Kia has unveiled the much-anticipated final design of its all-electric SUV, the EV9, and thankfully, not only does it stick closely to the look of the concept we trailed in our Best 2023 EVs, it improves on it with a changeable interior that seemingly takes things a step on from the moveable central console in its sister brand's Ioniq 5.
This flagship SUV for Kia is its first three-row electric vehicle, and the company clearly wants to continue the bold design approach evident in the EV6, though with the EV9 the sweeping lines of its smaller stablemate have been replaced by polygons. Yes, polygons.
According to Kia, far from being a hinderance to aerodynamics, this polygonal design language means that while the car gets that chunky SUV stance, the EV9 has “exceptional aerodynamic efficiency,” while the “triangular fender structures and pronounced geometric wheel arches combine with the body, unifying the polygonal elements into a cohesive structure.” In translation: Polygons everywhere makes it all work aesthetically somehow. Indeed, it’s a neat trick to combine “rugged” and “sleek,” but Kia might just have managed it here. The flush door handles and a tapered back roofline certainly help with this goal.
Little information beyond the design has been released for the EV9, but previous Kia Corporation presentation images have revealed that the “engineering target” for the electric SUV is a 540-kilometer range, or 337 miles, slightly more than the RWD 77.4-kWh EV6 with its 328 miles. As for speed, the EV9’s 0-to 60-mph target is 5 seconds, not far off the EV6 AWD (5.2 seconds).
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As for charging, the car is built on Kia’s E-GMP platform, which allows for superfast 800-volt charging and vehicle-to-load (where you can run your household appliances from the car’s battery should you wish). Again, the EV9 targets here are 6 minutes to add 100 kilometers of range at a high-speed charger, as opposed to the 4.5 minutes the EV6 takes to do the same at a 350-kW charger. This would suggest a battery capacity of around 100 kWh, but the EV9’s exact battery size will be given later this month.
The EV9’s interior looks as impressive as its exterior. Big enough for seven people, in the front there’s a floating panoramic dash made using a pair of 12.3-inch displays and one 5-inch display stretching from the steering wheel right to the middle. As for switchgear, “physical buttons are kept to a minimum,” which maybe does not bode well, but we’re hoping the confusing dual-function EV6 setup is improved on.
Cleverly, the second row of seats can swivel 180 degrees so passengers can chat with those sitting in the third row. This also allows the seat to spin to face outward, so you can get in and out of the SUV easily. Charging points, storage, and cup holders are promised in plentiful supply.
No mention has been made of the concept version’s solar panels, or “pop-up” steering wheel, but the EV9 will be the first Kia to offer Automode, the company’s autonomous driving tech.
Karim Habib, executive VP and head of Kia Global Design Center, says the EV9 offers “a fresh EV perspective in the family SUV sector.” That remains to be seen, but first impressions are certainly promising. Its arrival this year is timely, too, as Range Rover’s all-electric offering won’t arrive until 2024.