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This is a three-row electrical SUV with a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain and a 4.5-second 0-100km/h declare.
And it’s a Kia.
And it’s priced at about $130,000 earlier than on-road prices.
So it occupies a really small hole available in the market, but when you may get previous all of that the Kia EV9 GT is a terrific automobile.
How a lot does the Kia EV9 price?
Here’s a rundown of your complete Kia EV9 vary, to supply context round the place the range-topping dual-motor performance-focused GT grade suits in.
|
Model |
Price earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
|
2026 Kia EV9 Air RWD |
$97,000 |
|
2026 Kia EV9 Earth AWD |
$106,500 |
|
2026 Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD |
$121,000 |
|
2026 Kia EV9 GT AWD |
$129,250 |
There aren’t many different three-row electrical automobiles in the marketplace, however some to think about embody the brand new Tesla Model Y L – which prices about $55,000 lower than this. Another smaller possibility could possibly be the Mercedes-Benz EQB.
Or you can take a look at the associated Hyundai Ioniq 9 massive SUV, or the Volkswagen ID. Buzz individuals mover, or possibly wait and see what China has up its sleeve within the type of electrified (however not absolutely electrical) seven-seat fashions over the subsequent 12-18 months, as a result of it seems to be prefer it’s going to get busy on this a part of the market.
To see how the Kia EV9 traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
What is the Kia EV9 like on the within?
I’ve pushed just a few variations of the Kia EV9 now and, truthfully, the cabin simply feels correctly thought-through.
Now, I’m not going to enter each single element once more as a result of loads of the basics carry over from the remainder of the vary, however there are some GT-specific touches right here.
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The lime-green highlights look terrific, with inexperienced stitching all through the seats and steering wheel. It may have come throughout a bit cheesy, however it feels particular and sporty.
The seats themselves? Exceptional.
They’re not super-soft lounge-chair fashion seats, however they’re brilliantly supportive. There’s a great deal of electrical adjustment on supply too, together with for the aspect bolstering and lumbar assist, and there are even seat controls for the passenger aspect accessible from the motive force’s seat.
Then there’s the therapeutic massage performance and, yep, it’s genuinely good. You can cycle by totally different therapeutic massage modes together with lumbar, pelvic and full-back settings, so long-distance drives are going to be comfortable.
There’s a GT button on the steering wheel, which immediately sharpens the entire expertise up. You may cycle by Eco, Normal and Sport modes, plus a configurable My Drive setup.
And sure, there are terrain modes too – Snow, Mud and Sand – however let’s be trustworthy: most homeowners most likely received’t be taking their six-figure electrical SUV too far off-road. I wouldn’t.
The steering wheel controls are principally logical and straightforward to study, although there are a few buttons that homeowners will shortly turn out to be conversant in. One disables the lane-keeping steering intervention in case you don’t just like the wheel wriggling round in your palms, whereas one other mutes the velocity signal warning chimes.
And in case you’ve pushed a contemporary Hyundai or Kia product these days, you’ll know precisely why that second button issues.
The column-mounted gear selector is neat when you get used to it – twist ahead for Drive, again for Reverse, with Park on the tip – although you completely will choose the mistaken course of journey a minimum of as soon as in your first few weeks with the automobile.
Material high quality all through the cabin is superb. There’s soft-touch trim in all places you frequently work together with, and the general presentation feels plush.
The central 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen permits wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which might be what most consumers will care about, however there’s additionally an infinite quantity of configurability buried within the menus.
There are EV-specific shows for charging and vitality use, linked companies accessible by the Kia app, plus seat controls, local weather capabilities, car settings, and even a efficiency timer in case you actually need to efficiency benchmark your gigantic electrical household SUV.
The local weather management system features a separate show panel alongside the primary infotainment display screen. It can take a second to get used to as a result of some capabilities are barely hidden behind the steering wheel.
Storage is one other sturdy level. There’s an enormous open space beneath the centre console, a wi-fi telephone charger, deep cupholders with adjustable bases, and an enormous centre bin. Even the glovebox is big. And there are USB-C ports in all places.
Little particulars stand out as nicely, just like the sliding cupholder association, the retractable cowl for the console space, and the adjustable solar visors that really do a superb job of protecting the aspect home windows throughout dawn or sundown drives.
And the second row is a roomy place to be.
I’m about six-foot (182cm) tall, and even with the motive force’s seat set for my driving place, I had heaps of legroom and headroom behind. The second-row seats slide and recline electrically, and you may transfer them ahead to release additional third-row area if wanted.
The captain’s chairs on this GT model get heating, air flow and therapeutic massage capabilities, plus adjustable armrests.
There are considerate family-friendly touches in all places within the center row – USB-C ports, cupholders, storage compartments, local weather controls, and built-in solar blinds that do a superb job of blocking mild.
Access to the third row is simple sufficient as nicely. You can merely stroll by the centre aisle between the captain’s chairs, or regulate the seats ahead electrically to present you a broader entryway.
The third row is definitely usable for adults.
There’s respectable legroom, correct headroom and adjustable seatbacks, and in case you get these within the second row to shuffle ahead a bit, even six-footers will match again there with out too many complaints.
Rear-row inclusions comprise USB-C cost ports, cupholders and overhead air flow, and due to the large glass roof overhead, the entire cabin feels ethereal when the shades are open.
Boot area is spectacular, with 333 litres of capability with all three rows in use, and an enormous 828L behind the center row whenever you fold the third-row seats down.
All of the anticipated boot facilities are accounted for, together with buying bag hooks, a powerpoint, electrical seat folding buttons, and even a ‘shorty switch’ (an electrical tailgate button together with the cargo zone, so that you don’t have to succeed in as much as the common one), together with some underfloor storage to holster your cargo cowl or different odds and ends.
But you received’t discover a spare wheel below there, and that could possibly be a priority for some – as an alternative, you simply get a tyre restore package.
At least you possibly can retailer that and the charging cables you would possibly want prepared entry to fairly simply, as a result of the EV9 additionally has a frunk, or entrance boot space. It provides up 52L of extra capability, which is handier than you would possibly assume.
| Dimensions | Kia EV9 GT |
|---|---|
| Length |
5015mm |
| Width |
1980mm |
| Height |
1755mm |
| Wheelbase |
3100mm |
| Cargo capability |
333L (third row up) 828L (third row folded) 52L (under-bonnet storage) |
To see how the Kia EV9 traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
What’s below the bonnet?
The GT produces 374kW of energy and 740Nm of torque – up 91.4kW and 40Nm over the GT-Line – with Kia claiming a 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds, making it 0.8 seconds faster than the GT-Line.
| Specifications |
Kia EV9 GT |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain |
Dual-motor electrical |
| Battery |
99.8kWh lithium-ion |
| Power |
374kW |
| Torque |
740Nm |
| Drive kind |
All-wheel drive |
| Weight (tare) |
2679kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) |
4.5 seconds |
| Energy consumption (claimed) |
21.7kWh/100km |
| Energy consumption (as examined) |
24.1kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary |
510km |
| Max AC cost price |
11kW |
| Max DC cost price |
350kW |
The official vitality consumption quantity is on the excessive aspect, however this can be a sizable machine, so in case you can obtain 21.7kWh per 100km, you’ll be blissful.
Over a mixture of freeway, city, country-road and spirited driving, I noticed a consumption determine of 24.1kWh/100km – a bit thirsty. So, if effectivity is your absolute precedence, this won’t be the EV for you. Derr.
To see how the Kia EV9 traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
How does the Kia EV9 drive?
This factor is absurdly fast.
Like, genuinely difficult-to-comprehend fast for one thing this massive and this heavy.
You’ve received to keep in mind that the EV9 GT is an enormous three-row SUV, and it weighs a heap – 2679kg with out something or anybody on board.
But as a result of there’s prompt torque at each axles, the best way this massive SUV punches out of corners and fires itself in direction of the horizon is hilarious. And typically a bit scary.
You simply squeeze the throttle and it completely launches. The 0-100km/h declare is 4.5 seconds and in a non-scientific check I noticed a 4.18-second time, which is fast for any automobile, not to mention one which’s over 5 metres lengthy and weighs virtually 2.7 tonnes.
And the dealing with is way sharper than you’d anticipate from one thing this massive. There’s actual physique management right here, and the all-wheel drive system does a superb job of placing the facility down cleanly.
Then there’s the braking efficiency, which truthfully deserves as a lot reward because the acceleration.
Electrified vehicles can typically have bizarre brake pedal calibration as a result of they’re making an attempt to mix regenerative braking with the common friction braking, however Kia has nailed it right here. The pedal really feel is instant and confidence inspiring, and it pulls up extremely nicely.
You may configure the regenerative braking depth utilizing the paddle shifters, starting from mainly free-wheeling by to virtually a one-pedal driving setting.
Put it into GT mode and the entire automobile tightens up noticeably. The suspension corporations up, the steering features additional heft, and the EV9 out of the blue feels much more centered and tied down.
Personally, I believe the steering will get just a little too heavy in essentially the most aggressive setting. The good factor is you possibly can customise loads of the drive settings individually, much like Hyundai’s efficiency EVs, so you possibly can combine and match them to your liking.
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Once you settle down and begin driving it usually – like a three-row SUV, you can say – it nonetheless impresses.
It is firmer than the common EV9 variants, no query about it. This is the performance-focused model, in spite of everything, and also you do discover that within the experience high quality.
But Kia’s native suspension tuning group has nonetheless achieved a commendable job as a result of it handles tough Aussie roads higher than you would possibly anticipate. The 21-inch wheels and comparatively low-profile tyres imply you do get a little bit of floor chatter coming by at occasions, and infrequently there’s a slight wobble over larger undulations.
In the Normal drive mode, the steering really feels extra pure: lighter, simpler to put, and higher suited to on a regular basis city driving.
The one factor you completely discover round city is the large 12.4-metre turning circle, which implies the EV9 positively feels its dimension whenever you’re doing tight manoeuvres. If your each day life entails plenty of tight carparks or three-point turns, anticipate this automobile to often flip these into five-point turns as an alternative.
And then there are the digital aspect mirrors, which some individuals will most likely love. I don’t.
In day-to-day driving – particularly parking – they’ll really feel a bit unnatural. Judging distances and the precise bodily extremities of the automobile takes some getting used to since you’re taking a look at screens as an alternative of actual mirrors.
But the drivetrain is nicely resolved for on a regular basis driving. Despite the big efficiency on supply, the throttle calibration is clean and progressive, so it by no means feels jumpy or troublesome to drive gently.
Refinement is robust, too. There’s little or no street or wind noise, and when you often discover some tyre roar on coarse-chip surfaces, general the EV9 feels appropriately premium for one thing at this value level.
To see how the Kia EV9 traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
What do you get?
The GT sits on the prime of the EV9 mannequin vary so it comes fairly nicely loaded with gear, constructing upon the variants under it within the lineup.
2026 Kia EV9 Air RWD tools highlights:
- 76.1kWh lithium-ion battery
- 160kW/350Nm rear-mounted electrical motor
- Claimed WLTP driving vary of 443km
- Rear-wheel drive
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
- 5.0-inch local weather show
- Kia Connect
- Over-the-air software program updates
- Column-mounted shifter with push-button begin
- Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) inside energy outlet
- Heated and ventilated entrance seats
- Flush-fitting exterior door handles
- Triple-zone local weather management
- Multiple USB-C charging ports throughout all three rows
- Walk-in second-row seating perform for third-row entry
- Smart regenerative braking
- Self-levelling rear dampers
- Australian-specific native suspension tuning
- Reversing digicam
- Front and rear parking sensors
The EV9 Earth AWD provides/modifications:
- 99.8kWh lithium-ion battery
- Dual-motor all-wheel drive
- 283kW/700Nm
- Claimed WLTP driving vary of 512km
- Terrain drive modes:
- Ambient temper lighting
- Illuminated steering wheel emblem
- Surround-view digicam
- Blind-spot view monitor
- Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance Assist
The EV9 GT-Line AWD provides/modifications:
- Claimed WLTP driving vary of 505km
- 21-inch alloy wheels
- Digital aspect mirrors
- Augmented actuality head-up show
- Digital centre mirror
- 14-speaker Meridian premium sound system
- Heated and ventilated outer second-row seats
- Premium Relaxation entrance seats with powered leg rests
- Dual sunroof
- Remote Smart Parking Assist 2
- Exterior Vehicle-to-Load (V2L)
- Interior trim upgrades
The EV9 GT AWD provides/modifications:
- Claimed WLTP driving vary of 510km
- 374kW/740Nm
- 21-inch machined alloy wheels
- Neon green-painted brake calipers
- Electronic Controlled Suspension
- Electronic limited-slip differential
- Digital Grille lighting
- Six-seat format
- Second-row captain’s chairs
- Relaxation and therapeutic massage perform for second-row seats
- Remote-folding third-row seats
- Three-spoke GT steering wheel
- GT-specific styling particulars
To see how the Kia EV9 traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
Is the Kia EV9 secure?
The Kia EV9 scored the utmost five-star security score from ANCAP in 2023.
| Category |
Kia EV9 |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant safety |
84 per cent |
| Child occupant safety |
87 per cent |
| Vulnerable street person safety |
76 per cent |
| Safety help |
85 per cent |
Standard security tools throughout the vary consists of:
- Autonomous emergency braking
-
- Car, pedestrian, bike owner detection
- Junction turning/crossing help
- Direct/oncoming lane change detection
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- Blind-spot help
- Lane-keep help
- Lane Following Assist (lane-centring)
- Highway Drive Assist 2 with Lane Change Assist
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Safe exit help
- Intelligent velocity restrict help
- Driver consideration monitoring
- Leading car departure alert
- Rear occupant alert (sensor-based)
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Reversing digicam
Choose the Earth or increased, and also you additionally get:
- Surround-view digicam
- Blind-spot view monitor
- Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance Assist
All variations of the EV9 include 9 airbags, together with twin entrance, entrance centre, entrance aspect, second-row aspect, and three-row curtain airbags.
To see how the Kia EV9 traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
How a lot does the Kia EV9 price to run?
Kia arguably negates a number of the profit of selecting an electrical automobile by mandating shorter service intervals than another EVs.
| Servicing and Warranty | Kia EV9 GT |
|---|---|
| Vehicle guarantee |
7 years, limitless kilometres |
|
High-voltage battery guarantee |
7 years or 150,000km |
| Roadside help |
Up to eight years (service-activated) |
| Service intervals |
12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing |
Up to 7 years (pre-paid plans) |
| Total capped-price service price |
$723 – 3 years $1379 – 5 years $2038 – 7 years |
Whether or not the shorter intervals is an actual difficulty may rely in your mileage, clearly, however a minimum of the opposite possession provisions are principally constructive.
But in case you’re anxious in regards to the short-by-industry-standards battery guarantee, possibly look ahead to the MY27 model, which is able to enhance battery protection to the industry-standard eight years or 160,000km.
To see how the Kia EV9 traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software
CarKnowledgeable’s Take on the Kia EV9 GT
I really like the thought of this automobile. Three rows of seats, a great deal of practicality, electrical propulsion and doubtlessly very low working prices for a automobile with this a lot efficiency.
How a lot efficiency? Quite frankly, it’s staggering.
But so is the value, and I believe this can be a hurdle for Kia to beat, as a result of nearly as good because the EV9 GT is, it’s onerous to say whether or not the Korean model justifies its asking value.
If this flagship car was priced at $100,000, it will promote significantly higher than it’s going to at about $140,000 as soon as it is parked in your driveway.
Either manner, it’s a really spectacular three-row EV for fast-moving households.
What do you assume? Has Kia nailed it, or has it missed the mark? Have your say within the feedback.
Interested in shopping for a Kia EV9? Let CarKnowledgeable discover you one of the best deal right here
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