Kia’s infotainment software program is zippy and responsive, befitting the EV9’s fashionable shows. Wi-fi CarPlay and Android Auto help additionally makes it straightforward to attach your telephone with out fiddling for cables. The EV9 has a big wi-fi charging pad that ought to match my iPhone 15 Professional Max simply high quality, and there is sufficient room to squeeze in even larger telephones. It was a bit finicky to search out the correct wi-fi charging zone, a lot so it made me want Kia had applied MagSafe or the newer Qi2 standard to maintain my telephone in place. I might advocate at all times having a USB-C cable helpful to make the most of the EV9’s quick charging port.
I used to be blown away by the GT-Line EV9’s 14-speaker Meridian system, which has simply sufficient low-end oomph (due to an open-air subwoofer) for music and exact readability for voices whereas listening to podcasts and audiobooks. Meridian says its DSP (digital sound processing) optimizes sound for the EV9’s cabin, and it additionally upmixes audio for five.1 encompass sound (or the equal with many extra audio system).
The corporate’s Intelli-Q Equalization additionally transforms audio because the EV9’s in-cabin noise modifications — as a substitute of simply elevating or decreasing the amount, it might emphasize particular frequency ranges to cowl one thing like tire noise. In my testing, the Meridian system sounded nice throughout each noisy freeway driving and relaxed native journeys. I undoubtedly seen when the Intelli-Q software program kicked in, nevertheless it wasn’t insufferable like older vehicles that will simply get louder on the freeway. (It’s also possible to modify the extent of computerized sound equalization, and audio purists can disable it fully.)
The EV9’s second row captain’s chairs are simply as comfy because the entrance seats, however they’ve cushioned headrests as a substitute of versatile mesh. As a lot as I just like the second row, although, my household would probably be higher off with the 7-seat association from Mild or Wind EV9 fashions. These depend on a bench seat as a substitute of two captain’s chairs, which my spouse prefers when she must journey beside my two-year previous.
The EV9’s third row seats are comfy as nicely, however as in lots of three-row SUVs, most adults will not have a lot legroom to work with. I used to be in a position to squeeze in my 5-foot 8-inch body, however I would not name the expertise ultimate. Anybody driving within the EV9’s final row will probably must cut price with the individual in entrance of them for some leg house. It is also price noting that the second row is immovable with youngster seats, since they lock seat belts down. So make sure to have the second row at a snug spot for rear passengers earlier than hooking up youngster seats.
Sadly, the US model of the EV9 won’t have second-row seats that can swivel 180-degrees to face the third row, as a result of they do not meet federal security requirements. That characteristic, which was a serious a part of Kia’s preliminary EV9 publicity blitz, can be out there in South Korea and different nations.
For cargo, the EV9 sports activities 20.2 cubic ft behind its third row seats, and a extra usable 43.5 cubic ft of storage when the third row is folded flat. When you push down the second row seats as nicely , you’ll be able to slot in as much as 81.7 cubic ft of substances. There is a entrance trunk, or frunk, beneath the hood too, nevertheless it’s not as helpful as different EVs. It will probably maintain 3.2 cubic ft within the rear-wheel EV9, and an much more minuscule 1.8 cubic ft within the all-wheel drive fashions. In each instances, you could have simply sufficient room to carry Kia’s stage 1 charging cable and some different small objects.
Driving
On the street, the EV9 appears like a paradox. Just like Rivian’s R1S, it is a big SUV that is surprisingly fast and nimble for its dimension. I used to be in a position to effortlessly glide by means of native visitors, launch rapidly from stoplights and move vehicles on the freeway with ease. It wasn’t as straightforward to maneuver as my 2019 Volvo XC90, however I used to be nonetheless impressed for the reason that EV9 is a far boxier automobile.
After visiting my mother or father’s house, a 45-mile freeway journey every manner, the EV9 dropped from 80 % cost to 52 %. The AC was blasting closely to fight Georgia’s warmth and humidity, in order that vary felt about proper. Simply bear in mind that an EV’s estimated mileage can simply change relying on AC utilization, exterior temperatures and how briskly you are driving.
My spouse, who hasn’t spent a lot time with EVs, famous that she didn’t really feel like she was really driving whereas behind the wheel of the EV9. On well-paved roads, it rides easily with out a lot discernible street noise. My spouse took some time to regulate to the EV9’s sensitive brakes — it’s straightforward to slam the automobile to a halt — however that’s one thing I’ve seen on many EVs. You need to use the EV9’s paddle shifters to regulate regenerative braking, which places a little bit of energy again into the battery and doesn’t use the automobile’s conventional brake pads.
In its most excessive kind, the EV9’s regenerative braking permits for one-pedal driving, which lets you utterly cease the automobile just by lifting your foot off of the accelerator. It’s an odd characteristic to get used should you’ve solely ever pushed fuel vehicles, nevertheless it’s a kind of issues that EV homeowners study to like rapidly.
It could be good to see Kia provide adaptive suspension on the EV9 finally, since you’ll be able to really feel the affect of tough roads and huge bumps far too simply. For a automobile that scales as much as close to $80,000 — like our GT-line assessment unit — smarter and smoother suspension ought to not less than be an choice. With out it, the EV9 would not really feel practically as luxurious as the Rivian R1S as driving circumstances worsen.
I didn’t have a lot bother parking the EV9 in most tons, however backing out of areas may typically be painful. That was notably true in areas designed for smaller vehicles–I’m you, Dealer Joe’s. It took me six bouts of reversing and precarious turning to make it out of 1 spot at my native Regal Cinema. Even then, I may solely depart in a single route, due to a slew of different giant vehicles (together with a very ugly Cybertruck) sitting round me.
Fortunately, the EV9’s high-resolution cameras, proximity sensors and 360-degree overhead digicam (on the GT Line solely) helped me get out of tight spots. However even with these assists, it was nonetheless extra annoying than the chunky Pacifica hybrid minivan I used to personal.
Charging
The Kia EV9 helps 210 kilowatt quick charging, and it’s suitable with each 400- and 800-volt chargers. Utilizing essentially the most highly effective 800V {hardware} (which admittedly isn’t at all times straightforward to search out), the EV9 can cost from 10 % to 80 % in 24 minutes. Utilizing an area Electrify America charger, which clocked in at 150kW, the EV9 went from 21 % of battery to 90 % in 39 minutes.
I don’t have a Degree 2 charger at house, which may utterly juice up the EV9 in six to seven hours, however I used to be in a position to plug it right into a Degree 1 charger utilizing an ordinary 120V outlet in a single day. That usually added an extra 10 to fifteen % of cost after eight to 10 hours. This stage of charging might not be possible for the long run, nevertheless it’s useful should you don’t have the power so as to add a Degree 2 system at house, or should you’re touring and want so as to add a bit extra juice to achieve the following quick charger.
Pricing and the competitors
The Kia EV9 begins at $54,900 (not together with vacation spot fees) for the “Mild” mannequin, which incorporates rear-wheel drive, 215 horsepower and 230 miles of vary. Leasing choices begin at $487 a month on average, with $2,000 due at signing for a 36-month time period. These numbers may additionally change relying on the presents Kia makes out there, in addition to what native sellers are keen to cost.
The “Mild Lengthy Vary” mannequin will get you an even bigger battery with 304 miles of vary for $59,200 and a barely weaker 201hp motor. Greater-end trims are practically twice as quick with 379hp all-wheel drive motors. That features the $63,900 “Wind” EV9 and the $69,900 “Land” mannequin, each of which have 280 miles of vary.
On the high finish, there’s the flagship GT-Line mannequin we reviewed, which begins at $73,900. It has a bit much less vary (270 miles) than mid-range decisions, nevertheless it additionally has nearly each characteristic Kia may throw in, together with a 12-inch heads-up show on the windshield, 21-inch alloy wheels and the 14-speaker Meridien sound system.
Whereas its value escalates rapidly, the EV9 remains to be a greater deal than each different three-row EV in the marketplace. The Rivian R1S begins at $75,900, and it at the moment leases for $699 a month with not less than $8,500 in signing charges. The growing older Tesla Model X begins at $77,990. These vehicles are additionally each considerably sooner than the EV9, and so they provide higher journey choices like adaptive suspension.
Wrap-up
After eagerly awaiting the right household EV for years – following my time with the Rav4 hybrid, Sienna hybrid and the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid – I’m stunned it’s coming from Kia and never a extra established model like Toyota. The EV9 is spacious, extra reasonably priced than different EVs and it drives (largely) like a dream. It fees rapidly, and most fashions have greater than sufficient vary to cope with the occasional street journey. Merely put, the Kia EV9 is every little thing I’ve been in search of in a three-row household EV.
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