2023 Kia EV9 electric SUV: prices, specs and release date

The new Kia EV9 is the brands new flagship electric SUV that will arrive later in 2023. 

Tasked with taking on the likes of Audi Q8 e-Tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC, Kia has now released images of what the final production EV9 electric SUV will look like inside and out. The good news is that it follows the bold design of the concept car that was revealed over two years ago.

The Kia EV9 is set to be based around a 800V electrical architecture allowing for a range of more than 300 miles and super-fast charging speeds. The seven-seater SUV will have huge interior space and a cabin that’s packed with infotainment screens and premium-feeling materials. Keep reading for all the info.

New 2023 Kia EV9 price and release date

While Kia has officially revealed the design of the KV9, it’s keeping pricing (and some other features) under wraps for a bit longer. That said, we expect the Kia EV9 to be priced from around £60,000 when it goes on sale in the second half of 2023. That’ll likely buy you an entry-level, two-wheel-drive version of the EV9 with a range of more than 300 miles. High-performance four-wheel drive versions of the Kia EV9 will likely cost £80,000.

By contrast, the Audi Q8 e-tron is priced from £67,000 while the Mercedes-Benz EQC – which will be significantly smaller than the Kia EV9 – starts from just over £74,000.

As with the exterior design, the Kia EV9's interior makes a bold statement.

New 2023 Kia EV9: exterior and interior

The EV9 concept car made its debut at the LA motor show back in 2021 and we’re now only getting to see what the final production car will look like. The good news is that the car that will hit our roads later in 2023 maintains much of the striking elements of the concept car.

The confident boxy design of the production Kia EV9 follows the concept car, with boxed wheel arches housing large 21-inch wheels and the car’s concave bodywork emphasises their shape.

Compared to the sleek EV6, the the Kia EV9 follows a much more traditional 4×4 SUV design and it’s imposing proportions are designed to appeal to anyone who’s previously bought a German SUV. No surprise here really as Kia’s new Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design Center Karim Habib previously worked at BMW.

Round the front and the blanked off grille is the most obvious giveaway that the Kia EV9 is electric powered – EVs don’t need a grille for cooling like a petrol or diesel – and on either side you’ll find some upright matrix LED headlights and some elaborate daytime running lights.

Pillar-less suicide rear doors of the EV9 concept car have been replaced by more traditionally hinged doors, but as you can see from the photos, they are very generous in their size. And for good reason as the Kia EV9 will be available as a six or seven seater and the large rear doors will help with access to the third row of seats.

Passengers sitting up front and on the second-row of seats will be able to simultaneously recline their seats (Kia say’s to relax and rest while the EV9 is charging), while the second row of seats can be rotated 180 degrees to face passengers sitting in the third row.

The bold design of the EV9’s exterior carries through to the dashboard and central console design. Kia’s resisted the urge to furnish the EV9 with a pair of huge infotainment screens, instead favouring dual 12.3-inch touchscreens and a 5-inch segment display. While Kia has looked to keep physical buttons to a minimum, the are still dedicated switches to set the climate control.

New 2023 Kia EV9: range and performance

We’ll know more about what powertrains and performance we can expect from the KV9 from a future announcement from Kia, but what we do know is that it uses the same underpinnings as both the EV6 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

This platform means we can expect the Kia EV9 to be capable of fast charging speeds of up to 350kW – meaning you’ll be able to charge the battery from 10-80 per cent in less than 30 minutes using a public fast charger. Expect to need more than 10 hours to charge the battery from flat to full using a wall-mounted home charger.

It’s not quite clear what variants will be available, but you’ll likely to be able to choose either rear or four-wheel drive versions with power outputs similar to the EV6 at around 325PS. Expect the Kia EV9 to have an 300 mile plus range though and while there is unlikely to be a high performance version at launch, we would be surprised to see a GT version of the EV9 like we have with the EV6 with over 500PS.

Find a used Kia EV6 for sale

Don’t need six or seven seats but like the thought of owner a fast and capable EV? Then the Kia EV6 is a great used choice. One of our favourite electric cars, it delivers an excellent 300 mile plus range and packs a pretty decent performance to match. Prices start from from just over £40,000 for a car under a year old with less than 10,000 miles covered.

Looking for more new car news?

As well as the Kia EV9, there’s also the all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 6 to look forward to, while the new Mercedes-Benz EQT is an all-electric MPV. For all the latest news, check out our guide to all the best new cars of 2023.

The Kia EV9 is coming to the UK in the second half of 2023

Prices for the Kia EV9 are yet to be confirmed, but expect prices to start from £60,000 for the entry-level version.

The new Kia EV9 will be available as both a 6 and 7 seater SUV.

Introducing the Kia EV9