The 2024 Kia EV9 is surprisingly affordable, starting at $56,395 for the base (mild) 215-hp, 258-lb-ft option with rear-wheel drive. That puts it at the higher end of many three-row midsize SUVs, like the aforementioned Grand Highlander, GMC Acadia, and others (and a few thousand dollars more than the equally large Kia,Telluride three-row aero), but it’s also not as expensive as the entry-level Rivian R1S or Tesla Model
If you’re looking to go further on a charge, you might want to consider upgrading to the EV9 Light Long Range, which just crossed the $60,000 mark, but not by much, at $60,695. The $65,395 EV9 Wind e-AWD is the first dual-motor offering, and according to Kia, it’s a “no compromises” configuration, but it’s expected to have one major compromise: compared to the model below, in exchange for a price cut . Power range. The $71,395 EV9 Land e-AWD picks up where the Wind left off, offering the same dual-motor setup but with more onboard technology.
Kia also offersHigh-performance GT-Line model delivers 379 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels Via dual motors. Of course, higher-performance models are better for your wallet, and the GT-Line is no exception at $75,395.
What do you get for the money?
Even the entry-level EV9 Light uses an industry-leading 800-volt electrical architecture, which helps Kia drain a lot of power from its DC fast charger too quickly. (Other high-voltage EVs on the market include Hyundai’s Ioniq models, the Genesis GV60, Kia’s own EV6, and high-end products like the Porsche Taycan and Lucid Air.) According to Kia, the EV9’s battery capacity is only 10 percent, using 350 kilowatts of DC power, which Charge the charger to 80% within 25 minutes. In addition to ultra-fast charging, the EV9 Light RWD model also comes with “SynTex” leather seats, 19-inch alloy wheels and an eight-way adjustable power driver’s seat with heating and ventilation.
The infotainment system features two 12.3-inch displays and a third 5.0-inch display dedicated to controlling the HVAC system. To please everyone, Kia has chosen to combine touch-sensitive tactile keys for infotainment functions with physical keys for basic functions like volume, temperature control and fan speed. The infotainment system is managed through Kia’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) user interface, which the automaker claims will be a snappy experience, allowing users to access commonly used quick controls with a swipe.
The EV9 Light Long Range RWD model offers everything that comes with the base light, but replaces the 76.1 kWh battery with a 99.8 kWh battery. Horsepower drops from 215 to 201 in the long range, but those looking for more range are unlikely to care about the slight drop in power.
The dual-motor EV9 Wind e-AWD boosts output to 379 hp and 443 lb-ft. The Wind also increases ground clearance to 7.8 inches and offers a heat pump and a heated steering wheel as standard equipment. The EV9 Land e-AWD is the perfect choice for those who want something fully loaded. The Land comes standard with 20-inch wheels and Kia’s new “digital-style lightning mesh” grille for some exterior flash—no pun intended. Inside, the Land features a heated tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 14-speaker Meridian sound system and a surround-view monitoring system. An optional towing package increases towing capacity to 5,000 pounds. The EV9 Land e-AWD has the same 379 hp and 443 lb-ft dual-motor as the Wind.
The EV9 will support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and comes standard with a wireless phone charger to charge any device when plugged in. Kia’s “Digital Key 2” is also featured, allowing users to use their smartphone as a car key. The system has been improved so users can unlock their cars without having to put their phone to the door, and can share digital keys with friends and family via text messages. In other markets,The EV9 will come with cool features like swivel second-row seats and Level 3 driver assistanceBut none of them will enter the US market.
What about standard safety features?
The 2024 Kia EV9 Light RWD will come with a host of safety and driver-assistance features. Kia hasn’t detailed all these features yet, but has confirmed that Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA-2) will be included as standard. As the name suggests, the feature will “detect and prevent” collisions “under certain conditions.” Kia says the EV9 system has been upgraded to recognize vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists in front of the vehicle while driving, oncoming vehicles turning left at intersections, and crossing vehicles when passing through intersections.
If a vehicle ahead is detected when changing lanes, or an oncoming vehicle is detected when overtaking, the system will use braking and steering inputs to avoid or minimize the collision. In addition to the standard features, more driver assistance features will likely be available as options.
If you’re interested, you can pre-order the EV9 starting October 16 for $750. Those who pre-order an EV9 before November 27, 2023 will be eligible for a “Gift Pack” with the purchase or lease of an EV9, including a Webasto Go dual-voltage portable EV charger, a free three-year Kia maintenance plan, and a year of “digital features and services.” available”. Kia says everyone who buys or leases an EV9 will receive 1,000 kWh of charging credit from Electrify America. Given its reasonable starting price, could the 2024 Kia EV9 make buyers forget about charging infrastructure and instead buy a family-sized electric vehicle? Let’s just say we’re particularly interested in the quarterly sales report after the EV9’s launch.