Kia’s flagship EV9 family-friendly SUV is the real deal

IF it’s a 7-seater family SUV you’re after, then something from the Kia range may not spring immediately to mind. But if that 7-seater should also be a fully electric vehicle, have all-wheel-drive and a presence like something from a Judge Dredd movie, then the Kia EV9 is your only choice . . .

But it ain’t cheap. Kia’s flagship model starts from over £65,000. However, if you want bells on your bells and some extra whistles, then you’ll be paying North of £75k. For a Kia.

But what a Kia it is. The Korean manufacturer lost it’s cheap and cheerful image many years ago and has been producing quality vehicles that are being compared more and more to the best from Europe; yes, including those German marques.

So why should you consider the Kia EV9 over any other luxury SUV? Well, it’s a lot easier to insure than a Range Rover (and cheaper), while the Audi Q7 isn’t anywhere near as striking, either inside or out.

If fossil-burning is completely out of the question and you don’t fancy a coupe (Tesla Model X or Audi Q4 e-Tron) and a Van isn’t your thing (Volkswagen ID Buzz), then you’re left with the Mercedes EQB which is cheaper but also lacks the wow-factor that the Kia has. It also lacks the Kia’s standard equipment, warranty, and a 4-wheel-drive option.

There is the similarly priced BMW iX but it’s 5-seats only and has that front end . . . (*wince*)

The Kia EV9 is offered with a choice of rear-wheel drive (200 bhp) or all-wheel-drive (378 bhp) with the more powerful EV9 capable of hitting 62mph in just 5.3 seconds and going on to a maximum 124mph. No slouch then for such a large SUV.

Range is also impressive with the 99.8kWh battery providing up to 349 miles for 2WD models and 315 miles for the AWD versions. 350kW DC fast charging can take you from 10% charge to 80% in just 24 mins – but good luck with finding a 350kW public charger anywhere north of Watford. The more accessible 50kW charger will take about an hour longer to provide the same charge.

My test model was the EV9 GT-Line model with 7-seats and AWD. It has an on-the-road price tag of £73,275, but a 200 bhp, RWD ‘Air’ model can be had for a measly £65,025.

The EV9 is offered in a choice of ‘Air’, ‘GT-Line’ or ‘GT-Line S’ specifications in the UK, with ‘Air’ featuring rear-wheel drive, and the ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’ versions fitted with all-wheel drive as standard.

In addition, the flagship ‘GT-Line S’ model is offered with a choice of seven- or six-seats, with the latter featuring lounge-like seating with swivelling middle-row chairs. All models in the EV9 line-up come with an impressive range of standard equipment and safety kit which is way too big to list here, but highlights are:

360-degree Surround View Monitor
Blind-spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) with Rear-Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Navigation-based smart cruise control with stop-and-go functionality
Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA) – City/Pedestrian/Cyclist/Junction Turning
Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
Front and rear parking sensors
Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA)
Remote Smart Park Assist 2.0 (RSPA 2.0) – ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’, and free for one year on ‘Air’
Drive Mode Select
Terrain Mode Select (Mud, Snow, Sand) – ‘GT-Line’ and ‘GT-Line S’

The EV9 also comes with the latest generation of Highway Driving Assist with Hands-on Detection. This system helps the driver prevent a collision if another vehicle cuts in front of it at low speed. Highway Driving Assist is complemented with Lane Change Assist, which helps the vehicle change motorway lanes when the driver uses the turn signal. The vehicle automatically switches lanes in the direction indicated when it is safe to do so. All clever stuff, designed to lower stress levels for the driver as well as keeping your loved-ones safe.

The tech doesn’t stop at keeping you safe though; entertainment comes via the 12.3-inch touchscreen, which sits alongside the 12.3-inch instrument cluster. Combined, the twin digital displays deliver information with remarkable clarity, while the system also features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, as well as Bluetooth smartphone pairing for TWO phones concurrently.

The driver and front passenger can also plug in their mobile devices via two USB-C charge ports. For second-row passengers, a pair of USB-C charging sockets are integrated into the backs of the two front seats. Both third-row passengers also have their own USB-C charging points, meaning all passengers can keep their mobile devices charged – perfect for maintaining harmony in a full car during longer journeys.

The EV9 ‘GT-Line S’ is also fitted with a customisable head-up display, which projects driving information onto the base of the windscreen in the driver’s line of sight.

As with other Kia models, EV9 customers benefit from Kia Connect services free of charge for a period of seven years – not just for the first year, like many rivals. This includes online navigation, as well as real-time information on traffic information, parking availability and parking costs, as well as availability of EV charging points, weather forecasts, online Points-Of-Interest (POI) search, and speed camera information.

Kia Connect also includes a smartphone app, letting users access a range of these functions via their phone, as well as remote control functions, such as pre-conditioning the cabin, controlling vehicle charging, etc.

EV9 models also benefit from over-the-air (OTA) updates. All Kia models from 2022 equipped with Kia Connect can automatically download and install the latest infotainment software updates through the vehicle’s in-built connectivity.

So, the Kia EV9 looks (brutally) futuristic and is jam-packed with leading-edge tech to both cosset and entertain, but what’s it like to live with? It’s a very expensive box of tricks if it doesn’t deliver on the practicality and driving fronts.

On the practicality side you can’t really go wrong. It’s a huge SUV with plenty of space – even in 7-seater guise. There’s no denying the EV9 has an air of spaciousness that few family SUVs can match. This is due to the EV9s long wheelbase and completely flat electric vehicle architecture which provides generous space for all occupants in all three rows of seats.

The interior, overall, feels premium with those large, twin displays dominating the dash. They are very clear with pin-sharp graphics, but one niggle is the steering wheel obscures a clear view of the climate settings behind the wheel’s 10 o’clock position and I found myself doing a head-bob to see the temp settings and airflow.

The slightly flat bottomed/topped steering wheel is delightful to use, being chunky and having plenty of controls right there are your fingertips. There’s even Drive Mode and Terrain Mode buttons just below the central hub, so no distractions when you find yourself on more challenging surfaces.

The back-lit, haptic buttons just below the infotainment screen look cool and provide shortcuts to the likes of Maps and Media, while below those you have a rotary button for volume. The Temp controls sit just below that providing you with a physical option for those temperature changes. It’s all very well thought out and surprisingly easy to find yourself around after 10 minutes or so.

The floating centre console adds to the feeling of space in the EV9 and contains plenty of storage space including a large bin beneath it for odds-and ends.

Visibility is very good all-around with the 3rd row folded flat. Although, if the car is carrying 5 rear passengers, visibility is somewhat restricted – as you would expect. That’s okay though as the EV9 has an electronic rear view mirror – just flick a switch at the base of the mirror and you have an un-restricted wide-angle view.

The driving position is excellent thanks to electrically adjustable seats and steering wheel. Both the front seats and 2nd row seats are heated/ventilated – so there may be an argument over has to sit in the very rear after all.

However, rear passenger space if very good – even in the rearmost seats where you’ll find even adults can get comfy with good headroom and adequate leg room – even with a 6-footer sat in front of them. An electronic recline button provides even more comfort. There’s not many 7-seaters that offer adult-sized levels of comfort in the very rear, but the EV9 pulls it off with some aplomb.

Getting to those rearmost seats isn’t too bad either as the middle row seats slide and fold forward at the touch of a button, leaving you a decent space to climb into the vehicle. Another bonus for those with small children is that ISOFIX anchor points are standard in the 2 rear seats and not just in the 2nd row seats.

Luggage capacity is fine at 333 litres with all 3 rows of seats upright. For maximum load-lugging you can drop both rows of rear seating for a whopping 2,318 litres (2,393 litres on the 6-seater). There’s also extra space (50 litres) in the “Frunk”, but that will probably be mostly full of charging cables.

How does it drive? Well, there really isn’t much to complain about. The EV9 is as relaxing to drive as any other EV – it’s just bigger. It pulls away smoothly and silently with just the faintest of “hums”. The regenerative braking is adjustable all the way from “off” to i-pedal mode where you can do away with the brake pedal altogether (mostly).

The flappy-paddle adjusters also let you choose “Auto” regen-braking where the front radar will keep an eye on what’s happening in front and adjust the braking accordingly. Catching up to the car in front a little too quickly? Then the auto braking will slow you down just enough while putting some juice back into the battery. Once you’re used to the auto adjustments it really does make for a less-stressful drive. It’s a little weird at first, but it’s something you quickly get used to and start to think “Why aren’t all cars this easy to operate?”

You don’t really feel the Kia EV9s 2.6 tonnes of weight unless you’re being silly with it around twisty B-roads. On Day-to-day driving, you’ll find it easy enough to negotiate the city, while the 360-degree camera and parking sensors help when making tighter manoeuvres.

The Kia always feels comfortable with well-balanced suspension that rides out all but the worst of road-imperfections. It doesn’t feel at all wallowy and while not a sporty drive, the EV9 is well-controlled when it comes to dynamics. In a straight line it’s a hoot and overtaking on the motorway couldn’t be simpler. Just push on the accelerator and the EV9 instantly leaps forward. 50 to 70 mph feels like it takes just a couple of seconds.

You can push on along the twistier roads and you’ll probably be surprised at just how well the EV9 does handle for such a large SUV, but the lack of steering feel will dissuade you from getting into the fun-zone too often. The steering hardly weights up at all, even with Sport mode selected, and although the car grips well, it’s almost impossible to tell where that grip may start to fail.

The selectable Sport mode does sharpen things up a little but that’s only the accelerator sensitivity and . . . well, strangely enough, the seat. Yes, the driver’s seat squeezes you a little more tightly when selecting Sport mode. A bit of a shocker if you’re not expecting it.

But the Kia was never designed to be truly sporty and where it really excels is on our faster roads. At motorway speeds it’s very quiet with just a little noise coming from the tyres and around the large wing mirrors, but overall, very impressive. If it was a German car you’d expect these levels of refinement, but the Kia delivers and maybe surpasses the best from BMW and Mercedes. It’s a class act.

So, the Kia EV9 is a luxury, large SUV packed to the gills with techy goodness. On the face of it you may just see that huge asking price, but I believe you need to live with the EV9 for a while to come to realize just how protective/relaxing/fun a lot of that tech is. Add in the non-techy practicality of simple space and an unbeatable 100,000-mile/7-year warranty and you’ll be hard pushed to find a better family SUV.