The 2024 Kia EV9 has been one of the year’s most compelling new car debuts. It’s the first all-electric 3-row SUV from a non-luxury automaker, though its price (still under wraps) could overlap with that of some luxury cars. But what works about it is its unique styling.
With its handsome, angular look and swiveling seats, it has won praise in comment sections all over the internet. No one outside of Kia, however, has driven the vehicle yet.
The company this week revealed some specifications of the buzzy new model.
Kia says the EV9 will reach showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2023. Officials confirmed that Kia will build the model in Georgia. We’d love to tell you that that will make the EV9 eligible for federal tax credits. But the rules are changing fast, and at the moment, no one knows what cars will qualify after April 18.
More Torque in the U.S.
When American test drivers get some time in the driver’s seat, they’ll have access to slightly more power than overseas drivers. Kia this week revealed a few details on the version of the EV9 that will reach our shores later this year. Americans get at least one power level available only as an after-sale download in the rest of the world.
Single-motor, rear-wheel-drive (RWD) versions are no different than expected. The standard model will use a 76.1-kWh battery with a 160-kW (215-hp) motor that drives the rear wheels.
Kia says an optional 99.8-kWh battery “will be available in a single-motor configuration targeting 300 miles of all-electric range,” but the company doesn’t explain how much power that one puts out. In an earlier announcement detailing international versions of the vehicle, Kia said it was good for just 201 horsepower.
At the high end, a dual-motor edition gets 283-kW (379 horsepower) and 516 pound-feet of torque. International versions get 442 pound-feet. The added torque shaves a second off the 0-60 mph time – Kia says this version is good for 5 seconds flat. Kia says the added power will be available as a download in other markets.
A what? Kia has said it will use the EV9 to pioneer car features as subscriptions. Many automakers plan to sell some features — like enhanced audio features or heated seats — for subscription fees. Kia hasn’t released details of its plans.
We break down everything you need to know about subscription fees for car features here. Surveys show car buyers hate the idea, but Mercedes has already started selling additional horsepower for a fee.
The all-wheel-drive (AWD) system in the dual-motor model adds torque vectoring to improve handling as well. All of which makes us wonder what further improvements could be in store for the high-performance EV9 GT model we’ve been told to expect.
Self-Parking; Not Self-Driving, But Getting Closer
Kia plans to eventually offer Level 3 autonomous driving – a type of driver assistance only Mercedes offers at the moment, and only in Nevada. Level 3 allows drivers to stop focusing on what the car is doing, at least briefly.
But that won’t be ready at launch. Instead, the EV9 will get Kia’s new Advanced Highway Drive Assist system, which uses lidar sensors to power a smart cruise control and lane-centering system to make highway driving easier. A parking assist program that lets you get out and watch the car park itself will be optional.
Kia also detailed cargo space. It’s fair to think of the EV9 as a more stylish, electric Telluride. With all seats in use, it offers 20.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity – just 0.8 less than the hot-selling gas-powered SUV. With the second and third rows down, you get 81.9 – about 5 cubic feet less as a concession to style.
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