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With the EV2, EV3, EV4 and EV5 models, Kia aims to increase its electric car family to six models by 2026. The new e-portfolio kicks off with the dynamically positioned EV6, which impressed when it was launched two years ago and was named European Car of the Year.
The electric crossover SUV is followed by the Kia EV9, a five-meter-long XXL SUV with three rows of seats, which was introduced this year. The large and elegant EV9 will be the new brand flagship of sister company Hyundai and will even challenge premium competition in Europe.
Kia’s wave of success
Future Kia electric cars will be based on the EV9 in terms of design. It was hard to miss it in the models and concepts presented at Kia EV Day last month. The new design language, called “Opposites United”, brings Kia a long overdue innovation. The recently introduced EV5 and EV3 and EV4 concepts look angular and solid.
No one at Kia wants to say this officially; because their company still has the luxury Genesis model. But with a new design language and cutting-edge technology, the new Kia models are definitely playing in the luxury league. In particular, the 5.01 meter long EV9 is a clear declaration of war against the premium competition with its elegant and stylish appearance.
For children and children
The family van segment is dead: While classic seven-seaters are slowly but surely disappearing from the model range, the idea of the large family car is revived in the EV9. The wheeled ship is available with six or seven seats. The seats are electrically adjustable and can be cooled or heated in the front and middle row. The six-person model has the option of swiveling seats that make getting in and out easier.
We find the feeling of spaciousness in Kia’s new flagship impressive. Each comfortable seat offers sufficient head and leg room even for tall people, thanks to the long roof line. Cup holders, charging ports and storage compartments are as far as the eye can see. In addition, the EV9 is a real space miracle, with a trunk volume of 333 to 2318 liters and a boot volume of 52 to 90 liters (front trunk).
There is a digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen in the middle of the front panel. In between is a small, separate screen for the digital climate control; but this is turned off by the steering wheel while driving. Fortunately, there are still tried-and-tested buttons on the steering wheel and below the screen to operate the air conditioning, volume and infotainment system.
wheeled spaceship
The EV9 is built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) with 800-volt technology, on which the sister models of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Genesis GV70 are also based. The Kia EV9 comes in two versions: the 204 hp (150 kW) rear-wheel drive GT-Line from 75,950 francs or the 385 hp (283 kW) all-wheel drive GT-Line from 83,950 francs – the sporty GT version will follow in 2024. Impressive: The all-wheel drive EV9 can tow its own weight, i.e. a trailer load of 2.5 tonnes.
EV9 can travel up to 563 kilometers with its 99.8 kWh battery; With the all-wheel drive system, the range drops to 512 kilometers, which is still adequate. The battery is charged with a maximum charging power of 210 kW; In other words, it reaches 80 percent capacity from 10 percent in 24 minutes. It is also technically equipped for bidirectional charging; Kia may enable this with a software update as soon as regulations allow.
Stable in corners
The vehicle is equipped with numerous assistants as standard: highway assistant with lane change assist, intersection assistant, active blind spot assistant with steering and braking intervention, hill descent control and remote parking function. The interior mirror can optionally be changed from analogue to digital. Kia also plans to add digital exterior mirrors to its side mirrors early next year. A 360-degree camera and head-up display are also standard.
With a height of 1.78 meters and a length of approximately 5 meters, the XXL electric four-wheel drive vehicle looks quite huge and shows that it sways around bends due to its high center of gravity. However, the 566-pound battery shifts the center of gravity downward, and therefore the EV9 shakes relatively less in corners. The 2.5-ton truck reaches speeds from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds. Lively thrust is particularly noticeable in sport driving mode – but acceleration is also fully adequate in Eco mode. Wind noise is surprisingly limited while driving, and the electric behemoth glides impressively smoothly over tarmac.
There’s no doubt that with the EV9, Kia offers an attractive and spacious family vehicle that will give the competition a headache.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
