
Could there be a performance GT now that Kia has introduced a GT-Line?
Kia recently presented a new GT-line, which will be available in a few locations later this year. As per Kia:
In addition to the ordinary model, Kia has also debuted the GT-Line model, which stands out from the normal model thanks to its distinct look. The roof rack, front and rear bumpers, wheels, and other exterior features have been altered to don a distinctive black colour scheme that sets it different from its conventional version. Particularly, the GT-Line has a special digital pattern lighting grill that gives its already stunning design a touch of dynamism and refinement.
All things considered, this trim level is just ornamental and shouldn’t be mistaken for a high-performance GT version of the SUV, like Kia attempted with the aforementioned EV6. But wouldn’t that be lovely, too?
The news that Kia President and CEO Ho-Sung Song is definitely developing the EV9 performance GT SUV, which will “redefine what expressing performance to an EV,” startled the media. Although Song noted that consumers won’t see such iteration until the start of 2025, that is still fantastic news.
Prices and availability for the Kia EV9
Now, let’s start with the cost. Sorry, there isn’t any. The Kia team is “watching numerous elements to establish the best pricing for its customers,” the automaker claims. Although its final destination is unknown, this SUV is most certainly going to be Kia’s most expensive vehicle to date.
The EV9’s first production will take place in Korea, but Kia will soon announce the EV9’s global production schedule. Pre-orders for the electric SUV will start in Korea in Q2 2023 and expand to other international regions, including Europe, North and South America, and the Middle East, in the second half of this year.
As pre-orders in Korea get closer, we’re likely to discover more, and we’ll at least have a general idea of what the price and performance parameters might be for the North American market. Check out the complete Kia EV9 SUV global premiere below in the interim.
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