By Sam Charlwood, carsales.com.au
The arrival of the bold, new Kia EV9 is a milestone for the electric car movement. For years, car makers have spent billions to stop customers asking why they should buy an EV, and instead simply own the best car to suit their needs regardless of whether it has batteries or a petrol tank.
And Kia may very well have done that with its second dedicated electric car, the EV9, which arrives in local showrooms as a bona fide, battery-powered SUV for the family crowd, with seven seats, loads of tech and a useable driving range.
Our first Australian drive highlights all of those attributes, while uncovering a few less redeeming traits.
How much does the Kia EV9 cost?
The 2023 Kia EV9 breaks new ground for the South Korean car maker, including its price tag.
Entry into the three-model range isn’t cheap, with a starting price of $97,000 plus on-roads for the base-level Air with a single motor and rear wheel drive.
The model walk then moves to the mid-level dual-motor/all-wheel drive Kia EV9 Earth – priced from $106,500 plus ORCs – before arriving at the flagship dual-motor/AWD Kia EV9 GT-Line, which will set buyers back $121,000 plus ORCs. This makes the EV9 the most expensive Kia model ever sold in Australia.
The Air and GT-Line will be available in dealerships from this month, while the mid-range Earth – widely expected to be the top seller – won’t come online until early 2024 due to production delays.
In due course, Kia will also unveil a high-performance GT flagship that’s slated for our shores later this year.
Large seven-seat battery-electric SUV rivals are thin on the ground, especially since the Tesla Model X was discontinued in 2020.
The $200K Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is probably the closest, even with its unmistakeable luxury bent and positioning, although you can get a smaller seven-seat EQB 350 for $106,155 plus ORCs.
Luxury family EVs such as the BMW iX (from $130,900) and Audi Q8 e-tron (from $153,900) are also in the frame, along with a variety of plug-in hybrid models, albeit often with only two rows.
Otherwise, the Kia EV9 pitches itself among some pretty esteemed combustion-engined rivals where pricing is concerned, aligning with vehicles like the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series (from $94,301) and the Land Rover Defender 130 (from $126,670).
Clearly, Kia isn’t messing about.
What equipment comes with the Kia EV9?
The 2023 Kia EV9 is loaded with standard kit, certainly befitting its premium positioning.
Standard equipment on the Air includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, LED daytime running lights and LED taillights, retractable door handles, a powered tailgate, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats and a vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging function.
The mid-level Earth adds niceties such as gloss black exterior highlights, ambient interior lighting, artificial leather seats, a 360-degree surround-view monitor, blind spot monitor in the instrument cluster and parking collision-avoidance assist (PCA) reversing system.
The top-tier GT-Line we’re testing here gets larger 21-inch alloy wheels, superior LED headlight technology, privacy glass, digital side mirrors, dual tilt and slide sunroof, artificial suede roof lining, two-tone artificial leather seats, a head-up display, 14-speaker Meridian sound system, digital rear-view mirror, heated and ventilated rear outboard seats and superior vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality.
The only option across the range is paint. Red Flare is standard, while the other eight colours in the EV9 palette will set buyers back $990.
All EV9 models are backed by Kia’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia. The battery is backed by a separate seven-year/150,000km term.
One lesser-known prospect is what will happen with resale values. Kia Australia says it is currently working on a guaranteed future value program that would alleviate buyer concerns, but for now a question mark remains (indeed for all EV manufacturers) about what happens once battery warranty has lapsed.
We asked Kia what a replacement EV9 battery (or alternatively replacement individual modules) would cost, but weren’t provided with a firm figure.
More assuring, though, is the servicing regime. The EV9 will cost owners $1351 to follow the prescribed maintenance schedule over five years/75,000km of ownership, based on 12-month/15,000km intervals.
How safe is the Kia EV9?
The Kia EV9 has yet to undergo a crash testing regime by ANCAP, and therefore does not have an independent safety score. But it is understood this will be forthcoming as it is currently evaluating vehicles.
In any case, the EV9 has a suite of airbags that offer protection across all three rows and a comprehensive suite of advanced driver aids, including autonomous emergency braking with junction crossing, lane oncoming and lane change side, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, lane follow assistance, traffic sign recognition, safe exit warning and safe exit assist and forward attention monitoring.
There’s also tyre pressure monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and an electronic parking brake.
As for child seats, the EV9 offers four ISOFIX attachment points – each located on the outboard seats of the second and third rows – as well as five top-tether strap points.
What is the Kia EV9 like inside?
If you think the Kia EV9 looks big from the outside, it’s even bigger from the inside.
First-rate technology, quality contact points, thoughtful design and loads of storage space – it feels very special indeed. Form follows function, too, with an open glasshouse design and a generous outward view from inside the cabin.
Front occupants are treated to cavernous open cubbies, space and amenity – partly a virtue of the gear shifter being located at the right-hand side of the steering column.
It’s also a vehicle that offers unprecedented tactility for a Kia, even down to the operation of the window switchgear. At this price point, you’ve clearly got to sweat the small stuff.
Proportions are strong, the synthetic seats are comfortable and supportive, and there are cup holders and charging points aplenty (officially 10 cup holders throughout the cabin, together with six USB-C ports and a 12-volt outlet).
In the second row, the EV9 almost mimics a Kia Carnival with its generous door apertures, open glasshouse and breadth of space. The flat floor and giant storage space under the centre console (which eats into front storage space) are both boons, as are the separate climate controls and charging points.
Access to the third row is made easy by one-touch slide and tilt buttons, together with a noteworthy walk-through space. Once back in the bleachers there is a surprising amount of knee-room, headroom, shoulder-room and even toe-room, suitable for a couple of adults on shorter journeys.
The EV9 offers decent boot space, too. With the third row laid flat, there’s a considerable 828 litres of cargo volume (big enough for a designer pram, or a couple of full-size suitcases), with 333L when the third row is upright and 2318L with the third and second rows laid flat.
Up front, Air variants offer 90 litres worth of frunk storage space under the bonnet rated to carry up to 40kg, while dual-motor Earth and GT-Line models offer a 52-litre/20kg rated space.
About the only exception to this practicality is the absence of a spare wheel of any kind; you have to make do with a tyre inflation kit.
What technology does the Kia EV9 feature?
The infotainment system in the 2023 Kia EV9 comprises two 12.3-inch screens divided by a separate 5.0-inch screen for climate controls. The main screen hosts sat nav, the audio system and a multitude of other car and convenience settings.
There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging and Kia Connect smartphone connectivity with over-the-air (OTA) software updates, which are free for the first seven years of ownership.
We found the infotainment a cinch to navigate, both in native menus and smartphone mirroring capacities. Similarly, an assortment of haptic switchgear, plus basic climate controls, make operation of simple functions on the move quite streamlined.
The one caveat is the 5.0-inch climate-control display positioned between the centre touchscreen and the digital instrument cluster. In something of an ergonomic blunder, from the driver’s seat it is almost completely blocked by the thick-rimmed steering wheel.
What powers the Kia EV9?
The EV9 has two different powertrain options depending on the model.
The entry-level Air anchors the line-up with a solitary rear electric motor producing 160kW and 350Nm from a 76.1kWh battery pack, delivering a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 8.2sec.
The EV9 Earth and EV9 GT-Line move to a superior 99.8kWh battery and dual-motor powertrain that drives all four wheels and produces 283kW and 700Nm.
The Earth claims a 0-100km/h time of 6.0sec, while a software upgrade in the GT-Line pares that time back to 5.3sec claimed.
Elsewhere, the Kia EV9 rides on MacPherson strut suspension with a double ball joint up front and a multi-link (five links) arrangement at the rear.
It also employs frequency selective damper technology already utilised in the smaller Kia EV6 mid-size SUV, as well as self-levelling suspension technology – all of which has been subject to extensive ride and handling tuning by Kia Australia’s engineers.
Dimensionally, the EV9 measures 5010mm long (GT-Line 5015), 1980mm wide, 1755mm high (GT-Line 1780mm) and rides on a wheelbase measuring 3100mm.
How far can the Kia EV9 go on a charge? In EV terms, the 2023 Kia EV9 offers a pretty useable range. The Air’s single-motor powertrain offers a WLTP-verified range of 443km, while the dual-motor Earth claims 512km and the GT-Line 505km – all in a mix of conditions.
Based on our first drive, we reckon those figures are pretty achievable. On a 250km road loop that included highway, urban driving and a mountain ascent, the Air was seemingly good for 400km while the GT-Line seemed willing to cover 450km on a single charge.
Kia says dual-motor variants will take nine hours to charge from 0-80 percent using a 7kW AC connection (Air: 7h), or as little as 24 minutes when hooked up to a 350kW DC fast-charger (Air: 20m).
Using the 50kW DC chargers that are most common in Australia, the EV9 takes 83min to replenish between 10-80 percent (Air: 63min).
The EV9 architecture is said to be compatible with both 400V and 800V charging, and also offers vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality to power small electric appliances remotely.
What is the Kia EV9 like to drive?
A couple of words spring to mind when describing the 2023 Kia EV9 on-road: polished and clinical.
In one sense, the EV9 belies its hefty proportions and 2.7-tonne kerb weight with graceful low-speed conveyance: the controls are light, while the accelerator pedal and brake pedal have been thoughtfully calibrated to a wide range of driving styles.
All told, there is undeniable civility with the way the EV9 tackles day-to-day situations.
The low-speed ride is impressive, especially on the GT-Line: no SUV approaching 3.0 tonnes has any right to ride this well on 21s.
Not surprisingly, the electric drivetrain is effortless in plying down the power, too, while the cabin is quiet and cossetted from what’s happening outside.
However – and this is a pretty big however – a massive caveat comes in the form of the EV9’s on-board safety systems. So, if you’re seriously considering one for purchase, do yourself a favour and test-drive a dealer demo around the block first.
Like other recent Hyundai, Genesis and Kia models seeking to comply with stricter 2023 ANCAP safety guidelines, the EV9 is beset with infuriating Forward Attention Monitoring software and speed sign recognition software which detracts massively from the driving experience.
Combined, both systems incessantly chime and interrupt the serenity. The forward attention monitoring software will sound even upon a cursory glance at the rear seat (to check children, for instance), while the speed sign software registers even if you exceed the signposted speed limit by 1km; furthermore, it doesn’t recognise school zones being inactive, so it will beep at you long after the home bell has rung.
We’re all for safety, but this tech is more of a hindrance than a help, isn’t practical and ultimately causes distraction. What’s more, you need to turn it off every time you start the vehicle – with no permanent off button.
From a ride and handling context, the EV9 nails the family-friendly brief with a controlled and composed demeanour around town.
These traits are highlighted with the four-stage regenerative brakes (conveniently accessed by steering wheel-mounted paddles) switched off, allowing the EV9 to breathe over the tarmac and escape that all-too-familiar EV sensation of the powertrain feeling bound up.
The EV9 changes direction confidently and offers meaningful feedback given the seven-seater brief.
In earnest, the lighter, rear-engine Air is the dynamic pick. It feels decidedly nippier over the nose and induces less body roll through corners than the dual-motor Earth or flagship GT-Line, the latter feeling comparatively undernourished in its front structural rigidity.
On more rugged surfaces, each EV9 model’s frequency selective dampers and self-levelling suspension technology work in concert to react quickly to pitter-patter bumps and drawn-out imperfections alike. Only after an extended section of patchwork surface will the EV9 occasionally deflect in the rear-end, but never disconcertingly so.
In any case, the sum of these parts is a vehicle that does its best work on the open road or in touring capacities.
Once you’ve moved past the oft-used party trick of nailing the accelerator from a standstill, the driveline lacks the character and charisma that ultimately helps define ownership of a $100K vehicle.
Instead, the EV9 has this tangible ability to slow down the driving experience; so much so, it often feels as though you’re travelling 20km/h slower than the speedo readout suggests.
It means the Kia EV9 excites purely for its offering of space, its collection of standard features and its fancy tech.
It’s nice to drive, but it is very clinical.
Can the Kia EV9 go off-road?
The 2023 Kia EV9 might look like it could bust through an apocalypse, but in reality this is not a genuine off-roader in the same vein as a Toyota LandCruiser or Nissan Patrol.
It does, however, have enough ground clearance (177mm) as well as three off-road modes (Snow, Mud and Sand) that tailor the electronics, and Hill Descent Control, that allows it comfortably tackle gentle undulating terrain and unsealed dirt roads.
How much can the Kia EV9 carry?
The 2023 Kia EV9 offers a braked towing capacity of only 900kg on the entry Air, moving up to 2500kg braked on dual-motor Earth and flagship GT-Line variants.
Meanwhile, payload ranges between 648kg (Air), 690kg (Earth) and 604kg (GT-Line).
Should I buy a Kia EV9?
If your next family SUV purchase is strictly going to be electric, then the 2023 Kia EV9 is arguably the new go-to option.
It’s impressively finished and refined, drives nicely (albeit clinically) and offers strong real-world range.
EV drivetrain aside, though, the big unknown is whether the Australian public is ready to fork out $100K on a Kia – at the same time overlooking traditional options like the LandCruiser 300 Series or the Land Rover Defender 130.
It’s a steep ask, no doubt. And a real moment of truth for the EV movement generally.
2023 Kia EV9 GT-Line at a glance:
Editor’s Rating: 8.2/10
| Price: $121,000 (plus on-road costs) |
Battery: 99.8kWh lithium-ion |
| Available: Now |
Range: 505km (WLTP) |
| Powertrain: Two asynchronous electric motors |
Energy Consumption: 22.8kWh/100km (WLTP) |
| Output: 283kW/700Nm |
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2023) |
| Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear |
Disclaimer: Images supplied by Kia Australia.
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