As manufactures expand to the new world of electric vehicles, the trend of EVs has been sedans, pickups, and small SUVs. Look for one with a third-row seat, and the task becomes more difficult. Then finding one that is affordable, well that is practically impossible, as the only ones that fit the bill are made by Mercedes-Benz, Rivian and Tesla. That changes for 2024 as Kia has unleased the EV9 - a three row SUV that is truly family-friendly. And one that is affordable.
The EV9 is a three-row SUV that is about the same size as Kia's popular Telluride. It will also be like Hyundai's new Ioniq 7 EV that will soon be hitting the streets. The EV9 is a spacious SUV, and following the Kia game-plan, it competes with the high-end luxury brands, but out does them by loading their vehicles up with a ton of features.
While the EV9 is affordable, it's hardly cheap. Prices start at $56,400, about $9,000 more than the average new car price in 2024. From there, prices go all the way to nearly $79,000 for the top-of-the line GT-Line.
Walk up to the EV9 and the first thing you notice is just how big it is. Everything on it is huge - from the Kia badge to the double stacked headlights to the entire front end. Being 197 inches long, it comes in about an inch longer than the Telluride. When it comes to style, the EV9 shares some of the Tellurides cues, but blends in the kicktail at the rear, similar to the smaller EV6.
The EV9 comes in rear- or all-wheel drive, with the latter featuring a 379-hp dual-motor powertrain. The standard rear-wheel-drive EV9 has an EPA-estimated 230 miles of range. Both the all-wheel-drive and rear-drive Long Range models have larger batteries that have an EPA estimated range of 304 miles.
The EV9 is available in five trim levels starting with the rear-wheel-drive Light trim, which features a single rear-mounted electric motor that makes 215 horsepower. Move up to the Light Long Range which is also rear-drive but has a range of 304 miles (although power drops to 201). The Wind adds a second motor to the front wheels, making it all-wheel drive and power increases to 379 with a range of 280 miles. The Land uses the same powertrain as the Wind, but adds in features like 20-inch wheels, ambient lighting, heated and vent rear seats, and rear window shades. The EV9 lineup tops out with the GT-Line which uses the dual motor setup making 379 horsepower and a 270 mile range, 21-inch wheels, self-leveling suspension and a heads-up display. This is how the tester arrived, along with an MSRP of $78,430.
Inside, the EV9 offers plenty of room for adults in all three rows. On my GT-Line, the front seats have powerful heating and ventilation functions as well as massagers. It is also set up with second-row captain's chairs that are adjustable and have nearly the same comfort and amenities as the front seats. The third-row seats, while less plush, still do their job and provide more room than most other SUVs of this size.
Driver and passengers will get a kick out of the many advanced tech features that the EV9 is equipped with. The premium Meridian audio system will satisfy those that appreciate music and the EV9 is setup for both wireless use of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Drivers will appreciate the adaptive cruise control system along with the lane keeping system, which does an excellent job of keeping the car centered in its lane. Other features, such as a driver attention monitor as well as a system that can prevent rear occupants from opening the doors into traffic, are particularly useful for families.
The dash of the EV9 is interesting as it uses a pair of 12.3-inch screens—one for the gauge cluster and one for the infotainment system - with a dedicated HVAC readout between them. The EV9 lacks physical knobs, and its buttons are built into the dashboard itself, in a rather unique way. The gear selector, which is mounted low and to the right of the steering column, is a little odd to use at first, but quickly becomes second nature. First timers looking for the on/off button will eventually find it on the gear selector stalk.
With 379 horses, as expected, the EV9 has plenty of power. Tests show the EV9 GT-Line can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds. For any vehicle, that is fast, and for a large SUV - it's very impressive. Even in turns, the EV9 feels secure and stable. As with most EVs, the EV9 is very quiet, accelerates smooth, and overall is a very easy vehicle to drive.
When it comes time to put the EV9 to work, it is able to tow 5,000 pounds and has a cargo capacity similar to that of the Telluride - about 20 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 43 cubic feet behind the second-row seat, and with both rows down, almost 82 cubic feet storage.
From the perspective of the average family that wants an EV, the EV9 is a game changer. In a market where there are few three-row EVs with a sub-$60k starting price, not only does the EV9 meet that criteria, but scores big doing so. It has a usable third-row, decent driving range and a stellar warranty. The EV9 may just be the best bang-for-your-buck seven-passenger electric SUV available.