Kia EV9 AWD GT-Line review

Kia has been rapidly expanding its EV range and the latest addition is arguably the most exciting of them all. The EV9 is a large three-row fully electric SUV. Beyond that at the end of the year we expect to see the EV5 join the range with the same design, but in a body smaller than the EV6. In fact the EV9 is going to set the tone for a number of upcoming Kia models, so it's really interesting to see if the company is headed in the right direction.

Table of Contents:

• Exterior
• Interior
• Storage & practicalities
• Driving experience
• Tech features
• Ride comfort
• Cabin noise
• Acceleration and braking
• Consumption
• Charging speed
• Competition
• Verdict

The test model we have is the EV9 99.8 kWh AWD GT-Line - the current flagship of Kia’s electric range. It has 283 kW (379 hp) output and a WLTP range of 318 miles, matching rapid acceleration with long time between charging stations while carrying up to 7 people on board. An even faster “GT” version will hit the streets in 2025, but at this point this is the most capable and most expensive EV9 you can get.

The Kia EV9 is the first model outside the premium brands to offer such a large EV, so it costs about half as much as the available alternatives. Today we will be examining the kind of compromises this comes with and see if the EV9 is a bargain or you are better off looking elsewhere.

Kia EV9 99.8kWh AWD 2023 -

• Dimensions: 197.4 inches x 78 inches x 70.1 inches, 122 inches wheelbase.
• Drivetrain tested: 99.8 kWh AWD - AWD 283 kW (379 hp), 443 lb-ft, 99.8 kWh total battery capacity
• Other drivetrains: 76.1kWh RWD - RWD, 160 kW (215 hp), 258 lb-ft, 76.1 kWh total battery capacity
• Charging: 235 kW CCS; 10-80% in 25 min.
• Range: 318 miles WLTP (280 miles EPA)
• Weight: 5,787 lb unladen; 7,033 lb gross
• Other features: V2L charging, rugged shape, passenger talk, OTA updates, three rows of seating.

Exterior

The Kia EV9 comes with a rugged design with multiple sharp edges and a boxy shape. It's a distinctive exterior for sure and while looks are a subjective matter it is certainly well liked among the ArenaEV team.

The body is also purposeful as the squared shape offers the most interior space possible for the size. In the photos the EV9 looks like a gigantic family hauler, but once we came up close we found out it's actually not that huge and about the same length as the new BMW 5-Series.

At the front, the EV9 has its own signature look with staggered running LED lights. In Europe we don’t get the cool built-in-the-bumper DRLs, which are a neat party trick. The EV9 looks like it has a massive LED bar connecting the headlights, but this is actually an aluminum bar for decorative purposes.

The GT-Line trim brings a more aggressive front bumper that incorporates the license plate holder, front camera and multiple sensors into one big housing. There are also cooling flaps for the battery and the A/C, which open when needed and close the rest of the time to improve aerodynamics and looks.

From the side, the EV9 looks like a low-resolution preview, waiting for the full image to download. The edges are clear; the general shape is simple and boxy. That makes for an instantly recognizable look, especially in the back with the rising window line, seen in many newer Kia models.

A bright color like the blue on our test car better showcases the lower bumpers around the vehicle. Those make the EV9 appear more rugged and can be more easily and cheaply replaced if damaged when you go off-roading (or, more likely, get dinged in a parking lot). These black panels span the entire vehicle to complete the rugged look without being overstyled.

The wheel covers are key to the design with their futuristic and rugged look. Their main job is to optimize airflow and reduce drag, helping the large EV9 squeeze a few more kilometers out of its battery. The 21-inch tires look adequate inside the monstrous wheel arches, meaning that if you choose the smaller and more economical 19-inch tires your EV9 will look somewhat cheapish.

Aerodynamic optimizations we aren't quite so excited about are the integrated door handles. In theory, they should pop out when you approach the vehicle and sit flush with the doors when you lock the car. In the short time we spent with the EV9 they failed a few times, refusing to open even when pressing the key, then refusing to close once we got going. It's a recurring theme in our reviews, but overcomplicating the simple process of accessing the vehicle is very rarely worth the minor improvement in the range.

The door handles pop out... whenever they feel like it.

Being a big, family-oriented vehicle, the EV9 GT-Line comes with roof racks, which can help further boost storage space, but mounting objects on the roof will seriously impact your range.

The EV9 sits high off the road with up to 7.8 inches of ground clearance, making it very capable of going over obstacles. We'll examine its off-roading capabilities in more detail later in the review.

The rear of the Kia EV9 maintains the rugged style, with the most distinctive part being the tail lights. They share the staggered design of the headlights, somewhat resembling a tree branch.

There is a giant void between the rear window and the end of the trunk, where a bigger Kia logo might've fitted more appropriately. Right now it looks like there's something missing on the back of the EV9, especially with the model designations being very small and on the very corners of the trunk door.

Since the trunk opening dominates the rear anyway, it would've been nice to have a secondary opening, where only the upper rear glass opens. Alas you need to open the entire massive thing even if you need to take out or leave very small items.

Interior

The inside of the EV9 features many big pockets and great build quality. The materials, especially for the price point, are solid and delightful. Of course, there are a few exceptions, but nothing sticks out as awful, which is commendable.

The funky design features a series of cool touches like the pedals that have "+" and "-" engraved for acceleration and brakes. The aluminum-looking covers of the optional "Meridian" sound system look properly premium.

The doors up front have the seat controls, which in the GT-Line include heating and cooling for all seats and massage for the driver. The heated steering wheel button is also here. The materials for all the controls could've used higher-quality materials, but the rest of door surfaces are fine and soft to the touch. We found the door pocket a bit narrow, though, and it can fit only a small bottle of water.

The steering wheel won't be everyone's cup of tea with its two giant spokes and holes in the middle, but it feels great in your hands. There are two unusual buttons in the lower part under the airbag, which control the drive mode and the terrain. They don't really change much, but it's neat to have them in that place where they're easily accessible at all times. You also get a programmable button, which you can customize via the main screen to activate any feature you want.

Sprouting from the steering column are the blinker and wiper stalks, as well as the gear lever. The latter is also present on many other Kia and Hyundai models, but here it also incorporates the start button. Sadly that's in the most inconvenient place, at the very bottom of the stalk. The start button stays out of vision when you sit on the driver's seat, while the gear tree is confusing with its arrangement where D is up and R is down, differing from virtually every other automatic on the planet.

Behind the steering wheel is the digital gauge cluster. You can swipe between a few different themes, but that only changes the readouts in the center part of the giant screen with the rest staying always the same. This means the 12.3-inch screen isn't much more useful than a few analogue dials.

You get only one outlook of the gauge cluster in the EV9.

A great benefit of the GT-Line is that it comes with a head-up display, which is clear and crisp, with great resolution and a lot of data. It cannot be customized at all, though.

Between the gauge cluster and the infotainment display, sits a neat control unit dedicated to the climate controls. It has multiple shortcuts for various climate settings, yet the most obvious one is missing - temperature control. You do get physical buttons for that in the dashboard, so we won't be taking any points away here.

The 12.3" infotainment touchscreen display is familiar from a variety of other Kia and Hyundai models. It works fine, with some input lag, but nothing too bothersome. The interface is easy to understand and user-friendly with big buttons and logical menu layout.

Below the screen is a huge trim panel that looks decorative until you notice the integrated touch-sensitive buttons, which control frequently used multimedia shortcuts. You get a second star button as well that can be programmed to do anything, just like the one on the steering wheel.

Directly below that bar are the climate vents, which are well integrated into the overall design of the interior. The central point of the dashboard is a scroll button, which turns on/off the multimedia, and also controls the volume.

Moving further down, slightly above the floor are a set of USB-C chargers, which work for charging and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wireless is also available, mind). There is also a hidden cigarette lighter-style outlet. Directly below them is a big storage area, where that can fit large objects like laptops or purses.

The center console is huge, but sadly Kia cheaped out on its materials, its plastic feeling a bit too hard. Thankfully, it's built well and offers a lot of flexibility. You get two big retractable cup holders and a row of buttons. One of them is a fingerprint scanner, which lets you restore your settings instantly after someone else has driven your car. You also get hill climb and descent assist buttons here. The armrest hides a small storage area and a wireless phone charger, which actually works well even if you have CarPlay on.

The center console is quite useful, although cheap-feeling.

The roof and pillars in the GT-Line are covered in black Alcantara, which looks and feels amazing and truly upmarket. You also get two sunroofs and the front one opens. Interestingly, the light control panel comes with four blank buttons that do nothing.

The seats in the EV9 are incredibly comfortable with soft centers and thick bolsters. There are multiple adjustment levels for the front seats, but the most impressive is definitely the relax position, which unfolds the seat into an almost bed-like position, allowing you to comfortably relax while waiting inside your vehicle.

The front seats almost retract to a bed.

If we had to describe the interior of the EV9 in a single word, it would be "spacious". No matter how big of a human being sits inside, they'll always feel comfortable. This even applies for the second row, where three adults can comfortably sit next to each other even for longer drives. Our reviewer is 1.95 m (6'4") tall and fits with plenty of room left. There is even a position that tilts the seat back, but it's actually not that comfortable to use for a long time.

The rear seats are spacious and comfy!

The heated and cooled seats boost the rear passengers' comfort, yet the climate control is a single zone for both the second and third row passengers. The window blinds protect very well from the sun.

The rear passengers enjoy some great luxuries!

A great touch that only premium luxury vehicles up until recently had are the buttons on the side of the front passenger seat, which allow the rear passengers control over that seat. This means that if you need more space in back and there is no one up front you can get the seat out of the way without needing to stop the car.

The EV9 can be optioned with either six or seven seats, where the six-seater gets captain chairs for the second row, allowing even greater comfort. It also makes moving between the rows easier, not that it's hard in the other version. The seat's back folds at the touch of a button and another button unhinges its bottom so you can just push it forward. This process is easy and quick, opening enough room for the third-row passengers to get in.

With the push of two buttons the whole seat unhinges as it is and moves forward for easy access.

The third-row passengers will not feel like being punished either, like in many other three-row SUVs. Headroom is plentiful, while legroom is tolerable. You can push the middle seats forward to create more space, but this doesn't mean that the second row becomes cramped in any way.

Storage & practicalities

Storage on the EV9 is among the very best in the entire automotive industry. Even with all three rows of seating up the main trunk offers 11.1 ft³ of cargo space, which should be enough for daily usage or a short trip with multiple passengers. You also get three different electrical outlets, so that you're never left wanting when you need to charge your devices.

Wide opening and 3 outlets welcome you in the trunk

Once the third row is folded, you are looking at north of 35 ft³ of storage space. The EV9 is among the best options in the segment and truly a useful companion if you plan on carrying bigger objects frequently.

The trunk cover is placed right behind the second row, making it incredibly hard to reach or take it out of the trunk. Moreover, the procedure of moving the cover is bizarre and cumbersome. You need to open two flaps on each end of the main trunk, after that fold one end of the cover bar. Then you have to gently and carefully move the bar close to most trunk panels, otherwise it will get stuck. You can see the whole cumbersome procedure in the video below.

Folding the third and second row opens up enough room to place a mattress and two people can comfortably sleep inside. With a size of 84.8 ft³ the maximum storage space is gigantic and due to the boxy shape of the EV9 it can be fully utilized. Folding all the seats from the trunk is as easy as it comes with the press of a button, but you have to unfold the second row manually when you it need it again.

Having a frunk (front trunk) is a great added benefit of EV’s in general and the EV9 has one. Its capacity of 1.84 ft³ is not huge, but still enough to fit the charging cables and a few other items.

Driving experience

Driving the EV9 is not what we'd call fun, but it is certainly easy and relaxing. The car feels safe and planted even at high speeds and sparks more confidence than the Mercedes EQS SUV we recently reviewed in the corners. There's still enormous amounts of lean and body roll, mind. The steering wheel gives little to no feedback from the road surface, either, but when turning at speeds the wheels follow the corner predictably.

The suspension is bouncy, which can be a drawback in certain situations, but most of the time that results in an easy and stress-free driving experience, which will be appreciated by most families. As a passenger you feel comfy and disconnected from the road, letting you enjoy the amenities of the interior and spend more quality time with whoever else is in the car.

There are a few different drive modes, but they hardly change anything. "Sport" makes the accelerator faster to respond, while the other modes make acceleration smoother and less responsive. The suspension is not adaptive, which means the EV9 always handles the same way. It is dialed for comfort no matter the terrain.

Circling back to offroading, we should note that the rugged design suggests a potent vehicle out of the streets, but that is only partially true. With four-wheel-drive, high ground clearance and great approach and departure angles, the EV9 can handle some mountaineering, but it's a far cry from the EQS SUV's capabilities, let alone a true off-roader like the Wrangler or a G-Wagon. You can still turn traction control off on the EV9 and the terrain mode helps you adjust the power delivery for each surface.

On regular roads we appreciate that the EV9's driver aids aren't as invasive as like some other Hyundai/Kia models we’ve tested recently. The lane keep assist and attention assist are not as obnoxiously dialed, which makes using them actually pleasant, rather than always wanting to turn them off. An assistant that doesn’t really work well is the cruise control. It turns off as soon as you get to a hill or a corner, which is simply unacceptable. We aren’t even talking about steep hills or narrow corners, but a three-lane highway.

Tech features

The EV9 is no technological leader, yet it offers plentiful features for a modern feel inside. Its infotainment is largely identical to what we saw on the new Kona Electric, which we recently reviewed. A novelty in the EV9 is the “Passenger talk”, which allows passengers from the front row to easily speak to the third row, without having to shout by using the microphone and speakers inside the vehicle.

The overall infotainment layout is simple with a main menu with a few shortcuts and the rest of the settings follow from there. The map and navigation are easy to use and when you enter a destination the vehicle calculates when, where and for how long to charge for the quickest drive.

You have the option to use the built-in mic for voice memos, so if you have a brilliant thought you don’t want to forget you can always record yourself and listen to it later.

When you’re tired and don’t want to listen to music, you can play “Sounds of nature”, which are prerecorded natural sounds, aiming to relax and distract you from your everyday life.

“Quiet mode” is a fantastic solution for parents, whose children sleep in the back seats. It turns off the rear speakers and plays music only up front.

If you have an internet connection, you can check what the weather will be outside, or wherever you’re headed to. Furthermore, you can check sports results and upcoming sports events and even check the tables and rankings, which is neat and handy for every sportsfan.

Checking how your favorite team performs while driving? Why not?

The rear-view mirror has a switch that lets you also look at camera footage. This eliminates all obstacles in the interior and gives a clear view, but the camera image is sadly too zoomed-in and gives a false depth perception of where objects actually are.

The rear-view camera-mirror is a neat addition, but may trick you for the actual distances.

Ride comfort

The ride is soft and cushy with no adaptive dampers, so you have to like it as it is. Actually, these ride settings fit the EV9 masterfully, as it isn’t too soft that it wobbles you around, but subtle enough for a relaxing commute. Small bumps and potholes are hardly ever felt inside, while bigger ones feel crashy at first and are then smoothed out. Even really bad road surfaces like we have in Bulgaria are absolutely no obstacle for the potent EV9.

Cabin noise

The noise inside the Kia EV9 is kept to the minimum. It is quiet inside at any speed and you hear very little wind and tire noise. The results in our test are very close to the similarly-sized Mercedes EQS SUV, but that vehicle costs twice as much as the EV9, making the Korean’s result even more impressive.

Sound level tests are carried out with a specialized sound level meter placed in the car's cupholders. The test is conducted with air conditioning and radio off and while maintaining a steady speed.

Acceleration and braking

The Kia EV9 doesn’t have a full-on GT variant yet, so the 99.8 kWh AWD variant we tested is the quickest version for now. It has an advertised 0 - 62 mph time of 6 seconds, which it absolutely demolished, reaching the target a whole second faster. Even though it is a gigantic vehicle with boxy styling and only okay power by today’s standards, the EV9 accelerates excellently at speeds up to around 75 mph.

In contrast, braking is a painful topic for the big and heavy vehicles like the Kia EV9. A vehicle that weighs 5,787 lb unsurprisingly needed 41 m (134’6”) to stop from 62 mph. This is a somewhat poor performance, yet we commend the EV9 that even after five consecutive break tests it kept its performance consistent unlike many rivals, which quickly overheat their brakes.

Acceleration and deceleration are measured with a RaceBox device inside the car. Testing is done with a single person inside the car, with air conditioning and traction control off.

Consumption

The Kia EV9 is big, heavy and shaped like a brick wall, which unsurprisingly leads to high energy consumption. In fact, at high speeds is the least efficient vehicle we’ve tested so far. Obviously it's also the largest and most practical, so it was to be expected.

The lower trims with a smaller tire size, no roof racks and only rear-wheel drive will perform better in terms of consumption, but don't expect miracles. To see our in-depth thoughts on the EV9’s consumption check out our detailed range test article.

We measure consumption by driving at constant speeds on an identical test route during the day. Testing is conducted with air conditioning, all safety systems and radio on. The data comes from the vehicle's board computer. Specific testing parameters such as ambient temperature are mentioned in the text on a case by case basis.

We now suggest you use the widget below to find out the Kia EV9's range in every combination of speed and temperature you might need. We've used our real world tests and a complex model to provide an estimate that should be as close to the actual performance as possible.

Charging speed

The EV9 charges at up to 235 kW, which is enough for a 10-80% charge in just 25 minutes, despite the big battery. A great advantage of the EV9 is that it can be used as an outlet to power your electrical devices when you’re at a job site or somewhere out camping.

Competition

Kia EV9 has no direct competitors yet, especially if it's on the edge of your budget. However the fact that it has no major compromises will definitely make buyers consider it even if their budget is higher.

The first competitor of the EV9 is the Tesla Model X, which in its LR+ variant costs more than the EV9 AWD GT-Line, but it also offers quicker acceleration, more advanced infotainment and much higher efficiency. The developed dealer network, great styling, better materials and more traditional interior are certainly on Kia’s side, especially if you don’t need the latest and greatest in terms of technology, but prefer to be coshered around with multiple creature comforts.

The second rival is the Rivian R1S. Once again it costs more than the EV9, but offers similar rugged exterior, great off-road capabilities and fantastic infotainment. The Kia has a stronger brand name and is available worldwide, while the Rivian is a US-only affair.

Tesla Model X Standard Range 2023 - • Rivian R1S Dual Motor Standard Pack (2024) 2024 -

Verdict

The Kia EV9 plays in a league of its own, but has the potential to boss the space even when competition arrives. It is a great vehicle that does exactly what it’s supposed to by being a reliable travel companion that offers a lot of comfort. So far its only competitors are much more expensive or non-existent, which is the reason why the EV9 sells so well. The EV9 99.8 kWh AWD GT-Line offers a lot for the money and involves no major compromises compared to its pricier rivals.

It keeps up with traffic and even allows for fun off-road. It uses a lot power, but has an ample battery and quick charging. It's far from the most spirited ride, but offers a lot of comfort. The EV9’s strongest point is that it is just good in every category, even if it's not going to top any of them.

Choosing the Kia EV9 is a smart decision, for anyone looking for a big practical vehicle with distinct styling and many creature comforts.

Pros

• Great packaging for the size.
• Spacious second and third row of seating.
• Great sound insolation of the cabin.
• Lots of storage space and storage pockets.
• Variety of tech features.
• Luxurious touches and innovative comfort features.
• Soft and stable ride.
• Quicker than advertised.
• Fast charging.

Cons

• Not as capable off-road as it looks.
• Gauge cluster cannot be customized and lacks important readouts.
• High consumption.
• Door handles are unreliable.