I drove Kia’s all-new $78,000 EV9 family SUV. Here are 22 cool features that help it stand out from the crowd.
The Kia EV9 GT-Line in blue.
The Kia EV9 is one of the most important EVs to hit the market in 2024. The Korean EV is the first US -market, all-electric, three-row family SUV from a mainstream, mass-market brand.
Until the EV9, the three-row electric SUV market has been dominated by premium brands like the Tesla Model X, Rivian R1S, and Mercedes-Benz EQS.
I recently reviewed a 2024 Kia EV9 in top-of-the-range GT-Line trim with an as-test price of $78,430. I was impressed by the SUV’s solid driving dynamics, spacious and tech-laden cabin, and striking looks.
The base, rear-wheel-drive ‘Light’ version starts at $54,900. Those wishing for all-wheel drive will need to upgrade to the mid-tier Wind trim, which starts at $63,900.
My top-of-the-line EV9 GT-Line with AWD starts at $73,900.
Freight fees and optional extras, such as a $2,000 Second Row Relaxation Package, pushed the as-tested price to more than $78,000.
The cheapest Rivian is about $20,000 more expensive than the cheapest EV9. However, the base Rivian has more power, is quicker, and has more range than the base EV9.
Here’s a closer look at some of my favorite features that make it stand out from the crowd.
1.Customizable LED headlights
The EV9’s LED headlights.
The EV9’s overall front-end design was inspired by a tiger’s face, but its LED headlights were inspired by a constellation of stars, Kia says.
There are 84 small L-shaped lamps on the front grille between the main headlights that perform configurable dynamic lighting animations when the vehicle is unlocked.
2. Long range
The Kia EV9 plugged into a DC fast charger.
Under the EV9’s floor, you’ll find one of two different lithium-ion battery packs. The base EV9 comes with a 76.1 kWh pack while all other trims have a 99.8 kWh pack.
The EPA rated my GT-Line test car for a solid 270 miles of range. However, during my time behind the wheel, I was able to push the vehicle’s projected range past the 300-mile mark.
Those needing more range can opt for the less powerful EV9 Light Long Range edition, which is rated for 304 miles of driving.
3. Fast charging
The EV9 plugged into a fast charger.
According to Kia, the EV9’s 99.8 kWh battery pack can charge from 10% to 80% in just 24 minutes using a 350kW DC fast charger.
At home, EV9 can charge to 100% from 10% in 8 hours and 45 minutes using a Level II, 240V AC plug.
4. Pleasant, stylish cabin
The Kia EV9 front dash with dual 12.3-inch digital displays.
e EV9’s cabin is a thoroughly pleasant place to be. Kia’s designers did a great job curating a quiet and comfortable space with loads of useful storage and charging for mobile devices that are suitable for everyone, from families to business executives.
5. Vegan interior
The EV9’s rear cabin.
All EV9s are equipped with vegan interiors thanks to its artificial leather steering wheel and seats.
The GT-Line trim gets special two-tone SynTex faux leather seats with “GT-Line” emblems.
6. Large digital displays
The trio of displays on the EV9’s front dash.
The centerpiece of the EV9’s front dash is a large screen that houses three displays.
There’s a 12.3-inch central infotainment display above the center console, a 12.3-inch digital gauge display in front of the driver, and a small five-inch climate control display nestled between the two.
The main infotainment touchscreen running Kia’s latest user interface was fairly intuitive to use, but some menus required some searching.
The digital gauge cluster offers some minimal customizable options, but it doesn’t offer the type of display variation, like maps or multi-media capabilities, as other SUVs.
While the climate control screen itself is intuitively organized, its location is less than ideal: It’s hidden from the driver by the steering wheel.
7. Dual sunroofs
The EV9’s dual sunroofs.
My GT-Line test car came with dual glass sunroofs. The smaller front sunroof opens, while the larger rear glass roof does not.
8. Nifty shifter
The EV9’s gear shifter.
The EV9’s shifter is on the right side of the steering column where a traditional ignition key would have lived once upon a time.
The shifter shares the stalk with the EV9’s “on” button.
To shift into drive, twist the right end of the stalk forward. Twist it backward to shift into reverse, and press the “P” button at the end of the stalk to put the EV9 into park.
This shifter design frees up space in the center console for lots of configurable storage, cupholders, and charging ports.
9. Reclining ergo-motion seats
The EV9’s driver seat reclined.
The EV9 also has one of the fanciest driver’s seats I’ve ever come across.
With the leg rest extended and the seat reclined, this is a great place for the driver to recharge with a nap when the EV9 is charging.
The EV9’s driver’s seat features an Ergo-Motion function that uses self-adjusting inflatable air pockets to support the driver’s posture and combat fatigue on road trips.
10. Blind-spot view monitor
The EV9’s blind spot view monitor.
The EV9’s digital gauge display is home to its blind spot view monitor. The system uses cameras under the Kia’s side mirrors to give the driver a live shot of the vehicle’s blind spots when changing lanes.
11. Rear vision camera
The EV9’s rear vision camera display.
The EV9’s rearview mirror is equipped with a smart rear vision camera display. This system, which projects an image from a camera located near the top of the rear window, is incredibly useful when the SUV’s rear cabin is filled with people or cargo
12. VIP relaxation package
The EV9’s second-row VIP relaxation package.
The $2,000 GT-Line Second Row VIP Relaxation Package comes with adjustable leg supports and special “relaxation seats” that create an almost limousine-like experience for passengers.
13. Wing-out headrests
The EV9’s captain’s chairs have folding headrests.
The RV9’s captain’s chairs have wing-out headrests that fold similar to those found on airplane seats for additional support.
14. Storage drawers
The EV9’s rear center console storage drawer.
The EV9 is equipped with a storage drawer that closes into the back of the center console. This drawer is perfect for snacks, books, and mobile devices on a road trip.
15. Remote smart parking assist
The EV9’s front facia.
The EV9 is equipped with Hyundai/Kia’s remote smart-parking assist, or as they called in the Bostionian Super Bowl ad from a few years ago, “Smaht Pahk.” The system can pull a vehicle into and out of a parking space with the driver outside the car simply by pushing buttons on the key fob.
16. Vehicle-to-load charging
The EV9’s V2L power connector.
Land and GT-Line trim EV9s are equipped with bi-directional charging capability, which allows it to serve as a remote power source.
Plug the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) adapter, which comes with the EV9, into the charging receptacle, and it can power small appliances up to 3.62 kW.
17. Frunk
The EV9’s frunk.
Under the hood of my all-wheel-drive GT-Line test car is a small 1.8 cubic-foot front trunk or frunk with space for cargo weighing less than 44 lbs. For rear-wheel-drive variants, the EV9’s frunk increases in size and payload weight to 3.2 cu. ft. and 88 lbs., respectively.
18. Handsfree liftgate
The EV9 in GT-Line trim.
The EV9 is equipped with a smart hands-free liftgate, which is also a feature of other premium Hyundai/Kia products like the Palisade and Genesis GV60.
The liftgate automatically triggers if you stand within 3 feet of the rear bumper for more than three seconds while possessing the key fob.
19. Expandable storage
The EV9’s cargo space with the rear seats folded.
Open the rear liftgate, and you’ll find an impressive 20.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row.
The EV9’s cargo capacity increases to 43.5 cubic feet with the third row folded into the floor and to 81.7 cubic feet with the second row also folded.
20. 21-inch wheels
The EV9 GT-Line’s 21-inch wheels.
My test car had these spiffy, blacked-out, 21-inch wheels. The GT-Line wheels consist of a four-spoke wheel with dark silver plastic aero covers.
Base trim EV9s get 19-inch wheels, while the mid-tier models get 20-inch alloys.
21. All-wheel-drive performance
The EV9 from the side.
My GT-Line test car came equipped with a pair of 189.5-horsepower electric motors, one mounted on each axle, to create a virtual all-wheel-drive system.
The motors combine to produce 379 total system horsepower and 516 lb. ft. of torque.
Kia says the 5,800-pound SUV can do 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds. However, my experience from having tested a few hundred cars tells me that it may be a tad quicker than that.
22. Advanced safety tech
The EV9’s front facia.
The EV9 is equipped with a complete suite of advanced driver assistance and safety tech.
The EV9’s standard safety tech includes forward collision avoidance, blind spot collision avoidance assist, driver attention warning, lane keep assist, lane follow assist, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist, smart cruise control, rear occupant alert, and navigation-based smart cruise control.
