Kia EV9 SUV review

“Kia has taken on premium manufacturers and produced an impressive seven-seat electric SUV that’s a superb family car”

Pros

• Pros Seven-seat practicality
• Excellent EV powertrains
• Clever interior

Cons

• Kia’s most expensive car ever
• Likely to ride firmly on UK roads
• Frustrating haptic controls

Verdict – Is the Kia EV9 a good car?

The Kia EV9 successfully moves the brand into direct competition with some of the world’s most respected manufacturers, such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Volvo. It’s a truly impressive large electric SUV, with up to seven seats, a range of over 300 miles and very fast charging. It should also prove to be a great family car and, for now, it’s the seven-seat EV to beat.  

Kia EV9 models, specs and alternatives

Kia’s rise in popularity and status in the UK has been impressive, and the brand topped 100,000 sales to British owners for the first time in 2022. This year it’s about to hit another milestone, albeit one that’s harder to put a pin in. With its all-new EV9 SUV, Kia has a new flagship that’s expected to start from over £60,000 – ramming home the fact Kia is no longer just a manufacturer of budget, reliable cars.

This full-size electric EV9 isn’t far off the length of the electric Range Rover arriving in 2024, and its rivals are also set to include the Volvo EX90 (which starts from over £90k) and models such as the Tesla Model X, Audi Q8 e-tron and Mercedes EQC.

Full UK specifications still haven’t been announced, but it looks likely there’ll be an entry-level EV9 trim (likely to be called ‘Air’), followed by a GT-line version with extra features and subtly more aggressive looks. The range is almost certain to expand thereafter, with a high-performance GT version on the cards, mirroring the range offered for the smaller Kia EV6.

Even the standard EV9 is expected to get twin 12.3-inch displays, along with a minimalist interior design using sustainable materials. There’s also a smaller 5.3-inch touchscreen blended into the same panel for controlling the heating and ventilation. Ambient lighting helps create a premium atmosphere, while the exterior is set off by alloy wheels from 19 inches in diameter. Amongst other things, GT-line will bring bigger wheels, replace the traditional door mirrors with cameras and upgrade the headlights to LED units. GT-line versions will also get a different bodykit and darkened exterior trim.

The EV9 is based on a stretched version of the E-GMP platform found in models such as the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Hyundai Ioniq 6. While a 76.1kWh battery will be offered in some markets, UK models will get a larger, 99.8kWh battery as standard. This can be had with a single 201bhp in a Long Range version, which can top 336 miles if travelling long distances is your priority over speed. Alternatively, there’s the AWD (all-wheel drive) version we’ve had a chance to test out, with 380bhp from its two electric motors. Even more torque can be ‘downloaded’ via an over-the-air update called Boost, cutting its 0-62mph time to just 5.3 seconds.

Kia EV9 alternatives

There aren’t a huge number of seven-seat EVs on the market yet, and the majority of those hail from luxury manufacturers. While the EV9 may seem very expensive, it undercuts most of these premium electric SUVs, giving the Kia a fairly unique market position until more manufacturers get in on the act.

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Electric SUVs

• Volvo EX90
• BMW iX
• Audi Q8 e-tron
• Mercedes EQC
• Tesla Model X

Range, charging & running costs

“An electric range of over 300 miles is impressive for such a large, boxy SUV”

While it’s astronomically priced compared with the Kia models we’re used to, the EV9 actually undercuts most seven-seat luxury electric SUVs launched so far. Kia and Hyundai are at the cutting edge of EV technology, and the E-GMP platform the EV9 is based on offers an impressive driving range and charging speeds.

Not all figures have been confirmed yet, but the EV9’s headline-grabbing 336-mile range figure is possible with the 99.8kWh battery and a single, rear-mounted motor. Every EV9 is also expected to get Kia’s 800-volt charging technology, with peak charging speeds of around 230-240kW at compatible public stations. This is quick enough to add around 150 miles of range in just 15 minutes.

While driving on the motorway, during our first drive of the EV9 in South Korea, we observed around 3.1m/kWh efficiency, for a predicted range of around 300 miles – about right for the 309-mile figure Kia gives for the dual-motor version we were testing.

The Volvo EX90 has a longer claimed range of 364 miles and a top charging speed of 250kW, but it’s also expected to cost considerably more than the Kia.

Like every electric car, the Kia EV9 will be exempt from the restrictions and tariffs imposed on some combustion-engined vehicles by low-emission zones, and the London Congestion Charge, but its high price will mean it’s soon subject to a luxury car tax for vehicles costing over £40,000.

Insurance

The EV9 hasn’t been given official insurance group ratings yet, but it’s likely to be quite expensive to cover for most buyers. Even the entry-level Kia EV6 Air sits in group 34 out of 50, reaching group 45 for the high-performance GT model. Given that the EV9 sits above the EV6 in size, and is priced above it, its insurance groups are only likely to be even higher. This isn’t isolated to the Kia, with rivals from Audi, Mercedes and Tesla all in some of the highest insurance groups.

Electric motor, drive & performance

“It’s no speed demon, but the EV9 is likely to offer plentiful performance for families”

During our first test of the EV9, we found it enjoyable to drive, without being overly sporty. Despite this laid-back feel, there’s still lots of grip from its wide tyres and the EV9 stays neat and tidy through corners, with only a small amount of body lean as it switches direction.

Brake feel can be a weak point in many EVs, as the requirement to juggle the regen of the electric motor with friction brakes can lead to inconsistency as the car slows down. Kia’s vast experience with EVs shines here, because the EV9’s brake pedal feels natural and reassuring. We also like being able to adjust the level of regen with the paddles behind the steering wheel, with ‘one-pedal driving’ possible if you put it into its strongest mode.

0-62mph and top speed

UK buyers can choose an EV9 with one or two electric motors – which also dictates how many wheels are driven – and the standard 201bhp rear-wheel drive model gets from 0-62mph in 9.4 seconds. We’ve tested the dual-motor AWD version so far, with 380bhp which drops this figure to six seconds. Owners will also be able to download a performance upgrade called ‘Boost’ over the air, increasing the torque of the front motor and cutting the EV9’s acceleration to 62mph by 0.7 seconds.

It’s nowhere near as much power as a Tesla Model X, but we could still feel a noticeable surge in acceleration if we pressed the accelerator at any speed in the EV9. This was more noticeable in Sport mode, which also makes the weighty steering even firmer.

Interior & comfort

“Space, comfortable seats and carefully chosen materials make this the best Kia interior yet”

The EV9 is certainly a striking car that’s not lacking in road presence. Its gloss black wheelarches and lower body trim, chiselled bodywork and vertically stacked LED exterior lighting ensure it looks every inch the contemporary SUV. Features such as its flush nose and door handles also hint at the lack of a combustion engine under its bonnet. The bodywork replacing a traditional grille can also feature customisable light patterns that are hidden until they illuminate.

Step inside and you’re greeted with Kia’s most high-end interior yet, with a widescreen front display, minimalist layout and a combination of sustainable fabric and wood trim for a soft and warm aesthetic. Kia has also thoughtfully included separate fan and heater controls, along with a metallic volume knob that’s a pleasure to interact with.

The haptic buttons for the infotainment system aren’t quite as convincing, however, with a slight hesitation between prodding them and the desired response – we’d prefer traditional buttons instead.

There are attractive circular air vents in the ceiling with separate controls for passengers, and cabin quality even holds up in the back, but it’s a shame there’s no full-length panoramic sunroof. Instead, there’s a small opening sunroof over the front seats, with a fixed panel farther back.

Infotainment and navigation

Infotainment is taken care of by two 12.3-inch displays – one nestled behind the steering wheel for driving information, while a touchscreen span across the dashboard that can be used for media and navigation. Unlike in other Kia models, these are also split by a third 5.3-inch touchscreen that’s used to operate the climate control functions.

Practicality & boot space

“The EV9’s five-metre length pays dividends for passenger space, and there are some neat storage solutions”

Measuring over five metres in length, and with the advantage of a flat floor with no transmission tunnel, Kia has been able to put the EV9’s vast interior space to good use. It’s available as a traditional three-row seven-seater, but also in a more luxurious six-seat layout. Here the middle row has two captain’s chairs capable of rotating to face passengers in the third row, for a pretty unique experience.

There’s lots of legroom and middle-row passengers can move their seats forwards to improve space for those in the rearmost seats. In this configuration, there’s reasonable space for adults in the third row, although they’ll need to be somewhat agile to access them.

Kia has clearly spent a lot of time optimising the cabin for family use, with features such as a large glovebox that pulls outwards instead of dropping down onto the front passenger’s knees. A large central area houses wireless smartphone charging and storage, along with pop-out cupholders. There’s also a pull-out tray and storage cubby for those in the middle row, along with USB ports dotted around the cabin and more cupholders.

Boot space

Even with all seats in use, there’s still a decent 333 litres of boot space – about the same as a supermini offers. Fold the third row down (electrically in some versions) and a huge 828 litres is available, easily beating the 569 litres of an Audi Q8 e-tron. If you need some extra space for shopping or charging cables, the single-motor versions of the EV9 also have 90 litres of storage under the bonnet, shrinking to 52 litres for AWD versions with a front motor.

Reliability & safety

“Recent Kia models have been a hit with owners, and the EV9 is packed with safety kit”

Take a look at our 2023 Driver Power results, and there are lots of positive signs that the EV9 will be reliable and go down a storm with customers. It should also be very safe, not only thanks to its size, but also as a result of Kia throwing the kitchen sink at its flagship model.

Kia had a great showing in the latest Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, thanks in part to its Kia Sorento SUV coming in second place overall, and its Kia EV6 finishing seventh out of the 75 models voted for. The latter is the most relevant here, because the EV9 shares much of its technology and electric powertrain with the EV6.

Owners were full of praise for its electric motors and transmission, scoring the EV6 sixth in this category, while it came eighth for practicality and boot space – an area where the seven-seat EV9 should do even better. The EV6 also came 26th for overall quality, while reliability was ranked 63rd.

Safety

The EV9 is the first Kia model that’s set to be offered with software upgrades that can be purchased and downloaded by owners – potentially including safety features. According to Kia, this will make it easier for customers to “stay up to date with the latest technology”. The first of these is Remote Smart Parking Assist, where the EV9 can park itself without a driver inside.

Kia’s most upmarket model will also be the first equipped with Level 3 autonomous driving features, including Highway Driving Pilot that can centre the car in its lane, even if the driver lets go of the steering wheel – in countries where it’s permitted. If an “imminent risk” is detected, the system can even perform an emergency manoeuvre to help avoid a collision.

Numerous other safety kit is included, including blind spot camera views that appear within the instruments when turning, adaptive headlights and driver attention warnings.

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