Kia EV9 (2024) review – The perfect large electric family car?

Large

The EV9 is not the longest car we drive this year. That’s the Land Rover Defender 130, with a length of 5.35 meters. But at 5.01 meters long, the EV9 is the longest EV we have ever driven – or you have to include an electric Renault Master. The EV9 is so big that it is even longer than the extended version of the Volkswagen ID.Buzz. Its wheelbase is at least as impressive: 3.1 meters.

Ballroom

Inside the Kia, you step into a ballroom. We tested the six-seater. We are almost equally comfortable in all rows of seats. Granted, in the very back you sit shoulder to shoulder with your fellow passenger, but in terms of legroom there is absolutely no shortage. This is a rare luxury in the passenger car segment. The hefty “captain chairs” in the second row of seats can rotate 180 degrees, suddenly making you sit across from each other in the back. From the center console, passengers in the back can pull back a table, and everyone gets their own air vent. Seat heating and cooling is also possible in the second row of seats. The seats in the third row of seats are themselves electronically adjustable. The Kia EV9 has a damn lot of luxury touches that you would more likely expect to find in a Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV.

Practical and environmentally conscious

Up front, the EV9 also impresses. The interior is modern and functional, with no less than three screens and a convenient head-up display. There are physical buttons for climate control – take a look, auto industry – and Kia has used many biomaterials, making the interior environmentally friendly. Thanks to the EV9‘s angular design, you have excellent all-round visibility. Despite its hefty size, you can place it easily and you won’t easily overlook anything or anyone.

Sleek contemporary style

Speaking of design, the Kia EV9 immediately stands out with its modern design. With a blunt nose, few frills and a flowing body, it looks sleek and contemporary. The new Kia logo proudly adorns the front end, and the modern interpretation of the Tigernose grille is a handsome piece of design. The headlights consist of 12 LED elements, with elongated daytime running lights, which Kia says should form a constellation. The square wheel arches and rugged wheel designs – in 19-, 20- or 21-inch sizes – complete the tough picture.

Strength and comfort

The Kia EV9 is available with both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The base engine produces 204 hp and sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.4 seconds. But for speed demons, there is the GT-Line, which has a whopping 385 hp and 700 Nm “under the hood” and shoots to 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds. The weight of the Kia EV9 is hefty: at least 2,400 kg. The chassis is designed for it and offers great comfort. At bumps and curves you do notice that you are traveling with quite a few pounds, but in normal driving it doesn’t bother you much.

Range

All versions of the Kia EV9 are equipped with a 99.8 kWh battery pack. The rear-wheel-drive version offers a range of 563 kilometers, while the all-wheel-drive version achieves 505 kilometers. In practice, of course, you can quickly knock 50 to 100 kilometers off, but that still leaves an impressive range. The loading speed is perhaps even more impressive. The EV9 can fast charge up to 210 kW. So you can top up 249 kilometers in 15 minutes. It makes the large SUV an excellent mileage rider. Even with a large caravan – the AWD may tow up to 2,400 kilograms – we would dare a trip to southern Europe with the Kia.

What does the Kia EV9 cost?

The Kia EV9 is available in three different versions. The base version, the EV9 Air, starts at 67,995 euros and delivers 204 horsepower with a range of 563 kilometers. The Launch Edition, with the same powertrain, comes with additional features and has a price tag of 71,500 euros. We drove the Launch Edition GT-Line, with 385 hp and too many goodies on board to list. This variant comes from 78,900 euros.

Conclusion:

The Kia EV9 is undoubtedly an impressive addition to the world of electric cars. With its spacious interior, modern design, extensive range and fast loading capacity, it manages to convince on many levels. If you are looking for an electric SUV with room for the whole family and excellent performance, the Kia EV9 is definitely an option to consider. His cons? He is at the price. Especially for a Kia, we hear you thinking. But Kia is not what it used to be. They – along with Hyundai and Tesla – are leading the way in electric driving. For now, no other brand offers as much square footage of electric car for the same price or less. His dimensions do pose a challenge in our country. Without a private parking spot at home, finding a suitable parking space can be a challenge.