New range-topping Kia EV9 electric SUV will have a range of more than 300 miles and can seat seven people...
On sale: Late 2023 | Price from: £55,000 (est)
Welcome to the most exciting new car of 2023. No really; at the most recent What Car? Awards, readers voted the Kia EV9 concept as the car they were most looking forward to seeing this year. And it was no small win, either; the EV9 garnered more than twice as many votes as the second-place car. But that was based on the concept – will this production version be as well received?
Well, the production-ready EV9 keeps the sharp angles of the concept, including its bluff front and rear end and tall, boxy stature. Cladding around its lower edges aim to emphasise the EV9’s rufty tufty nature, while razor-thin LED lights at the front and rear give it a futuristic look. Some of the concept’s other features, such as roof rails which could be raised or lowered at the touch of a button, and cameras in place of traditional door mirrors, have been removed.
While we’re yet to see inside the EV9, it’s expected to have a toned-down look compared with the concept car, which showcased an oval-shaped steering wheel and a huge 27in display for instruments and infotainment. In the version you’ll be able to buy, that’s changed to two 12.3in touchscreen displays for infotainment, alongside a third 5in display that acts as a digital instrument cluster.
There aren’t any physical buttons in sight (which could be a backwards step for usability), but there are touch-sensitive icons on the dashboard for the climate controls.
The EV9 can be had in six and seven-seat forms, so when it goes on sale, it will be one of only two electric SUVs which are capable of hauling larger families – the other being the Mercedes EQB.
The EV9’s second row is clever, too; in six-seat versions, occupants can turn their chairs around to face the third row while the car is charging – making it easier to hold a conversation. And don’t think anyone relegated to the EV9’s third row will be getting a raw deal – each rearmost seat gets its own cup holder and USB charging point.
The EV9’s technical details are yet to be confirmed, but power is expected to come from a 100kWh battery, providing a maximum range of 337 miles between charges. That’s even farther than Kia’s other electric SUV, the Kia EV6, can currently take you; that model can officially eke 328 miles out of its 74kWh battery. The EV9 should also beat the rival Audi Q8 e-tron, BMW iX and EQB on range.
The EV9 shares its underpinnings with the EV6, and that means it should be able to charge at the same superfast rates of up to 238kW. That potentially means a 10-80% top-up in less than half an hour if you can find a suitably powerful charging point.
Both single and dual-motor versions of the EV9 are expected, the latter getting four-wheel drive, and the line-up will be crowned by a GT-badged version capable of covering the 0-60mph sprint in around 5.0sec.
Prices for the EV9 are expected to start from around £55,000, making this the most expensive Kia by some margin. However, that price is in line with the EQB, and represents a bargain next to the Q8 e-tron and iX, which both cost significantly more.
Keyword: 2023 Kia EV9 electric SUV previewed