Kia EV9 – Back to Basics

Kia EV9 RWD Air – €67,995

Remarkable: there is quite a large market worldwide for large SUVs with three rows of seats, but there are hardly any in the electrical field. The ones that exist either fall into the ‘very expensive’ category – Tesla Model X, Mercedes EQS SUV – or into the ‘converted bus’ category (the Zafira-e and associates). There are also some Chinese who still play a margin role in sales (Hongqi, BYD) and Mercedes has the EQB, which is much tighter than all the other cars mentioned. In general, there is very little choice in this category.

Kia therefore has a very strong offer with the EV9, although you should not confuse ‘offer’ with ‘bargain’ in this case. A minimum of 68 grand is certainly not free, but you do get a good five meter SUV with seven seats as standard and a huge 99.8 kWh battery as standard. Kia supplies the EV9 with two powertrains, but they only differ in terms of the number of engines (two or one) and the power. The rear-wheel drive has 204 hp and is therefore not a stripper. From 0 to 100 goes in 9.4 seconds and that is simply not fast in 2023 and certainly for an EV, but a few years ago we would have simply called it ‘smooth’. It seems obvious that it is easy to live with. The range also gives little reason to complain: in the best case scenario, the basic EV9 can travel 563 km, according to Kia. Furthermore, the heat pump and Vehicle-to-Load function (V2L) are completely standard.

Kia EV9 versions

When it comes to equipment, the EV9 RWD is currently available in three variants: Air, Plus and Launch Edition. The GT-Line, which is recognizable by a more aggressive front bumper and higher roof rails, is currently reserved for the fast AWD version. The Air looks the same on the outside as any other non-GT line, so no one will notice that this is the base model. 19-inch alloy, full LED lighting all around and privacy glass are standard. You’re also in the right place when it comes to paint color, because the colorful ‘Flare Red’ is the only color for which Kia doesn’t charge a cent extra. For those who want to know: the blue of the press photos is not available on the Air, because it is reserved for the GT-Line.

Rear seat ventilation!

There are differences on the inside between the Air and the Plus. All versions have ‘vegan leather’, but the upholstery of the Air is different and lighter in color than that of the Plus. Fortunately, that is not a harbinger of a completely stripped-down car, on the contrary. Electrically adjustable front seats, heated steering wheel, heated seats in the first two rows, seat ventilation in the first two rows (!), an electrically folding third row of seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, an electrically operated tailgate and navigation via a 12.3-inch touchscreen are all part of the exceptionally generous standard equipment. Adaptive cruise control and active lane assistant are also included for the basic price of the Kia EV9.

What we ‘miss’

“But,” we hear you ask, “is there still a reason to go for a more expensive version of the Kia EV9?” Good question. There is absolutely no need, but the Plus still offers things that many simply find ‘nice’. For example, the car has a memory function for the front seats, which from the Plus also includes the electrically adjustable steering column. In addition, the Plus offers an audio system from Meridian, slightly more extensively adjustable lumbar support, chair massage and a ‘relaxation function’ for the seats. The digital interior mirror of the Plus is missing from the Air and only Plus buyers get the option to equip the EV9 with a panoramic sliding/tilting roof for an additional charge of €1,295. Such a Plus costs at least €70,495, so the price difference is manageable at this level.