Kia has been making waves in the automotive industry with its bold and innovative products, such as the Stinger sports sedan, the Telluride three-row SUV, and the K5 midsize sedan. The Korean brand is now ready to take on the electric vehicle market with its first dedicated EV model, the 2024 Kia EV9.
The EV9 is a three-row midsize SUV that offers a spacious and luxurious cabin, a powerful and efficient electric powertrain, and a range of advanced technology features. The EV9 is based on a new platform that is designed specifically for electric vehicles, which allows for optimal packaging, performance, and safety.
The 2024 Kia EV9 will be available in four trim levels: Light, Gravity, Force, and GT. The Light and Gravity models will offer rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the Force and GT models will be exclusively all-wheel drive. The EV9 will also offer two battery options: a 76.1 kWh pack for the Light RWD model and a 99.8 kWh pack for the rest of the lineup.
The EV9’s electric motors will deliver impressive power and torque, ranging from 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque for the Light RWD model to 379 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque for the AWD models. The GT model, which will arrive in 2025, will boast a whopping 576 horsepower and 740 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the most powerful SUVs on the market.
The EV9’s range will vary depending on the battery size and drivetrain configuration, but Kia estimates that the Long Range RWD model will achieve up to 300 miles of driving on a single charge. The EV9 will also support ultra-fast 800-volt DC fast charging, which can replenish up to 80% of the battery in about 18 minutes. Additionally, the EV9 will feature a heat pump system that helps preserve the battery’s range in cold weather conditions.
The EV9’s exterior design is sleek and futuristic, with a distinctive front fascia that features Kia’s new “Digital Tiger” grille and slim LED headlights. The side profile is aerodynamic and muscular, with a sloping roofline and flared wheel arches. The rear end is equally striking, with a full-width LED taillight bar and a sculpted bumper.
The EV9’s interior is spacious and luxurious, with room for up to seven passengers and ample cargo space. The cabin is adorned with high-quality materials, such as SynTex leatherette upholstery, wood trim, and metal accents. The dashboard is dominated by a large digital cockpit that combines a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The infotainment system will support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as over-the-air software updates.
The EV9 will also offer a host of convenience and comfort features, such as power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, power-operated second-row captain’s chairs with leg rests, third-row seats with reclining function, dual-zone automatic climate control, wireless charging pad, panoramic sunroof, head-up display, Harman Kardon premium sound system, and more.
The EV9 will not skimp on safety and driver-assist features either. The EV9 will come standard with over 20 advanced systems that can help prevent or mitigate collisions, such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-following assist, driver attention warning, rear occupant alert, and more. The EV9 will also offer some optional features that can enhance the driver’s visibility and confidence, such as surround-view monitor, blind-spot view monitor, highway driving assist II (which can automatically adjust speed and steering based on traffic conditions), remote smart parking assist (which can park or unpark the vehicle remotely), and more.
The EV9 will go on sale in late 2023 as a 2024 model-year vehicle. The pricing will start at $54,900 for the Light RWD model (excluding destination charge), which makes it one of the most affordable three-row electric SUVs on the market. The pricing for the other trim levels has not been announced yet, but Kia says that they will be competitive with other vehicles in the segment.
The EV9 is Kia’s first step into the electric vehicle market, but it won’t be the last. Kia plans to launch 11 new electric models by 2026 as part of its ambitious electrification strategy. The Kia EV9 is the all-electric SUV that challenges the status quo and sets a new standard for the future of mobility. @via EV Stories.
