- Roomy and accommodating
- Up to 304 miles of range
- Fast charging
- A pleasure to drive
- Priced from $54,900 (plus $1,495 destination) | Price yours
- On sale late 2023
The Kia EV9 is a roomy and practical 3-row midsize SUV that’s also boldly styled, enjoyable to drive, and 100% electric. The first 7-passenger electric vehicle from a mainstream automaker, the thoroughly impressive EV9 is rated for up to 304 miles of range and can absorb almost 150 miles worth of electricity in just 15 minutes. Kia’s latest winning effort promises to enjoy a good run as one of the coolest cars at the soccer fields.
Family Flexibility
The Kia EV9 is a true midsize 3-row SUV. Its cargo and passenger dimensions are similar to those of its world-beating Kia Telluride stablemate, which is now a 5-time Best Buy Award winner and one of our Best Family Cars.
When outfitted with the second-row bench seat, the EV9 offers seating for seven. Available second-row captain’s chairs reduce seating capacity to six but deliver even greater comfort in the second row and make the third row easier to access. (In either configuration, the EV9 offers one fewer seating position than the Telluride, which has a 3-position third row.) We found third-row legroom more than adequate for the smaller and nimbler humans more likely to occupy the space, and better than what we’ve experienced in at least a few traditional midsize SUVs. Second-row passengers can slide up to give those in the way back more legroom, or slide back to maximize their own comfort when the last row is vacant.
Looking at cargo capacity, the EV9 offers a tad more space behind the third row than the roomy Telluride, and a bit less with the second and third rows collapsed. A wash, really, and confirmation that the EV9 is a true family hauler.
Impressive Range, Power, and Charging Figures
The 2024 Kia EV9 is rated to travel up to 304 miles on a single charge. It can also hit 60 mph in a blistering 4.5 seconds. Both are impressive feats for a vehicle of its size and stature. While it’s important to note those numbers are mutually exclusive – the 304-mile EV9 takes almost twice as long to hit 60 mph as the 4.5-second version, for instance – the EV9 lineup offers buyers several compelling combinations of price, power, and range.
The EV9 also features Kia’s state-of-the-art 800V charging architecture, making it one of the quickest-charging EVs for sale today. Kia says the EV9 can take on 150 miles worth of electricity in just 15 minutes under optimal conditions. Using the more common 10-80% charging benchmark, Kia says that can be done in just 24 minutes. We’ve learned to lower our expectations when charging EVs in the real world, but very few EVs will charge any faster than that.
Alluring Look and Feel
The EV9 is arguably the most boldly styled, forward-looking 3-row midsize SUV on the market, but we also found that it fits in as well as it stands out. And its appeal is similarly balanced inside. It’s a clean cabin dominated up front by an expansive panoramic display, but there are interesting design elements and materials throughout. Unlike some of the more austere cabins in the EV space, the EV9 boasts a contemporary richness that’s both fresh and familiar at once.
Inside the EV9 is a nice place to be, especially out on the road. The smooth, quiet, responsive power delivery that’s so addictive in other EVs works wonderfully well in a sizable SUV like the EV9. It glides around town and simply never feels like it’s even close to breaking a sweat. In our full review, we noted: “Excellent outward vision is aided by a low hood, while the cabin is exceptionally quiet. And it’s all easy. The steering is light and the brakes feel natural.”
Combined with Kia’s exceptional driving assistance features, the EV9 is a downright pleasant travel partner, whether running errands around town or covering a couple hundred miles on the highway.
And just about any discussion of a Kia vehicle has to include a mention of the automaker’s exceptional warranty. Where most competitors offer bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage of three years or 36,000 miles, Kia provides five years or 60,000 miles worth of coverage. Where others offer powertrain protection of five years or 60,000 miles, Kia’s coverage extends to 10 years or 100,000 miles.
If you need a 3-row vehicle and want to go electric, the Kia EV9 should go straight to the top of your shopping list.
Photo Tour: 2024 Kia EV9
More 2024 Kia EV9
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Our 2024 Best Buy Award Winners
- Best New Model: 2024 Toyota Prius
- Best Subcompact SUV: 2024 Hyundai Kona
- Best Compact SUV: 2024 Honda CR-V
- Best 3-Row Midsize SUV: 2024 Kia Telluride
- Best Full-Size SUV: 2024 Ford Expedition
- Best Electric Vehicle: 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Best Compact Car: 2024 Honda Civic
- Best Midsize Car: 2024 Honda Accord
- Best Minivan: 2024 Toyota Sienna
- Best Compact Truck: 2024 Ford Maverick
- Best Midsize Truck: 2024 Toyota Tacoma
- Best Full-Size Truck: 2024 Ford F-150
- Best Electric Truck: 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning
- 2024 Best Buy Awards Home
