With 280 Miles of Range, Excellent Acceleration and an Airy Interior, the Kia EV9 Impresses as the Brand’s Largest EV

~ A DriveWays Review ~
by Frank A. Aukofer

As Ford demonstrated with its F-150 Lightning full-size pickup truck, and now South Korea’s Kia confirms with its hulking EV9 crossover sport utility vehicle, electric power doesn’t need to be reserved for small chasing-around vehicles.

The 2024 Kia EV9 Land long-range all-wheel drive SUV doesn’t qualify as a monster like the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, which is nearly 18 feet long and weighs 6,400 pounds. And the EV9 is slightly smaller than Kia’s own gasser, the Telluride, which is 16 feet 5 inches long and weighs 4,527 pounds.

The EV9 is just three inches shorter, at 16 feet 2 inches, though it actually is heavier at 5,840 pounds—no doubt because of its weighty battery pack. Yet it has nearly the same interior space as the Telluride and way better combined city/highway fuel consumption of 83 miles per gallon equivalent. The ICE (for internal combustion engine) Telluride is rated at 22 miles per gallon city/highway.

Driven for this review was the EV9 Land model with all-wheel drive. It also is available with rear-wheel drive. The transmission, as with other electric vehicles, is a direct-drive automatic. Electric motors make their maximum torque, or twisting force, at any rpms, resulting in that rapid acceleration without transmission shift pauses that has endeared them to many owners and potential customers.

The EV9 comes with dual electric motors that together deliver 379 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, enough to accelerate from rest to 60 miles an hour in the four second range.

Inside, the EV9 has airy space for six or seven passengers, depending on whether the second-row seat is a bench for three or separate captain’s chairs for two. The tester had the captain’s chairs so accommodated six in all.

It’s not easy accessing the third row because of a high step-in at the rear doors, though the captain’s chairs tip and slide to make an opening to crawl back there. Once seated in the third row, there’s ample head and knee room for average-sized adults, especially if the second-row passengers are willing to adjust their seats to share space.

On the road, Kia’s EV9 belies its size. It has a solid, planted feel with a comfortable and quiet ride, and has responsive enough power and handling to enable it to mimic a smaller vehicle in traffic.

Steering-wheel paddles allow the driver to choose the amount of regenerative braking, which helps keep the battery pack topped up, though not enough to bring it to a full charge, which requires plugging in. The left paddle increases the regeneration in steps, to the point where it can bring the EV9 to a stop without using the brake pedal. The right paddle reverses the process to enable coasting when the driver lifts off the accelerator pedal.

The EV9 boasts a range of 280 miles and can accomplish a full charge overnight in six hours and 45 minutes, which should accommodate a majority of owners. If more rapid charging is needed, it can add 100 miles of range in 13 minutes a commercial DC fast charger.

Unfortunately for many prospective buyers, the EV9 leans toward the pricey side among sport utility vehicles. At a time when the average price of a new car in the United States is creeping up towards $50,000, the tested all-wheel drive EV9 comes with a starting price of $71,395.

Add the tester’s few options, including a $1,500 towing package with self-leveling rear suspension system, $995 “Ivory Silver Matte” paint, $340 for floor and cargo mats, a destination charge of $1,495, and the tested price works out to $74,230.

The price includes a comprehensive list of safety equipment, including a full complement of air bags; blind-spot monitor with front and rear collision assist; lane-keeping, lane-following and safe exit assist, and forward and rear parking assist.

Other equipment included navigation-based smart cruise control, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, SXM satellite radio, wireless phone charger, front and rear automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, dual sunroofs (rear fixed), power rear lift gate, power folding and heated outside mirrors, rear privacy glass, roof rails and 20-inch alloy wheels.

Specifications

Model: 2024 Kia EV9 Land AWD (EV9 Long Range AWD) electric four-door crossover sport utility vehicle.
Motors: Dual electric, combined 379 hp, 516 lb-ft torque with high voltage 99.8 kWh lithium-ion battery.
Transmission: Single-speed direct-drive automatic with all-wheel drive.
Overall length: 16 feet 2 inches.
Height: 5 feet 10 inches.
EPA/SAE passenger/cargo volume: 151/20 cubic feet.
Weight: 5,840 pounds.
Towing capability: 5,000 pounds.
City/highway/combined fuel consumption: 91/75/83 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe).
Range: 280 miles.
Charging: On 240-volt level 2 charger: full charge in 6 hours 45 minutes. On DC fast charger, 13 minutes for 100 miles of range.
Base price, including destination charge: $71,395.
Price as tested: $74,230.