Kia EV9 2023 (2023 - )

Kia is all set to shake up the EV market with the launch of its flagship EV9 which is a full-sized six or seven seater SUV that’s packed with technology and boasts imposing styling that simply cannot be ignored. 

It’s not cheap with prices starting from £64,995 for the EV9 Air, rising to £73,245 for the GT-Line specification and £75,995 for the GT-Line S model, but there is whole lot of car for that outlay.

The EV9 Air is rear-wheel drive only and offers a driving range between charges of up to 349 miles, while the higher trims both feature all-wheel drive with a range of 313 miles, under WLTP testing.

With three rows of seating, there is room for seven occupants, but the GT-Line S is offered with six seats as an option for £1k more. This features just two second row seats that can be turned out towards the doors which makes it easy to access a child seat or swivelled a full 180 degrees to face the pair of seats in the back.

All three models have a 99.8kWh long-range battery pack with heat pump and with Kia’s 800V ultra-fast charging technology, the EV9 can get a 10 to 80 per cent boost in as little as 24 minutes when plugged into a 350kW high-powered charger.

We tested the range-topping EV9 GT-Line S seven-seater on a stunning road route in the Scottish Highlands to see how such a substantial vehicle coped with narrow roads and the UK’s renowned pitted surfaces.

Drive along a motorway for a few miles and the number of vehicles that seem to have been created from a single mould is so evident these days. Where has all the character gone from the design teams?

Well, fast forward to the all-new Kia EV9 and suddenly we get a model with truly individual styling that’s both eye-catching and edgy. It makes a very bold statement with a blocked-off front end leading into the slim L-shaped signature lights. The door handles are flush to the body and there are roof rails, privacy glass, GT-Line exterior styling featuring extra cladding, a squared-off rear end, sunroof, along with 21-inch alloy wheels to complete the look.

Move inside and the EV9 is clutter-free and high-end in its design and layout with top quality fixtures and fittings throughout. It oozes charm at every turn. 

Standard equipment across the EV9 line-up is generous with a three-screen layout featuring a 12.3-inch driver display, 5.3-inch climate control touchscreen (with proper physical switches to adjust the temperature) and a 12.3-inch touchscreen navigation system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Our range-topping GT-Line S test car featured a head-up display, 14-speaker Meridian premium sound system, ambient lighting, Bluetooth with voice recognition, a digital key, fingerprint recognition and lots more besides.

The powered seats could be heated or ventilated and there is a massage setting for the driver. The steering wheel can be warmed against the chill  while second row passengers also benefit from heated or cooled seats too.

Special mention to the sustainability policy adopted in the creation of the EV9 too. Every model has 70 recycled bottles, the cabin floor and carpets are created from recycled PET and fishing nets, plus the use of Bio PU upholstery and interior coverings has phased out any leather from the EV9. 

The entry-level Kia EV9 Air with rear-wheel drive delivers 200bhp and 350Nm of torque for a 0-62mph sprint time of 9.4 seconds and top speed of 114mph. But the higher GT-Line and GT-Line S versions with AWD really up the ante with 378bhp and a whopping 700Nm of torque. This sees a 0-62mph time of just 5.3 seconds and maximum speed of 124mph – not bad for a vehicle weighing in at 2.6 tonnes. 

The acceleration through the single-speed automatic transmission is blisteringly quick and the power is relentless making light work of overtaking slower-moving vehicles.

The EV9 is balanced and boasts excellent grip levels, but the really surprising factor is its agility. Despite its hefty size and weight, the vehicle effortlessly fizzed through narrow, twisting lanes with nicely weighted steering proving another plus-point. It’s a car that fills you with confidence and at no point did it feel like you were driving a larger-than-life SUV.

The ride is exceptionally good with minimal body sway and the highly-effective suspension set-up smooths out the roughest of road surfaces. There is a little wind noise from the large door mirrors at higher speeds, but otherwise the cabin is well insulated for a refined experience.

The EV9 cruises effortlessly on faster dual carriageways and the decent driver visibility, along with every parking aid imaginable, make squeezing into a tight space that much easier. One pedal driving is achievable too with four regenerative braking settings that are adjusted via the steering wheel paddles.

As you switch through the drive modes called Eco, Normal, Sport and My Drive, the throttle reaction becomes noticeably sharper and there are also off-road settings called Snow, Mud and Sand when faced with more challenging terrain.

There’s no denying the strong road presence of the mighty EV9 that stretches 5,015mm in length, is 1,980mm across and 1,780mm tall with a wheelbase of 3,100mm.

Our GT-Line S test car had seating for seven with a trio of second row seats that were both roomy and comfortable. The 60:40 split-folding bench in row two slides on rails and the seats can quickly be folded forward at the touch of a button offering easy access to the two back seats.  

The EV9 GT-Line S model is also available with seating for six where the second row has two individual seats with space to walk between them. This makes it easier to get to the rear seats and the added bonus is they swivel at 90 degrees towards the wide-opening doors and in doing so, offer easy access to a child seat. Alternatively they can be turned a full 180 degrees to face the back seats. 

Three-zone climate control with rotating roof vents are a nice touch in rows two and three and, with all seats in an upright position, there is still 333 litres of storage space in the boot which is accessed via a powered tailgate. This capacity increases considerably with the 50:50 split-folding rear seats dropped completely flat and there is also a further 52 litres of storage space beneath the bonnet.

Throughout the cabin are numerous practical compartments, including a huge glovebox, wide door bins, a central cubby box, cup holders for all occupants, handy trays, seat back pockets, along with a large storage area between the front seats.

There are six USB ports (two in each row) along with a wireless charging pad up front, and second row passengers also benefit from window blinds.

The 99.8kWh battery can be boosted from 10 to 80 per cent in 1 hour, 23 minutes if using a 50kW charger or in just 24 minutes via a 350kW unit.

And with family breaks in mind, the Kia EV9 has a braked towing capacity of 2.5 tonnes with the added reassurance that AWD brings to the mix on the top two trim levels.

The Kia EV9 costs from £64,995 for the entry-level Air model and rises to £76,995 for the GT-Line S version with six seats. Our GT-Line S test car, with seven seats, was priced at £75,995.

With its 99.8kWh battery, all versions boast zero carbon emissions so owners benefit from a wealth of financial incentives as a result. For example, road tax is free and the vehicle is exempt from Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone fees. There is also no penalty for purchasing a model costing in excess of £40k which owners of traditionally-powered cars are subject to. Sadly, on the downside, the Government has announced these financial incentives will all be changing or withdrawn completely in 2025.

However, the EV9 boasts a very attractive Benefit in Kind tax rating of just two per cent for any company car drivers out there who need a large family vehicle, and it’s always worth reminding ourselves that Kia offers an outstanding fully-transferable warranty package of seven years or 100,000 miles.

With excellent driving range between charges of up to 349 miles (Air) and 313 miles on other models, charging the EV9 at home will likely be the most popular choice for owners who should be able to negotiate a rate with their energy supplier when tariffs are at their lowest.

Anyone claiming 20 years ago that Kia would be launching a seven-seat fully electric vehicle with a price-tag of £75,000 would have been sat down for a serious talking to. After all, Kia was a budget brand that delivered cars for the masses at a very reasonable price.

But the Korean carmaker has grown at a rapid rate over the last two decades and is now renowned for being a high-end manufacturer that builds exceptional vehicles. 

And the all-new EV9 is testament to that transition. It’s a fabulous SUV that offers the flexibility of seven seat occupancy, but doesn’t handle like a people mover at all.

It’s packed with the latest technology, drives incredibly well even on our poor quality British roads and has a very competitive price-tag when you look at potential rivals. 

The attention to detail is outstanding from comfort levels to on-board ergonomics. For example, even when you activate the front windscreen wipers, a notice appears explaining that occupants are being protected from the scent of the washer fluid.

But rather than resting on their laurels, Kia is busy preparing us for the EV5 SUV which was unveiled recently alongside two concept models. It’s certainly exciting times at Kia world right now.