New Kia EV9 comes with 7 seats and over 540 km of range

15 March 2023

Here it is - brand new 7-seat electric SUV from Kia that has absolutely everything it needs to compete with the likes of Mercedes EQE SUV or Audi Q8 e-tron. It has the space, it has the tech and performance, but it still faces the same question - is that enough to look past the badge?

The new Kia EV9 aims to be the largest Kia SUV, yes - the Telluride model is quite popular in the US, but in Europe the largest Kia we have nowadays is the EV6. The EV9 is a welcome return of the large and highly capable 4x4 from the Korean automaker and what’s even better is that it’s all electric.

The most important bits first - Kia claims that the EV9 will be able to travel up to 337 miles (542 km) on a full charge. The largest battery available will have around 100 kWh capacity although the company did not disclose any details yet. The flexible 400V and 800V architecture supports fast charging of up to 350 kW and can add 100 km of range in 6 minutes.

There will be RWD and AWD versions available, and initially the top of the range will be the GT-Line S trim which deals with the 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) sprint in just 5 seconds. This being a 20 cm longer vehicle than the Kia EV6 it shares its components with, suggests the GT-Line S version has around 400 hp output. For those who find that insufficient, the GT version will be an answer with at least 576 hp provided by the drivetrain we know from the Kia EV6.

With the technicalities out of the way, let’s have a look at this beast of an SUV. It is long, it is long enough to have 6 seats as standard and still have plenty of cargo space left. The middle row seats swivel to face the rear seats and create quite an interesting traveling setup for larger families.

The interior is clean, uncluttered, with the familiar dual-screen sitting atop the dashboard. The space just oozes with quality and yet it does it in a discrete way - unusual and well executed. Of course the materials are top notch, with a push towards sustainability - vegan leather and recycled fabrics are the norm here.

Technology onboard of the Kia EV9 is from the top shelf as well, it’s great to see the company keeping the screens on a smaller side of current trends. The screens aren’t a distraction, they provide all the info required and they do it in a clear and easy way - simplicity is the key. Of course the car is full of driver assistance options, Kia is hinting at Level 3 autonomous driving and in some markets side mirrors will be replaced with cameras.

The Kia EV9 is only a second electric car from the company based on the E-GMP platform shared with Hyundai and Genesis. Kia is planning to bring 13 new EVs before the end of 2027 - that’s 4 new electric cars every year. The EV9 looks big, it is roomy and it has the boots to go the distance - if the 100 kWh battery is confirmed, buyers looking for a 6-seat electric SUV will have more choice than just Audi or Mercedes.

So how much will this Korean beauty cost? Just as with the technical details, the company is keeping the cards close to its chest. Not close enough though, because the executives are already hinting at a starting price of €68,000 with the top of the line GT model to be priced around €96,000. That’s suspiciously close to Audi Q8 e-tron S, but the Kia EV9 GT offers more room and most likely will come with more power. Let the race begin.

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