Tasked with taking on the likes of Audi Q8 e-Tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC, Kia has now released images of what the final production EV9 electric SUV will look like inside and out. The good news is that it follows the bold design of the concept car that was revealed over two years ago.
The Kia EV9 is set to be based around a 800V electrical architecture allowing for a range of up to 336 miles and super-fast charging speeds. The seven-seater SUV will have huge interior space and a cabin that's packed with infotainment screens and premium-feeling materials. Keep reading for all the info.
Kia has now officially revealed the price of the EV9. Available to pre-order now, with deliveries expected in early 2024, prices starting at £64,995. This price is for the entry-level Kia EV9 Air model, with the Kia EV9 GT-Line prices starting from £72,495.
This is a followed by the new Kia EV9 GT-Line S, with prices starting from £75,995. Opt for the EV9 GT-Line S and you can also spec it as a six-seater instead of the seven-seat layout that other versions enjoy. This sees the middle bench that can accommodate three people replaced with two 'captain's chairs' that can swivel outwards up to 180 degrees. Prices for this version start at £78,745.
By contrast, the Audi Q8 e-tron is priced from £67,000 while the Mercedes-Benz EQC – which will be significantly smaller than the Kia EV9 – starts from just over £74,000.
The EV9 concept car made its debut at the LA motor show back in 2021 and we're now only getting to see what the final production car will look lke. The good news is that the car that will hit our roads later in 2023 maintains much of the striking elements of the concept car.
The confident boxy design of the production Kia EV9 follows the concept car, with boxed wheel arches housing large 21-inch wheels and the car’s concave bodywork emphasises their shape.
Compared to the sleek EV6, the Kia EV9 follows a much more traditional 4x4 SUV design and its imposing proportions are designed to appeal to anyone who's previously bought a German SUV. No surprise here really as Kia's new Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design Center Karim Habib previously worked at BMW.
Round the front and the blanked off grille is the most obvious giveaway that the Kia EV9 is electric powered – EVs don’t need a grille for cooling like a petrol or diesel – and on either side you’ll find some upright matrix LED headlights and some elaborate daytime running lights.
Pillar-less suicide rear doors of the EV9 concept car have been replaced by more traditionally hinged doors, but as you can see from the photos, they are very generous in their size. And for good reason as the Kia EV9 will be available as a six or seven seater and the large rear doors will help with access to the third row of seats.
Passengers sitting up front and on the second-row of seats will be able to simultaneously recline their seats (Kia says to relax and rest while the EV9 is charging), while the second row of seats can be rotated 180 degrees to face passengers sitting in the third row.
The bold design of the EV9's exterior carries through to the dashboard and central console design. Kia's resisted the urge to furnish the EV9 with a pair of huge infotainment screens, instead favouring dual 12.3-inch touchscreens and a 5-inch segment display. While Kia has looked to keep physical buttons to a minimum, the are still dedicated switches to set the climate control.
For now, the UK market will launch with a single 99.8kWh long-range battery, with the choice of rear or all-wheel drive (with two electric motors powering all four wheels) configurations.
Most buyers will probably opt for the rear-wheel drive variant with a single 201PS electric motor that provides an impressive official WLTP range of 336 miles and a 0-62mph acceleration in just 9.4 seconds.
Opt for the range-topping Kia EV9 all-wheel drive model and the dual motors produce a combined output of 385PS. This shifts the EV9 to 62mph in just 6 seconds, with the range only dropping a touch over the standard car to 308 miles.
Thanks to the ultra-fast 800-volt charging technology inside the Kia EV9, you can bump up the range by 149 miles in as little as 15 minutes, while it will charge from 10% to 80% in just 25 minutes.
Don't need six or seven seats but like the thought of owner a fast and capable EV? Then the Kia EV6 is a great used choice. One of our favourite electric cars, it delivers an excellent 300 mile plus range and packs a pretty decent performance to match. Prices start from from just over £40,000 for a car under a year old with less than 10,000 miles covered.
As well as the Dacia Spring Electric, there's also the electric Volvo EX30 to look forward to, while the new Dacia Spring is an all-electric budget EV. For all the latest news, check out our guide to all the best new cars of 2023.
The Kia EV9 is coming to the UK in the second half of 2023.
Prices for the Kia EV9 start from £74,995 for the entry-level version.
The new Kia EV9 will be available as both a 6 and 7 seater SUV.
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