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Identifying the First-Gen Ford Mustang2024 Kia EV9 Review
Kia’s new flagship EV is ready to hit the road, but is it the right SUV for you? We look at range, interior quality, and more in our review.
What’s new for the 2024 Kia EV9?
As the automotive industry shifts toward electric cars, the Kia EV9 marks the brand’s first entry into the three-row SUV segment. It’s available in five trim levels, two battery sizes, and buyers can pick from rear or all-wheel drive. The top-of-the-line GT-Line trim boasts 379 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque while still offering 270 miles of range.
2024 Kia EV9 – kia.com | Shop 2024 Kia EV9 on Carsforsale.com
Carsforsale.com Score
9.25/10
Powertrain
Score
9/10
Interior
Score
9.5/10
Technology
Score
9.25/10
Value
Score
9.25/10
The Breakdown
Spacious interior
Tons of features
Fast charging
Can get pricey fast
Low base range
Top trims are close to 80k
An excellent three-row EV SUV
2024 EV9 Specs
- 215 horsepower from base engine
- 258 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 5 available trims
- 20 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 82 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Towing capacity of 5,000 lbs
- 12.3-inch infotainment system
- Standard adaptive cruise control
- 10-year warranty
2024 Kia EV9 Powertrain 9/10
The EV9 is finally here after many months of teasers, and it looks almost identical to the dapper concept that Kia initially launched. Under that suit is a platform that supports two batteries, rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive. The base EV9 gets RWD and a 76.1-kWh battery pack. Combined, it makes 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and boasts 230 miles of range. Above it is another RWD trim that simply adds a 99.8 kWh battery pack. It achieves 304 miles of range but sees horsepower dip to 201. Both packs are capable of DC fast charging and can go from 10 percent to over 80 in less than an hour.
From that point forward in the lineup, Kia offers nothing but all-wheel drive versions of the EV9 and they’re pretty punchy. In normal guise, they develop 379 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. That’s significantly more than the EV9’s gas-powered sibling the Telluride. It’s also considerably more than you’ll get with the Honda Prologue EV or most versions of the Chevrolet Equinox EV.
Finally, Kia offers the EV9 GT-Line with 379 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. It’ll tow up to 5,000 pounds and go from 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds which is a full two seconds quicker than the Telluride. Keep in mind though that this isn’t a super-athletic EV SUV capable of taking on cars like the Porsche Cayenne. It’s a cruiser that just happens to be very quick in a straight line. Of course, next year, Kia says it’ll drop a new trim, the EV9 GT with possibly 576 horsepower. We can’t wait.
2024 Kia EV9 Interior 9.5/10
Perhaps nothing about the EV9 is as objectively impressive as the interior. Sure, the exterior design is fun and the powertrains on offer are powerful and efficient, but the space in the cabin is where people experience this vehicle firsthand. To that end, Kia’s imbued it with a clean crisp design language that feels closer to luxury than mainstream.
The dash is clean and almost too sparse compared to some of the rivals out there. The seats are well-cushioned and supportive. Notably, the faux leather on the seating surfaces is far from the best we’ve seen. Despite that, we still think consumers will be comfortable in them. The front seats are available with a massaging function and a calf bolster while the second row is available as a bench or as captain’s chairs.
Finally, the third row is ridiculously big compared to most rivals. In fact, it’s one of the things we like most about the EV9. The electric architecture enables it to be more spacious inside while remaining about the same size as the gas-powered Telluride. Finally, in terms of cargo space, the EV9 offers 20 cubic feet behind the third row and just over 80 with the second two rows folded down.
2024 Kia EV9 Technology Features 9.25/10
Kia has long led many automakers in terms of technology and to a degree, it still does with the EV9. Every trim gets the same set of 12.3-inch displays. One serves as the gauge cluster while the other is a touchscreen infotainment system. As we’ve noted in other reviews, the screens are bright, crisp, and easy to navigate. We like how quickly they react as well. One potential pitfall is the navigation system which isn’t always super intuitive. Still, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard for those who prefer them.
Kia also offers a bevy of excellent tech features that enrich the ownership and driving experience. That includes tri-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated second-row seats, a wireless charging pad, a 14-speaker sound system, and V2L or Vehicle to Load, a way to charge other devices or even cars with the battery of the EV9.
Finally, the safety tech suite in this car is great too. No matter what trim one buys, they’ll get adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, lane-keep assist, lane-following technology, blind-spot warning, forward collision warning, and intersection collision mitigation. Frankly, every car should come with a package as comprehensive as this one.
2024 Kia EV9 Trims & Pricing
Light RWD – $56,395
The base EV9 comes with a smaller battery pack, 230 miles of range, 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, heated mirrors, faux-leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, second-row bench seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, a 12.3-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and eight speakers.
Light Long Range RWD – $60,695
This trim adds the larger battery pack for a total of 304 miles of range. It also gets second-row captain’s chairs but no other extra features.
Wind e-AWD – $65,395
The Wind trim adds a front motor, has 280 miles of range, adds a heat pump, a panoramic roof, roof rails, a heated steering wheel, and returns the bench seat to the second row.
Land e-AWD – $71,395
Consider this the first luxurious EV9 as it adds 20-inch wheels, ambient interior lighting, upgraded exterior LED lighting, gloss black trim, a power-adjustable steering wheel, a digital rearview mirror, rear window shades, heated and ventilated second-row seats, a 14-speaker sound system, a surround-view camera system, and a blind-spot camera.
GT-Line e-AWD – $75,395
Finally, this trim eeks out a little more torque from its motors and includes 21-inch wheels, a self-leveling rear suspension, upgraded front seats with massage, a heads-up display, and an automated parking system.
2024 Kia EV9 Overall Value 9.25/10
The best value in the EV9 lineup is the Goldilocks zone of the Wind e-AWD. Sure, it’s $10k more expensive than the base trim but also $10k less than the GT-Line while still coming with the same horsepower, more range, and most of the important interior bits we love about this SUV.
CarsForSale.com Overall Score 9.25/10
YEAR MAKE MODEL – SOURCE | Shop YEAR MAKE MODEL on Carsforsale.com
No car, truck, or SUV is perfect but the EV9 aims close to that mark. It could be sharper to drive or priced lower, but frankly, it’s competitive as is. It offers more space than comparable EV SUVs too.
2024 Kia EV9 FAQ
Does the EV9 qualify for tax credit?
This depends on state legislation but in terms of federal tax credits it most likely does. Beginning in May 2024, Kia is building the EV9 in the USA which makes it eligible. In addition, all EVs are eligible when leased.
Does the Kia EV9 seat 7?
Yes, or eight if the buyer selects the second-row bench seat option.
How much is the Kia EV9?
It starts at $56,395 and can cost north of $75,395. Be wary of dealer markups though as Kia corporate is encouraging dealers to sell at MSRP. It’s even available with 0% APR.
