Kia EV9 overview: All the things I need in a three-row household EV – Uplaza

The EV market is hotter than ever within the US, however there are solely a handful of choices for households who want three rows of seats and tons of cupboard space. There’s the Rivian R1S, an exquisite and well-reviewed automobile, however one which’s firmly in luxurious territory with a beginning value of $75,900. Tesla’s Mannequin X is equally dear, and its tiny rear row is not fitted to adults (the smaller Mannequin Y’s third row possibility is even worse). That is why Kia’s EV9 is such an enormous deal. It gives much more inner area than the corporate’s large Telluride, and it begins at a extra palatable $54,900 (together with a $1,495 vacation spot cost).

It is sensible why automobile makers had been extra centered on smaller EVs up till now. Giant batteries are costly, and many individuals do not actually need three rows of seats. However I am a dad of two children nonetheless utilizing baby automobile seats, and we additionally have to journey with my two dad and mom occasionally. So the extra room is a should. And even with out rear passengers, we frequently want additional room to lug two children’ value of substances to native parks (particularly if we convey alongside our wagon stroller).

There are, after all, reputable causes to be cautious of enormous EVs. Like several large automobile, they’re extra harmful for pedestrians, particularly when coupled with the near-instant torque energy of EVs. They’re additionally far worse for the setting than smaller automobiles, as a result of they require these aforementioned massive batteries and all of the uncommon earth materials they include. If I lived in a metropolis with usable public transportation, I might quit on the EV9 straight away. However for now I am caught traversing Atlanta suburbs, so the EV9 (ideally a pre-owned one in a number of years) is our greatest worst possibility.

Design

Like Kia’s EV6, the EV9 (accessible in Mild, Land, Wind and GT-Line configurations) seems putting up shut. It does not shrink back from being a big SUV — its boxiness is a function, not a bug. And what it lacks in curves, it makes up for with polygonal physique panels that look futuristic with out being garish like Tesla’s Cybertruck. From the entrance, the EV9 pairs vertical headlights with customizable LEDs. (It’s important to purchase extra lighting patterns individually, although, a very unlucky alternative by Kia.)

Kia did not stray too removed from the unique EV9 idea it revealed in 2019, and that is an excellent factor. There are not any rear-hinged suicide doorways, however I do not miss them. Structurally, customary door frames are safer for passengers, particularly throughout accidents.

Inside

Upon opening the motive force aspect door, you are greeted with a sublime setup: well-cushioned seats with snug mesh headrests; Kia’s 30-inch “Triple Panorama Display,” which includes a gauge cluster, HVAC controls and a 12.3-inch infotainment display; and tons of unpolluted and usable area. It is much like the EV6’s setup, however a bit much less cluttered since gear controls are dealt with by a stalk on the steering wheel, as a substitute of a dial by the cupholders.

Although it includes a large display, the EV9 additionally has a mix of bodily and capacitive buttons. You may change the temperature, mode and fan speeds with rocker switches on the motive force and passenger aspect (rear passengers even have simply reachable HVAC controls). It’s also possible to management heating and cooling utilizing the small show subsequent to the infotainment display, however I discovered {that a} bit awkward whereas driving. It was typically obscured by the steering wheel, and there wasn’t a lot suggestions when altering settings on the display.

Kia’s infotainment software program is zippy and responsive, befitting the EV9’s fashionable shows. Wi-fi CarPlay and Android Auto assist additionally makes it straightforward to attach your telephone with out fiddling for cables. The EV9 has a big wi-fi charging pad that ought to match my iPhone 15 Professional Max simply wonderful, and there is sufficient room to squeeze in even greater telephones. It was a bit finicky to search out the proper wi-fi charging zone, a lot so it made me want Kia had carried out MagSafe or the newer Qi2 customary to maintain my telephone in place. I might suggest at all times having a USB-C cable helpful to benefit from the EV9’s quick charging port.

I used to be blown away by the GT-Line EV9’s 14-speaker Meridian system, which has simply sufficient low-end oomph (due to an open-air subwoofer) for music and exact readability for voices whereas listening to podcasts and audiobooks. Meridian says its DSP (digital sound processing) optimizes sound for the EV9’s cabin, and it additionally upmixes audio for five.1 encompass sound (or the equal with many extra audio system).

The corporate’s Intelli-Q Equalization additionally transforms audio because the EV9’s in-cabin noise adjustments — as a substitute of simply elevating or reducing the amount, it could actually emphasize particular frequency ranges to cowl one thing like tire noise. In my testing, the Meridian system sounded nice throughout each noisy freeway driving and relaxed native journeys. I positively seen when the Intelli-Q software program kicked in, but it surely wasn’t insufferable like older automobiles that may simply get louder on the freeway. (It’s also possible to regulate the extent of computerized sound equalization, and audio purists can disable it fully.)

The EV9’s second row captain’s chairs are simply as snug because the entrance seats, however they’ve cushioned headrests as a substitute of versatile mesh. As a lot as I just like the second row, although, my household would possible be higher off with the 7-seat association from Mild or Wind EV9 fashions. These depend on a bench seat as a substitute of two captain’s chairs, which my spouse prefers when she must experience beside my two-year previous.

The EV9’s third row seats are snug as nicely, however as in lots of three-row SUVs, most adults will not have a lot legroom to work with. I used to be capable of squeeze in my 5-foot 8-inch body, however I would not name the expertise ultimate. Anybody driving within the EV9’s final row will possible should cut price with the particular person in entrance of them for some leg area. It is also value noting that the second row is immovable with baby seats, since they lock seat belts down. So be sure you have the second row at a snug spot for rear passengers earlier than hooking up baby seats.

Sadly, the US model of the EV9 will not have second-row seats that may swivel 180-degrees to face the third row, as a result of they do not meet federal security requirements. That function, which was a serious a part of Kia’s preliminary EV9 publicity blitz, can be accessible in South Korea and different nations.

For cargo, the EV9 sports activities 20.2 cubic ft behind its third row seats, and a extra usable 43.5 cubic ft of storage when the third row is folded flat. If you happen to push down the second row seats as nicely , you possibly can slot in as much as 81.7 cubic ft of substances. There is a entrance trunk, or frunk, beneath the hood too, but it surely’s not as helpful as different EVs. It may possibly maintain 3.2 cubic ft within the rear-wheel EV9, and an much more minuscule 1.8 cubic ft within the all-wheel drive fashions. In each instances, you might have simply sufficient room to carry Kia’s degree 1 charging cable and some different small gadgets.

Driving

On the highway, the EV9 looks like a paradox. Just like Rivian’s R1S, it is a big SUV that is surprisingly fast and nimble for its dimension. I used to be capable of effortlessly glide via native visitors, launch rapidly from stoplights and go automobiles on the freeway with ease. It wasn’t as straightforward to maneuver as my 2019 Volvo XC90, however I used to be nonetheless impressed for the reason that EV9 is a far boxier automobile.

After visiting my mother or father’s house, a 45-mile freeway journey every manner, the EV9 dropped from 80 % cost to 52 %. The AC was blasting closely to fight Georgia’s warmth and humidity, in order that vary felt about proper. Simply remember that an EV’s estimated mileage can simply change relying on AC utilization, exterior temperatures and how briskly you are driving.

My spouse, who hasn’t spent a lot time with EVs, famous that she didn’t really feel like she was truly driving whereas behind the wheel of the EV9. On well-paved roads, it rides easily with out a lot discernible highway noise. My spouse took some time to regulate to the EV9’s sensitive brakes — it’s straightforward to slam the automobile to a halt — however that’s one thing I’ve seen on many EVs. You should use the EV9’s paddle shifters to regulate regenerative braking, which places a little bit of energy again into the battery and doesn’t use the automobile’s conventional brake pads.

In its most excessive type, the EV9’s regenerative braking permits for one-pedal driving, which lets you fully cease the automobile just by lifting your foot off of the accelerator. It’s an odd function to get used in case you’ve solely ever pushed gasoline automobiles, but it surely’s a type of issues that EV house owners be taught to like rapidly.

It might be good to see Kia provide adaptive suspension on the EV9 ultimately, since you possibly can really feel the impression of tough roads and enormous bumps far too simply. For a automobile that scales as much as close to $80,000 — like our GT-line overview unit — smarter and smoother suspension ought to at the least be an possibility. With out it, the EV9 does not really feel practically as luxurious because the Rivian R1S as driving circumstances worsen.

I didn’t have a lot hassle parking the EV9 in most tons, however backing out of areas may typically be painful. That was significantly true in areas designed for smaller automobiles–I’m you, Dealer Joe’s. It took me six bouts of reversing and precarious turning to make it out of 1 spot at my native Regal Cinema. Even then, I may solely go away in a single path, due to a slew of different massive automobiles (together with a very ugly Cybertruck) sitting round me.

Fortunately, the EV9’s high-resolution cameras, proximity sensors and 360-degree overhead digital camera (on the GT Line solely) helped me get out of tight spots. However even with these assists, it was nonetheless extra annoying than the chunky Pacifica hybrid minivan I used to personal.

Charging

The Kia EV9 helps 210 kilowatt quick charging, and it’s suitable with each 400- and 800-volt chargers. Utilizing probably the most highly effective 800V {hardware} (which admittedly isn’t at all times straightforward to search out), the EV9 can cost from 10 % to 80 % in 24 minutes. Utilizing an area Electrify America charger, which clocked in at 150kW, the EV9 went from 21 % of battery to 90 % in 39 minutes.

I don’t have a Degree 2 charger at house, which may fully juice up the EV9 in six to seven hours, however I used to be capable of plug it right into a Degree 1 charger utilizing an ordinary 120V outlet in a single day. That usually added a further 10 to fifteen % of cost after eight to 10 hours. This degree of charging will not be possible for the long run, but it surely’s useful in case you don’t have the flexibility so as to add a Degree 2 system at house, or in case you’re touring and want so as to add a bit extra juice to succeed in the following quick charger.

Pricing and the competitors

The Kia EV9 begins at $54,900 (not together with vacation spot expenses) for the “Light” mannequin, which incorporates rear-wheel drive, 215 horsepower and 230 miles of vary. Leasing choices begin at $487 a month on common, with $2,000 due at signing for a 36-month time period. These numbers may additionally change relying on the gives Kia makes accessible, in addition to what native sellers are prepared to cost.

The “Light Long Range” model gets you a bigger battery with 304 miles of range for $59,200 and a slightly weaker 201hp motor. Higher-end trims are nearly twice as fast with 379hp all-wheel drive motors. That includes the $63,900 “Wind” EV9 and the $69,900 “Land” model, both of which have 280 miles of range.

At the top end, there’s the flagship GT-Line model we reviewed, which starts at $73,900. It has a bit less range (270 miles) than mid-range choices, but it also has just about every feature Kia could throw in, including a 12-inch heads-up display on the windshield, 21-inch alloy wheels and the 14-speaker Meridien sound system.

While its price escalates quickly, the EV9 is still a better deal than every other three-row EV on the market. The Rivian R1S starts at $75,900, and it currently leases for $699 a month with at least $8,500 in signing fees. The aging Tesla Model X starts at $77,990. Those cars are also both significantly faster than the EV9, and they offer better ride options like adaptive suspension.

Wrap-up

After eagerly awaiting the right household EV for years – following my time with the Rav4 hybrid, Sienna hybrid and the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid – I’m stunned it’s coming from Kia and never a extra established model like Toyota. The EV9 is spacious, extra reasonably priced than different EVs and it drives (principally) like a dream. It expenses rapidly, and most fashions have greater than sufficient vary to cope with the occasional highway journey. Merely put, the Kia EV9 is every little thing I’ve been on the lookout for in a three-row household EV.