Kia EV9 Review: Worthy Flagship

What we like:

Excellent features

Unique interior packaging

Lots of pace and range

What we dislike:

Some seat layouts compromise legroom

At many times in automotive history, we’ve seen mainstream brands attempt to go upmarket into the turf of luxury brands. Think of Volkswagen and the Phaeton, for example, or Citroen with the C6. Given that these models don’t exist today is a clue of how difficult it is to execute this strategy successfully.

The Kia EV9 worryingly seems to tread this path, but there are quite a few things going for it that makes its entry a lot more convincing. For one, in this electric era it’s not the Europeans leading the charge (pardon the pun), but actually the Chinese and Koreans. So it is within Kia’s core competency to be launching a flagship EV.

The EV9 is also currently the only electric 6-seater in its class without any direct competitors, coming to the market faster than the traditional dominant large SUVs like Range Rover or the X5 (although an electric Range Rover is imminent).

And lastly, the EV9 is so well-equipped and jam-packed with technology that you’d either be paying a ton for them in a competitor car, or won’t even see it available elsewhere.

These are reasons enough to give the EV9 a good chance in the market.

Why does the Kia EV9 look so radical?

It’s Kia’s flagship, so the car had better make a statement, and it sure does. It isn’t shy about its size (exceeding 5 metres long - once the reserve of stately limousines like the S-Class long wheelbase) with its design, a blocky outcrop that’s imposing but hardly vulgar. It also has very cool digital pattern LEDs embedded into its front bodywork that’s probably the prettiest application of its kind I’ve ever seen, as well as digital side mirrors that give it an unusually slim profile. There’s really nothing else quite like it.

How is the Kia EV9 on the inside? Is the Kia EV9 a 6 or 7 seater? Does the Kia EV9 have a 3rd row?

It’s rather more conventional inside, but the digital side mirrors do make it feel techy. There’s an awesome 14-speaker Meridian sound system though which is very nice. Some of the interior materials are also sustainably made from stuff you’d normally find in a Southeast Asian farm, like sugarcane and corn.

What’s clever though is the packaging, which allows swivelling second row seats that are super easy to deploy. When facing backwards it feels like a cosy little dinner table setting, although the angle at which the second row seat backs can recline is limited as the front row seats would lay abreast with them. Legroom is also a little compromised in this setting with all 6 seats deployed (although it’s positively generous when all seats face forward), but at least there is the option for this and I can testify that kids would love it. The seats in the front two rows can also be put to relaxation mode which genuinely puts one in the mood to sleep - while the car is not moving, of course.

Is the Kia EV9 a 4WD?

For all of that heft (some 2.6 tons) I think it’s a good idea that Kia made the EV9 a dual electric motor AWD leviathan. There’s 380 bhp and 700 Nm on tap, allowing the massive SUV a 0-100 km/h time of just 6 seconds flat. Rain or shine, the car will feel pretty secure. It even has different terrain modes like Mud and Snow, but we didn’t get to try these unfortunately.

How is the Kia EV9 to drive?

You sit high on the road, yet have a low glasshouse shoulder line, so there’s a lot of light and visibility inside and out. The refinement and comfort probably makes this the most luxurious Kia ever, short of the limousines like the K9 sold in overseas markets. It feels confident and planted on the road, but you would feel its size and weight if you bring it out of its comfort zone.

The digital side mirrors will take getting used to, but admittedly in inclement weather it does give a better view of things than conventional droplet-filled mirrors. With all of the parking aids and cameras available, the EV9 is surprisingly easy to park.

How fast can the Kia EV9 charge?

11 kWh with AC and a much faster 350 kWh with DC. The latter is useful to charge the huge 99.8 kW battery installed as standard with the EV9, which gives 512 km of WLTP rated range. The EV9 employs 800V technology, just like its EV Korean sibling, the Kia EV6.

How much is the Kia EV9?

It retails for $289k without COE.

Photos by James Wong

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