The 2024 Kia EV9 deserves all the hype, and it’s one of the closest production cars ever to its prototype. Yes, the futuristic interior has been toned down and the rear-hinged doors have been replaced by drab, everyday doors that open in the usual way, but look at this car. Then consider this is a Kia.
The world premiere gave us a little more insight into the design process and philosophy behind the car, but the most important part has finally been confirmed – the powertrain and battery options. The news is huge—literally. Kia has launched the largest battery on the E-GMP platform to date. The 99.8 kWh battery pack means the 2024 Kia EV9 offers a decent range.
The 2024 Kia EV9 comes with a choice of two batteries: the well-known 76.1 kWh or the new 99.8 kWh. The smaller battery pack can only be coupled to an RWD powertrain with a single electric motor and its 160 kW peak power. This is enough to propel Kia’s largest electric SUV from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds.
The larger battery pack can be had with RWD or AWD powertrains, and interestingly, the RWD option has a less powerful electric motor than the smaller battery version. Kia tuned the motor down to 150 kW – so not much of a difference: to increase range. The torque figure remains unchanged at 350Nm, but due to the heavier battery, this version of the EV9 takes 9.4 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h.
The fun starts with the AWD version. Thanks to the combined output of its two electric motors of 283 kW (nearly 380 hp) and 600Nm of torque, the EV9 transforms into a reasonably fast SUV. 0 to 100 km/h is done in just 6 seconds, but if that’s not enough, the optional Boost feature is available. It increases torque to 700Nm and reduces the 0 to 100 km/h time to 5.3 seconds. That’s faster than the first-generation Porsche Cayenne Turbo.
If you’re a careful driver who obeys speed limits and drives carefully, the EV9 should provide up to 541 kilometers (336 miles) of range on a single charge. That number is for the RWD version with a larger battery, and for now, it’s just a WLTP rating. EPA ratings will follow soon.
There are two EV9 trims available: standard and GT-Line. The GT-Line gets a different front bumper, roof rails are standard, and it will soon get HDP: Highway Driving Pilot. Thanks to its dual LiDAR sensors and numerous cameras and ultrasonic sensors, the HDP meets Level 3 autonomous driving requirements. According to Kia, the 2024 Kia EV9 is capable of conditional autonomous driving, but it has not revealed a date when the system will be available.
The interior is available with a choice of 6 or 7 seats, and in the 6-seat configuration, the middle-row captain’s chairs swivel 180 degrees. There are the large dual displays we’ve come to know from other models, and overall the interior looks nice and comfortable, but we’ll have to wait for a test drive to fully investigate it.
Like many other carmakers, Kia is pushing the recycling agenda, and the 2024 Kia EV9 is no exception. The interior material uses 7 PET bottles, which are fully recycled into various parts and fabrics. The company is phasing out the use of leather, and it wants us to remember it — well done, Kia.
Another thing Kia is pushing is the Kia Connected Store. Essentially, it’s an app store where you can purchase OTA updates for your EV9. If you want an active LED mode on the front of the car or a Boost option for performance: or, really, any other option you didn’t consider when buying a car: Kia has your back. As long as you pay, that’s it. Kia takes pains to avoid using the word “subscription” in its press release, but you know subscription is coming.
2024 Kia EV9 is a very important model for the entire Hyundai Group, not just Kia. This is a preview of the Hyundai Ioniq 7, which will use the same powertrain and battery. This is a preview of Genesis’ large, all-electric SUV that will replace the GV70 Electrified.
The EV9 will replace the Kia Telluride, which has a good fan base in the United States. On top of that, the 2024 Kia EV9 will compete with the likes of the Audi Q8 e-tron or the Mercedes EQE SUV. It will have to compete with the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Cadillac Lyriq. While it may not match the performance of the Tesla Model X, it certainly has plenty of room and will cost a lot less.
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