KIA EV9 offers a world of possibilities
IT is practically impossible not to get noticed in the new Kia EV9, such is the impact of its outstanding road presence.
Kia’s all-electric flagship model is only marginally smaller than a Range Rover, and it is underpinned by Kia’s E-GMP electric car architecture that is also used in the multi-award winning EV6.
Two versions of the EV9 are offered: a rear-driven (RWD), single motor SUV with 200bhp and 350Nm of torque, and a twin motor variant (AWD) with 380bhp and a whopping 700Nm of torque. In keeping with the EV6 model naming policy, the EV9 is available in Earth RWD (7-seat only) and GT-line AWD (6 or 7-seat) trim lines, with a WLTP driving range of up to 563km and 505km respectively.
The EV9 heralds the beginning of a bold new design era for the Korean manufacturer as it continues its push into the premium sphere.
The striking exterior design of the EV9 consists of sharp angles, a tall, upright stance, thin LED lights, and cladding around its lower edges to emphasise its rugged nature, while flush-fitting pop-out door handles greet you when you approach the car with the key in your possession.
The battery pack in the EV9 is made up of nickel-manganese-cobalt cells, and it is located under the floor of the cabin. With a usable capacity of 99.8kWh, the battery has 800V charging capability, and it can achieve a 10-80% DC rapid charge in as little as 24 minutes.
Alternatively, the EV9 can be charged via a domestic wallbox charger (10-100%) in just over 9 hours.
My EV9 GT-line review car attracted lots of admiration in its Ocean Blue metallic paint finish and stylish 21-inch wheels.
In addition to the comprehensive list of standard equipment in the entrylevel Earth model, upgrading to the GT-line version brings with it GT-line exterior styling, dark satin finish beltline, front sunroof with tilting & sliding function, fixed rear sunroof, LED headlights (small cube design with intelligent adaptive beams), artificial leather seat upholstery, black suede headlining, alloy floor pedals, Remote Smart Parking Assist 2.0, and Parking Collision-avoidance Assist 2.0, along with the no-cost option of having 2 swivel seats in row 2 (6-seats in total) or a 3-seat bench for a total of 7-seats. The EV9 accelerates in a confident and progressive manner, and the power is delivered with plenty of urgency.
In fact, it is possible to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 5.1-seconds – no mean feat for a vehicle tipping the scales at 2,600kg. Regenerative braking is accessed via paddles behind the steering wheel and, in its strongest setting, a one-pedal mode of operation is activated.
For a vehicle of its size, the EV9 is delightfully easy and relaxing to drive, and it has the kind of body control that prevents its considerable weight from getting in its way through sharp corners.
The handling is pleasingly predictable and the steering precise, and an array of on-road drive modes are joined by extra terrain modes for mud, sand and snow for more challenging road and weather conditions.
The roominess in the cabin is overwhelming, and the seatbacks fold flat to create a van-like cargo bay when required.
Even when all of the passenger seats are in the upright position, the boot offers a practical 333-litres of space.
This can be increased to 828-litres when the two rearmost seats are folded down, and rises to a huge 2,318-litres of space when the middle row seats are also folded. Additionally, the second-row seats fold manually, or tumble and fold forwards for access to the third row.
Two 12.3-inch displays dominate the wide, ultra-modern dashboard, with the screen in front of the steering wheel providing relevant driving information, and the central screen displays all of the infotainment functions.
The layout of the home screen is impressively simple, and there are haptic permanent shortcut buttons below it to skip directly to the menu required.
Situated between the two larger screens is a 5.3-inch climate control screen, and there are physical switches for temperature and fan speed functions which are easily visible on the dashboard.
A suite of advanced safety and driver assistance systems contributed to the EV9 achieving a top 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
The eye-catching new Kia EV9 offers buyers impressive space, outstanding pace, terrific versatility, family-friendly practicality and a 500km-plus range, so what’s not to like?
Kia’s comprehensive 7 year/150,000km comes as standard. The new EV9 Earth RWD is priced at €77,500 and the GT-line AWD version, as tested, is priced at €85,500.