Category: EV9

Apr 26

Kia EV9 GT performance three-row SUV to be revealed next year

A high-performance version of the Kia EV9 electric three-row SUV, to be badged the GT, has been confirmed for a January debut, and it will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds. This is according to Kia’s Investor Day presentation.

Kia said the new version of the SUV will have “enormous power output”—as yet unspecified—generated by a dual electric motor setup. It’s expected that the SUV will inherit a powertrain similar to that found in the smaller EV6 GT. As such, output would likely be around 576 horsepower at least, if not a little more to account for the EV9’s additional weight.

The upcoming EV9 GT will be 1.3 seconds faster to 60 mph than the EV9 GT-Line, and only 0.5 second slower compared to the EV6 GT, although it will likely be heavier than that model.

As a performance flagship, the EV9 GT will be fitted with all-wheel drive, and a “reinforced suspension and electronic braking system” set to provide “stable driving performance at high speeds.” Going by the EV6 GT, that suspension will probably have electronically adjustable damping. We also wouldn’t be surprised to see other upgrades such as a limited-slip differential, either electronic or mechanical, included, too.

At its meeting in South Korea, Kia, which is planning to introduce other GT versions of its EV line, confirmed that an updated version of the EV6 GT will debut later this year. The company has also confirmed Kia will launch six new mass market EV models in major locations by the end of the decade: the EV2, EV3, EV4, and EV5.

The EV3 subcompact SUV is expected by the end of this year, to start at about $30,000. By 2030, said Kia President and CEO Ho Sung Song, Kia aims to sell 1.6 million EVs, helped in that quest by concentrating on smaller, more affordable models and discontinuing some larger, less affordable models. The EV9 GT on the other hand, will surely be the most expensive version of the SUV, just as the EV6 GT is the most expensive version of that model.

Feb 18

Kia EV9 wins Best Family Electric Vehicle under $100K

Celebrating the Best Family Electric Vehicle Under $100K

In the ever-evolving world of electric vehicles, the 2024 Drive Car of the Year award for Best Family Electric Vehicle under $100K goes to the Kia EV9. Known for its spacious design, advanced features, and technological prowess, the EV9 stands out as a top choice for families prioritizing sustainability and utility.

A New Era for Family EVs

As families become more conscious of environmental impact and running costs, the demand for family-friendly electric vehicles is on the rise. Historically, EV options for families were limited, often focusing on sleek sedans rather than versatile haulers. However, the introduction of spacious seven-seat EVs like the Kia EV9, LDV Mifa 9, and Mercedes-Benz GLB is changing the landscape, offering roomy interiors, ample cargo space, and even towing capabilities.

Why the Kia EV9 Stands Out

The Kia EV9 has emerged as a leader in this competitive category, combining practicality and luxury. Priced from $97,000 to $121,000, it offers a range of 443km to 505km, depending on the model. The EV9’s fast-charging capabilities and energy efficiency make it an ideal choice for long trips and daily commutes alike.

Kia EV9 wins Best Family Electric Vehicle under $100K
Kia EV9 wins Best Family Electric Vehicle under $100K

Additional Insightful Information:

Designed for Families

The Kia EV9 is designed with families in mind, featuring a spacious interior with seven seats and multiple ISOFIX points for car seats. The clever layout ensures easy access to the third row, while the generous boot space provides 828 liters with five seats in use and 333 liters with all seven seats occupied. Safety is a top priority, with comprehensive features including autonomous emergency braking, advanced cruise control, blind-spot detection, and a rear-cross traffic alert.

Advanced Technology and Practical Features

Equipped with a 76.1kWh battery, the base model Air offers a substantial range and can be recharged quickly from 10% to 80% in just 20 minutes. The vehicle also supports vehicle-to-load capability, allowing it to power appliances on camping trips. Despite its size, the EV9 is energy-efficient, with consumption rates as low as 15kWh/100km during tests. The EV9 also provides a comfortable and engaging driving experience with a power output of 160kW/350Nm, ensuring that it’s not just a practical choice but a fun one too.

A Worthwhile Investment

While the EV9 is not the cheapest option, starting at $97,000, it comes loaded with features such as a 12.3-inch touchscreen, satellite navigation, heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and more. Kia’s seven-year warranty and extensive dealer network add to the value, along with low maintenance costs. For families looking to transition to electric without compromising on space and functionality, the Kia EV9 represents a significant advancement in the EV market.

Conclusion

The Kia EV9’s combination of practicality, advanced features, and family-friendly design earned it the title of Best Family Electric Vehicle under $100K. As electric vehicles continue to evolve, models like the EV9 pave the way for families to embrace sustainable transportation without sacrificing convenience or comfort.

Drive
Drive
Jan 18

2024 Kia EV9 First Drive: 3-Row Electric SUV Asks Tough Questions About Range & Price

Perhaps the most surprising stat that absolutely blew my mind: Despite that oversquare, upright profile, the EV9 manages a 0.28 drag coefficient. And over the course of the day, real-world range bore out that figure despite the typical smattering of journalistic drag pulls and triple-digit experimentation. Doing it entirely for the science, I noted that the EV9 went through an estimated 155 miles of remaining range to travel 164 miles. Not bad, especially on a chilly day—possibly thanks to a heat pump system that Kia included to keep the big battery pack in its optimal temperature range.

The EV9’s engineering clearly prioritizes comfortable cruising over such shenanigans, though. Lifting off the go pedal revealed excellent modulation from acceleration to each level of regenerative braking, and Kia cleverly attempts solves our “throttle” confusion by printing a “+” on the right pedal and a “-” on the brake. Paddles on the steering wheel allow for adjustment of four levels of regen, from almost pure coasting to full one-pedal driving.

With regen turned down, the EV9 drives almost exactly as a standard ICE SUV might, which should help to convert those remaining hesitant EV adopters (and it’s even got a real on-off button!). But without an engine to mask untoward noises from entering the cabin, significant efforts to enhance NVH need to match the luxurious seats and interior appointments. Here, despite those Hankook ion Evo AS tires, the EV9 perhaps falls a bit short as road hum and wind noise clash within the otherwise sumptuous cabin. My GT-Line wore 21-inch wheels and 285-millimeter wide tires, so perhaps lower trims on smaller wheels and narrower rubber will benefit from further decibel reductions.

Jan 18

A First Look at the 2024 Kia EV9: What You Need to Know

Unveiling the 2024 Kia EV9: A Game-Changer in the Electric Crossover Market

Americans have a strong affinity for three-row crossovers, and Kia is making waves with its latest electric offering. The 2024 Kia EV9, a major player in the electric vehicle (EV) arena, combines these two elements into one exciting package. As we dive into this vehicle, we’ll explore whether the EV9 lives up to its hype and what makes it a standout choice in the electric crossover segment.

EV9 Live Photo

What Makes the Kia EV9 Stand Out?

Currently, Kevin Williams of InsideEVs is testing the EV9 in Napa Valley, California—a notable shift from the busy streets of Seoul where the vehicle was first driven. The EV9, built on Hyundai’s acclaimed E-GMP platform, offers a design similar to the popular Kia Telluride but with an electric twist. While it’s priced significantly higher than the Telluride, starting at $54,900 and reaching up to $73,900, it delivers impressive range options and powerful performance.

Key Features and Performance Insights

The Kia EV9 boasts an impressive range, with options varying from 230 miles for the base Light RWD model to 304 miles for the Light Long Range RWD. Its top-tier GT-Line AWD model accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just five seconds, showcasing its performance prowess. Additionally, with rapid charging capabilities of up to 350 kW, it can recharge from 10% to 80% in just 20 minutes, making it a strong contender in the electric vehicle market.

Nov 20

2024 Kia SUV Lineup: Exciting Upgrades for the Seltos and the Debut of the EV9

Exciting Updates Across Kia’s SUV Range

Kia’s 2024 SUV lineup is brimming with exciting updates, featuring significant enhancements for the popular Seltos and the debut of the groundbreaking EV9. The Seltos, a favorite among crossover enthusiasts, receives its first major update, refreshing its design and technology. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated EV9 electric SUV officially hits the market, offering a glimpse into the future of Kia’s electric vehicle strategy.

Seltos and EV9: What’s New?

The refreshed Kia Seltos introduces a sleeker exterior and upgraded interior features, ensuring it continues to appeal to style-conscious drivers. On the other hand, the EV9 marks a significant milestone for Kia, combining advanced electric technology with a spacious, high-tech cabin. With these new models, Kia demonstrates its commitment to innovation and quality, catering to a broad range of SUV enthusiasts and electric vehicle aficionados alike.

Jul 12

Kia expands Georgia plant to produce electric EV9 SUV with $200M investment

Kia is expanding its only manufacturing plant in the US to make room for its first electric three-row SUV. The Kia EV9 will be the automaker’s first EV assembled in North America. Assembly will begin at its West Point, Georgia, plant next year.

Kia to build EV9 electric SUV at West Point, Georgia

Kia announced an over $200 million expansion Wednesday, creating nearly 200 additional jobs in the area.

The EV9 will be the fifth model assembled at its Georgia facility but the first all-electric vehicle to join the lineup. Sean Yoon, president and CEO of Kia North America, said the “EV9 has the potential to be another ‘game changer’ for Kia.” He added:

This will be the most sophisticated vehicle that we have ever built and will be a standout in the EV market and on the road. Best of all, it will be assembled in West Point, Georgia.

In March, Kia officially unveiled the EV9 electric SUV, garnering praise for its bold design and advanced features.

Meet Kia’s first EV set for assembly in the US

The EV9 is the largest electric car from Kia so far and its first three-row electric SUV. Kia says the EV9 is reshaping the company with a “bold vision for the new era of electrification.”

As such, the EV9 includes some of the latest in-vehicle technology, including Kia’s most advanced Highway Driving Pilot, OTA updates, onboard power generator functionality (V2L), and ultra-wideband-based Digital Key.

Despite the advancements, Kia is not stepping away from the segment, claiming the EV9 offers “true SUV capabilities.” These include 7.8-inch ground clearance, up to 81.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row, up to 5,000 lbs towing capacity, and available torque-vectoring dual-motor AWD.

Based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s 800-volt E-GMP platform (the same one used to power the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and Kia EV6), the EV9 includes fast-charging capabilities, designed to go from 10% to 80% charge (adding 148 miles of driving range) in under 25 minutes.

The EV9 will be available in two powertrain options. The standard is a 76.1 kWh battery (fourth-generation) with a 215 hp (160 kW) motor. In addition, a 99.8 kWh battery pack will be offered with a single motor, targeting 300 miles range, or a dual-motor 379 hp torque-vectoring AWD configuration with 516 lb-ft of torque.

Kia is expected to begin assembling the EV9 at its West Point, Georgia, plant starting in the second quarter of 2024. The automaker began delivering the electric SUV to customers in South Korea last month, gathering 13,000 preorders in its first eight days on the market.

Although Kia has yet to release prices for the US market, we expect that, based on the first European prices, the EV9 will start around $65,000 to $70,000 for the larger battery pack and around $60,000 for the standard model.

Jul 12

Kia’s $200 Million Boost to Georgia Plant to Launch EV9 SUV in 2024

Significant Investment to Drive Local Economy

On July 12, Kia announced a major investment of over $200 million in its Georgia assembly plant, set to begin production of the all-new EV9 SUV in 2024. This strategic move will add approximately 200 new jobs at the West Point facility, which will now assemble its first electric vehicle in North America alongside its existing models. This expansion is expected to significantly boost local employment and solidify the plant’s role in Kia’s growing EV portfolio.

Meeting New Tax Credit Requirements

The decision to produce the EV9 in the U.S. aligns with new regulations that offer up to $7,500 in federal tax credits for electric vehicles manufactured domestically. By meeting this requirement, Kia not only enhances its product lineup but also positions itself to benefit from U.S. consumer incentives. This investment underscores Kia’s commitment to both innovation and economic growth in the region.