Kia Unveils All-Electric EV9 Three-Row SUV, With Swivel Seats and “Boost” Options

South Korea car makers has revealed more details of its much anticipated all-electric EV9, the bigger seven seater, three row SUV sister vehicle to its smaller and high performing EV6.

Kia says that the EV9 – which can even feature “swivel” seats thanks to the added space of vehicles not burdened with a big fossil fuel engine – will “spearhead” the brand’s rapid transformation to an electric future.

The new offering – based around the E-GMP electric platform used by its sister company Hyundai, and for the EV6, Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and GV60 EVs – claims a range of 541 km (WLTP) and rapid charging, with 239km able to be added in just 15 minutes.

Kia says that the EV9 GT-Line will, in future, include the highway driving pilot (HDP) system which the company says will enable level 3 autonomous driving in selected markets.

It also includes interfaces that will enable customers to purchase additional digital features and upgrades with over-the-air updates. A model that appears to follow Tesla’s lead.

Kia says it will begin offering pre-orders of the EV9 for the Korean market in the second quarter of 2023 and selected global markets from the second half of the year. It is due to arrive in Australia in September or October.

“The Kia EV9 transcends all aspects of traditional SUV thinking and represents the pinnacle of Kia’s design and engineering capabilities,” Kia president and CEO Ho Sung Song, said in a statement.

He described it as a family vehicle and notes its use of recycled and sustainable materials.

EV9 comes with unique features including swivel seats

The EV9 has an overall length of 5,010 mm, is 1,980-mm wide and 1,755-mm tall. Wheelbase is 3,100-mm and it comes with the option of 19, 20 or 21-inch wheels.

The EV9 has six-seater and seven-seater configurations. Kia says that for the first time among global EV models, the EV9 offers four seating options. 3-seater bench seats, basic-type, relaxation-type and swivel-type two-seater independent seats.

Kia says when equipped with the second-row relaxation seats, the EV9 allows first and second-row occupants to recline together while the SUV is charging.

With the swivel seat option, the second-row seats swivel 180 degrees to enable conversations with those seated in the third row. Occupants in the third row are provided with charging points and cup holders.

All-electric powertrain with optional “Boost”

Kia says that the EV9 will come with a broad choice of electric powertrain configurations based on its E-GMP platform and fourth generation battery technology.

The rear wheel drive (RWD) standard model comes with a 76.1-kWh battery while a 99.8-kWh battery is fitted in both the RWD Long Range and All Wheel Drive (AWD) variants.

Kia says the RWD Long Range model comes with a 150 kW/350 Nm electric motor which gives a 0-to-100 km/h time of 9.4 seconds. The RWD Standard range has a slightly more powerful 160 kW motor giving a 0-to-100 km/h time of 8.2 seconds

The AWD variant has both front and rear electric motors that provide a combined power output of 283 kW and 600 Nm of torque. The the AWD model will go from 0-to-100 km/h in just 6.0 seconds.

Kia says an optional “Boost” feature is available to purchase from the Kia Connect Store which unlocks 700 Nm bringing the 0-to-100 km/h time down to 5.3 seconds.

Range and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L)

Kia says that the RWD Long Range model (with 19-inch wheels) will have an estimated WLTP range of over 541 km. RWD Standard and AWD range details were not provided as part of the announcement.

Kia says the EV9 comes with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality through its integrated charging control unit (ICCU), enabling the discharging of energy from the vehicle battery. Up to 3.68 kW of power is available for powering for laptops or camping equipment from the vehicle.

Highway Driving Pilot and Level 3 autonomy

Kia says that its Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) system will provide the EV9 with conditional Level 3 autonomous driving.

The system includes fifteen sensors, including two lidars, enabling it to scan for and detect objects in a full 360-degree field of view. Kia says the system is able to detect and react to the road and other users to prevent potential collisions.

Over-the-air updates enables customers to keep the car’s software updated without the need to go to a dealership.