New Kia EV9 review: Cancel your Range Rover!

Meet the all-new Kia EV9!

It’s a new super-imposing 7-seater from South Korea, and Mat’s about to find out if it can compete with class-leading all-electric SUVs like the Tesla Model X and BMW iX!

For starters, just check out that design! The EV9 is oh-so imposing, with a chunky, squared-off design stretching from the front to the rear. We love the blocky wheel arches and the new alloy designs - they’re definitely giving this car a real cyberpunk feel. The headlights & taillights also look great, and we love the black window surrounds & matching roof bars. The blue paint just tops it off, too!

Step inside and the EV9’s cabin is well laid out. There’s a big infotainment & digital dial screen, and thankfully there are several physical and haptic feedback buttons. Interior quality is ok, but if you reach down a bit low you can expect to find some scratchy plastics! Thankfully though we don’t mind as there’s loads of interior storage, and there’s even the option to go for a six-seat set-up in the back.

When it comes to batteries and motors, the entry-level EV9 come with a single electric motor that can produce 203hp. The GT Line edition that we have here comes with dual electric motors and the ability to put down 385hp. Both cars come with a 100kWh battery, and while the entry-level has a range of 350 miles, the GT Line can only manage 315.

So it all sounds great, but all this quality doesn’t come cheap! The EV9 starts from £65,000, rising up to £77,000 for the range-topper! So would you consider spending this much on a Kia? Stick with Mat to see if you should!

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:48 Design
02:21 Price
03:43 Interior
06:48 Back Seats
11:02 Boot
12:51 5 Annoying Things
15:28 5 Cool Things
19:40 Batteries & Motors
20:38 Town Driving
23:34 Motorway Driving
26:44 Country Road Driving
28:05 0-60mph
28:51 Verdict

[bond_andrew]

Thank you, Matt and CarWow! Never been a KIA fan. However, from 02.01.2024, I've been a happy owner of precisely the same (as per the video) EV9 GT-Line in Matt Blue colour (except my second-row captain chairs are in relaxation mode, fully electric). I did 2000 km in one month, and every single one was packed with joy and excitement. It is just a pleasure to be in EV9. I'm from Finland, and January was the coldest in the past 8 years. Still, my average consumption is 28 kWh/100 km (that is 2.2 miles per kWh). And when it is at least +3, I'm getting 23 kW/100 km (2.7 miles per kWh). Would I recommend KIA? Definitely so!

Edit: Some comments were saying that there were better choices for money. Cars are very differently priced in different markets. As I said, I'm from Finland. I was looking for a big SUV EV. What Finnish market can (or just about to) offer?:
- Volvo EX90 - 119.000 EUR (110.000 EUR after all discounts) - 3 years or 100.000 km warranty (image Pixel LED or Air Suspension fix after warranty)
- Mercedes EQS 4MATIC (base price) - 132.000 EUR - 2 years or 100.00 km warranty
- Tesla Model X (non-Plaid), 6 seater, standard colours - 120.000 EUR (112.000 EUR after all discounts) - 4 years or 80.000 km warranty

I paid 89.000 EUR for KIA (Including winter 21" tyres with rims, towing hook, and all possible features). We are not getting the following features in Finland at all: 2nd-row massage, front grill lightning patterns, LiDAR, and digital side mirrors).

KIA has 7 years or 150.000 km warranty. The Navigation System and Audio Equipment have 3 year or 100.000 km warranty. The battery has a 7-year or 150.000 km warranty. Low-voltage battery (12V) is 2 years without a mileage limit.

Finland's average public charging (DC) price is 0.25 euros per kWh (based on KIA's charging curve, which is very stable for a long time). That is 6.25 EUR per 100 km (60 miles) based on 25 kWh consumption.
Home price (with all taxes and delivery) is 0.10 euros per kWh (in my case). That is 2.5 EUR per 100 km (60 miles) based on 25 kWh consumption.

The current fuel price is ~1.70 EUR per litre (E95).

So, in Finland - KIA EV9 is one of the best choices for money.

[alisonb]

Kia have a 7yr warranty…Range Rover have a seven minute one 😂

[freddaytheth]

Wow. the rare BUY rec from Matt. Actually not surprised given the long list of things this SUV gets right.

[TheCleanasyougo]

Had a kia Sportage for 3 years, they are £20k cheaper than a premium brand, in fact I do think they ARE THE PREMIUM BRAND !! got all the gadgets, comfort and reliability you could ever ask for. Kia know what they’re doing 🤩

[Willieswheels]

I drove one for 2 weeks on a press loan. Was blown away by the quality & real life range / speed. Not to mention the potential for being an on the go car tracking / video editing station.

Loved:
1) six seat configuration is fantastic
2) load area huge with seats down
3) super comfortable on long trips
4) looks beautiful on road

Annoyances:
1) the door handles were never extended when we wanted them, needed to keep unlocking to get to them
2) there’s SO many noises; beeps on road for safety systems, arrival music, vibrations on steering wheel. If you are easily over stimulated this car will enrage you.
3) I can’t afford it.

[bigbufobufo]

I love the rotating seats. It’s got that minivan level of practicality we lost when minivans became uncool.

[David_Bernstein]

Boiling a kettle in the back of the car is the most British thing I've seen for a while... A missed opportunity for tea though

[orwellknew]

I’ve been on to Kia for a long time now, since 2008, when I bought a top of the line Sorento v6 4wd. I traded that in for a 2019 top of the line Sorento. Nothing has ever gone wrong or broke on either one. The cost of running them has been superb. No wasting my time waiting to get things fixed and zero expenses for anything but consumables such as battery, tires, wiper blades, fluids, etc. Neither of mine have had any squeaks, buzzes or rattles at all. Just smooth and quiet rides. It took a long time for people to realize how good the Korean vehicles had become.

[Martin_Karia]

When Mat put his boots on the seats I died a little

[sergiosanmuahahaha]

So, it is 40000 pounds less than the mercedes GLS you reviewed not long ago, but the panels are aligned properly doesn't have water inside the lights. Seems like a winner to me

[-aid]

If the rear, rear seets fold down, the rear seats facing backwards can probably be used as extra cargo and or a bed.

[FERGUSMCFLY]

I drive those exact roads every day and it's a shockingly bad surface with some horrid potholes. If the car felt comfy and quiet there then it's got seriously good ride quality!

[alex]

4.9 seconds to 60mph on a rainy day is mental...such an impressive vehicle. Love everything about this. Excellent review as usual

[nischalvaradhan]

I really prefer normal car reviews instead of drag races and expensive cars reviews

[j.b.w.]

It's funnyhow body coloured mirrors denote base specification nowadays and black is higher specification. It was not that long ago it was the other way around.

[chrisbeale]

I have a few observations after 1000 miles in my EV9 GTS. Day to day consumption for me is around 3.2 m/kWh. I managed a 320 mile trip without en route charging and ended up with 3.3m/kWh. That trip did not include motorways but it was mostly on 60mph A roads and I wasn’t dawdling. Winter range will be lower of course, but the real numbers are far from poor. The car is very comfortable, quiet and I did need to drive off road on a damp Scottish mountain where it performed well. Parking is straightforward - it is a big car but no issues in Morrisons car park between two other cars. Charging profile is very flat and rapid. For daily use there is no need to charge beyond 80% as that gives 280 miles on the GoM which is quite accurate. Charging overnight at home on low rate electricity is more than enough, so the energy cost is working out at around 2.5p/mile plus occasional en-route IONITY top-ups on longer trips which never need to be more than 15 minutes. The EV9 might be a big car but it makes sense if you need space. I’m 6’3” tall and I can easily sleep in it. It’s also the first of three EV’s that I have owned in which range anxiety isn’t a thing.

[sushi]

Saw it live at Brussels airport yesterday and have to say that this looks really good in person

[solaclaudiu]

The "Leading vehicle is driving on" is also displayed on my MY2024 Kia Xceed as well with the forward collision avoidance, it steers and brakes by itself if the car detects an incoming collision.

Love this EV9

[Osvaldo]

Spend the last weekend in the snow in one of these and I’m very impressed with it. Good job Kia!

[rumanuu]

That lane assist feature resetting itself is something to do with the Euro Ncap safety rating. I had the same issue with my wife's Lexus NX. Extremely annoying!