Back for the 2020 mannequin 12 months, Kia launched a automobile that may rewrite the way forward for the model when giving the world the Telluride three-row SUV. Quickly turning into essentially the most sought-after automobile within the lineup, the Telluride was to middle-class Americans then what the Stanley Cup is now: a standing image.

Fast-forward to the 2024 mannequin 12 months and the model hopes to redefine the notion of Kia as soon as extra with the “electric Telluride” on this 2024 Kia EV9. With the boxy styling and related exterior proportions and dimensions to the favored gas-powered Telluride, the EV9 takes full benefit of the advantages of an EV platform. With a wheelbase that’s practically eight inches longer than the Telluride, the EV9 makes a greater chauffeur automobile with extra second-row legroom than the popular Cadillac Escalade. It additionally doesn’t harm that the second-row seats of the EV9 have power-extending leg helps.

The added wheelbase additionally permits engineers the liberty of a bigger battery pack versus different EVs constructed on the Electric-Global Modular platform (E-GMP) like the Kia EV6, with battery sizes starting from the usual 76.1 kWh battery within the base Light trim to the 99.8 kWh battery provided in long-range and efficiency fashions.

For this First Drive, I drove the 2024 Kia EV9 for about 90 miles on a Kia-sponsored occasion, and didn’t cost the automobile. TopSpeed may have an prolonged two-week take a look at and assessment later in 2024. For detailed perception into testing procedures and knowledge assortment, please assessment our methodology policy.

2024 Kia EV9 GT-Line First Impressions: Getting Time Behind the Wheel

Kia invited me to Napa Valley to expertise a top-of-the-line and loaded GT-Line mannequin on a roughly 90-mile loop by way of northern California. The first problem with many trendy EVs is studying how one can flip them on. Brands like Chevrolet and Volkswagen simply need you to take a seat inside and press the brake. Starting the EV9 is completed by urgent the brake pedal and a automobile energy button situated on the column-mounted drive selector. A fast twist ahead of the top of the drive selector engages drive; reverse is a twist backward.

Being a contemporary EV means regenerative braking and a common must press the accelerator to have interaction the automobile into movement to beat the friction of the regenerative system. As with different Hyundai/Kia/Genesis EV merchandise, the EV9’s regenerative braking is managed with paddles on the again of the steering wheel. Ramping up by way of the degrees is finished by way of the left paddle, with degree 4 being full one-pedal driving. The proper paddle lowers the regen all the way down to nothing, permitting for coasting skills very similar to a gas-powered automobile.

Curiously, there was no “Auto” mode like what’s discovered in Genesis EVs, which makes use of radar-adaptive cruise sensors to observe the encompassing visitors to regulate regeneration based mostly on proximity to the automobile forward. Regen is on par with different E-GMP merchandise and could be mastered in just some minutes of stop-and-go visitors, although I opted to go away regen off for almost all of my time behind the wheel.

Best Features Of The KIA EV9

• Usable house in all three rows
• Modern, up to date expertise
• Great visibility due to the boxy design
• The most reasonably priced 3-row EV available on the market
• Unique storage choices all through
• Smooth, quiet journey

The EV9 Is Quick For A Big, Heavy SUV

Power supply from the GT-Line’s twin electrical motor AWD system was easy and fast. The calibration of the accelerator pedal adjusts relying on the chosen drive mode: Normal, Eco, Sport, Snow, and My Mode. Driving round in Normal remains to be loads fast, however to attain Kia’s claimed 4.5 second 0-60 time, Sport is the way in which to go. Giving essentially the most energy and adjusting the lumbar and bolsters within the driver’s seat, Sport unleashes all 516 LB-FT of torque practically instantaneously.

Plenty of energy obtainable proper when it’s wanted

Real-world driving interprets these numbers into loads of energy obtainable proper when it’s wanted to shortly go slower visitors or to simply merge onto freeways. The EV9 hides its heft nicely with its fast acceleration. Off-the-line acceleration is the place the EV9 feels the quickest. While it doesn’t ever really feel sluggish, passing energy simply felt ample.

Performance Specifications

Piloting the automobile, there isn’t any denying the physics of simply how a lot mass the EV9 is carrying: The battery alone is half the load of a Mazda Miata. Thanks to that mass of batteries sitting beneath the cabin and the stretched wheelbase, the EV9 does journey like a a lot bigger automobile over tough or uneven pavement. The low middle of gravity additionally minimizes however doesn’t get rid of physique roll in corners.

The journey is calm and compliant. If something, engineers made it nearly too smooth over bumps, giving it a floatier journey. Not 2000s Cadillac floaty, however not EV6 GT firm both. I drove over a whole lot of windy roads up and down by way of elevation and by no means felt carsick (or seasick) in my time behind the wheel or whereas using within the entrance passenger seat. The journey can be surprisingly quiet on the within, typically devoid of wind noise, which is a feat engineers confessed is troublesome in EVs as a result of lack of a loud engine below the hood.

The Interior Is Nice, And The Experience Is Recognizably Kia

The EV9’s steering wheel, which is wrapped in Kia’s Syn-Tex vegan leather-based substitute and properly padded on par with some luxurious manufacturers, communicates nicely. Steering is neither too mild nor too heavy, making the EV9 simply as straightforward to drive down a windy highway as it’s maneuvering the college pickup line or Target parking zone. Hiding behind the wheel are two 12.3-inch digital shows serving as the driving force data display and the automobile’s central infotainment hub.

The graphics have been up to date from earlier Kia fashions, however the total consumer expertise is much like what Kia has provided for years (although they’re now providing wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a primary for the model). Separating the 2 massive screens is a smaller, 5.0-inch local weather show that solves the issue of the dual-function HVAC/Infotainment display first launched within the EV6 and different Kia models like the Sportage, Sorento, and Telluride fashions.

Information just like the fan pace, vent place, and dual-zone temperature readings are displayed properly on the display although it’s partially obscured by the steering wheel. The important HVAC controls are situated as bodily buttons beneath the infotainment display and are fast and simple to regulate.

Visibility And Comfort Are Strong Suits For The EV9

Other sightlines are good all through the automobile. Thanks to the boxy design, engineers have been capable of make the home windows massive and expansive. Even the third-row seat passengers get a very good view out of the EV9. From the driving force’s seat, this interprets into figuring out the place visitors is always, and when a automobile remains to be too onerous to see, Kia makes use of their mirror-mounted blind spot cameras to show a transparent view of both aspect of the automobile proper within the line of sight for the driving force.

The Rearview Camera Is Good, But Can Get Dirty

Another technological advance that aids in visibility is the rearview digital camera mirror. Giving a transparent picture on the assessment mirror of what’s behind the automobile, sans headrests, seats, passengers, or cargo. The solely draw back is the position of the digital camera outdoors of the automobile. While rivals within the SUV house like the brand new Toyota Grand Highlander disguise the digital camera contained in the rear glass, Kia leaves the EV9’s uncovered to the highway grime that may accumulate in antagonistic and moist driving situations with none option to clear the digital camera from the driving force’s seat.

Seats Are Very Smart, And Very Firm

Seat consolation is superb. The GT-Line makes use of Kia’s ERGO Motion perform to reduce driver fatigue on lengthy journeys, with a default setting to have interaction decrease again posture management after half-hour of driving. This might very nicely be a startling incidence if surprising because it feels as if the lumbar assist is making an attempt to empty the driving force’s seat of its occupant. Otherwise, between the 10-way energy changes, four-way lumbar controls, and adaptive bolsters, there’s a seating place for almost any physique form and dimension. Thanks to 2 particular person reminiscence, which additionally consists of the place of the skin mirrors, energy tilt/telescope steering wheel, and Head-Up show, it’s straightforward to maintain most popular settings.

Kia EV9 Cargo Capacity

Range and Pricing

EPA-estimated vary varies from a most 308 miles within the big-battery RWD mannequin to 280 miles in AWD fashions carr; whereas the highest trim GT-Line solely sacrifices 10 miles of vary for its additional efficiency. Base mannequin Light trims with RWD squeeze 230 miles out of the smallest 76.1 kWh battery. Charging is fast, although we by no means wanted to in our time with the automobiles. Kia claims 100 miles of vary could be added in simply 10 minutes when linked to a DC fast-charger, or 10-80% cost in simply 24 minutes.

This is made potential by the model’s 800 volt electrical structure, which permits for extremely quick charging at a 350 kW DC quick charger. If including vary means an even bigger battery and extra weight, Kia has the best plan to concentrate on lowering total cost instances. If you may’t go far, cost shortly. Through my time within the EV9, we did see a consumption swing between 2.7 miles per kilowatt and three.1 miles per kilowatt, making this a comparatively environment friendly EV, much more spectacular by the EV9’s boxy form.

How The Kia EV9 Compares To Its Competitors

Pricing for RWD Light fashions picks up the place Telluride costs depart off, beginning at $55,900. Our loaded GT-Line tester stickered for an MSRP of $78,430, which is a tricky capsule to swallow for a Korean automobile not carrying the Genesis wings. In my time in California, Kia made many references to the Telluride punching above its worth class and the way it’s cross-shopped in opposition to manufacturers like Range Rover. This EV9 Kia is now enjoying in luxurious automobile territory.

While I do know a majority of the fee is attributed to the battery, I’m not satisfied that the ten totally different recycled plastics and supplies used all through the cabin translate into essentially the most premium expertise all through. It is obvious the EV9 stands on the shoulders of the Telluride, however sadly, so does the pricing. I do foresee these promoting nicely as the primary mainstream three-row EV; nonetheless, I’m not certain the model will probably be transferring as many GT-Line fashions attributable to its practically $80,000 price ticket.

How The Kia EV9 Compares To The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

• 	2024 Kia EV9 GT-Line	2024 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4MATIC SUV
  Model	EV9 GT-Line	EQS 580 4MATIC SUV
  Engine	Dual Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor	Dual Permanently Excited Synchronous (PSM) Electric Motors
  Transmission	DIrect Drive	SIngle Speed Direct Drive
  Horsepower	379 @ 4,000-7,800 RPM	536
  Torque	516 LB-FT @ 0-3,800 RPM	633
  Driveline	Dual Motor / AWD	Dual Motor / AWD
  Range	270 Miles	285 Miles
  MSRP	$73,900	$125,950
  MSRP (As Tested)	$78,430	$148,490
  Fuel Economy	80 eMPG Combined	77 eMPG (Combined)
  Charge Time	AC 8.75 hours to 100%, DC 24 minutes 10-80%	AC 0-100% 12.5 hours, DC 10-80% in 31 minutes
  Towing Capacity	1,653 Pounds	3,500 Pounds
  0-60 MPH	5.0 Seconds	4.5 Seconds

There are solely two different massive, three-row EVs available on the market proper now that examine to the EV9: The Rivian R1S and the Mercedes EQS SUV, which Kia was proud to announce they in contrast favorably in direction of. Having hung out within the Mercedes, I can say that Kia is in superb firm. EVs make distinctive luxurious automobiles due to their easy, easy energy, low middle of gravity, and lengthy wheelbase. Both the EQS and EV9 journey like bigger automobiles than they’re due to the massive batteries that relaxation beneath the cabin, nonetheless, the Mercedes EQS SUV packs bigger batteries throughout the board, with higher acceleration instances, and a model title extra synonymous with luxurious and a better price ticket.

The EQS begins at an eye-watering $104,400 for the “base” EQS 450+ SUV variant that packs a 0-60 acceleration time of 6.5 seconds and an EPA-estimated vary of 305 miles from its 108.4 kWh battery. EQS 450 4MATIC SUV fashions get all-wheel drive and the identical battery however dash to 60 miles per hour in a scant 5.8 seconds for a beginning worth of $107,400 whereas solely sacrificing 20 miles of electrical vary for the AWD traction.

Top spec EQS 580 4MATIC fashions rip to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds whereas nonetheless sustaining the 285 miles of EV vary of the 450 4MATIC mannequin. Kia claims a software program buy and over-the-air replace will unlock 4.5 second 0-60 runs within the GT-Line and Land trims.

Inside, the EQS SUV feels futuristic and space-age with its non-obligatory MBUX Hyperscreen which contains three separate screens below one steady 56-inch layer of glass. The twin 12.3-inch screens within the EV9 really feel extra in keeping with trendy choices and make the Kia really feel extra approachable. Also making the Kia extra approachable is the usability of the third row of seats. I rode lower than 5 miles within the again seat of the EQS SUV and that was about all my 5’10” body might deal with. The EV9 takes a lesson from the Telluride and ensures passengers are snug irrespective of the place they sit.

Does The Kia EV9 Have What It Takes?

Does the EV9 have what it takes to rewrite Kia’s model notion for the second time in half a decade? Who is aware of, with Stanley tumblers cresting the $50 worth level, possibly the world is prepared for a dearer electrical Telluride sibling.