New Kia EV9: pricing revealed for electric Range Rover rival

The Kia EV9 was only recently revealed as the South Korean firm’s new seven-seat electric flagship – and we’ve already driven it. Kia has confirmed the EV9 will go on sale on July 6, with prices starting from £64,995. 

Featuring up to seven seats and a design straight out of Blade Runner, the new EV9 sits above the sleek-looking Kia EV6 hatchback in the lineup and acts as a more affordable alternative to the new Volvo EX90.

Buyers will be able to specify the new Kia EV9 in both six and seven-seat configurations, with prices reaching £78,745 for the six-seat, dual-motor ‘GT-Line S’ model, making the top-spec EV9 the most expensive Kia ever. Not only this, but the new electric SUV is also the largest model Kia has ever sold in the UK – at 5,010mm long, it even surpasses that of the (4,810mm) Kia Sorento in terms of outright size. The EV9’s wheelbase stretches 3.1m – almost 300mm longer than its hybrid-powered sibling. 

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Kia EV9 range, battery, performance and charging

The EV9 sits on the same e-GMP underpinnings as its smaller EV6 sibling, as well as the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 6. The EV9 is being offered with both single and dual-motor powertrains, each mated to a hefty 99.8kWh battery; a 76kWh battery will be offered in other markets, but isn’t expected to be sold in the UK. 

Kia stated in a press conference in 2022 that it’s targeting a range of up to 339 miles for the EV9. However, the official WLTP range stands at 336 miles for the single-motor car and 309 miles for the dual-motor model – slightly off the brand’s previous claims, but impressive for such a large electric SUV nonetheless.

The EV9 utilises the same 800-volt architecture as its smaller siblings. This means DC ultra-rapid charging speeds of more than 230kW; Kia claims the EV9 can add around 150 miles of range in 15 minutes, when connected to a compatible public charger

We suspect most buyers will go for the rear-wheel-drive, single-motor ‘Air’ model with its longer range and lower £64,995 entry price; this outputs 201bhp and 350Nm of torque, with Kia saying it’ll go from 0-62mph in 9.4 seconds.

Dual-motor ‘GT-Line’ cars start from £72,495 and, thanks to the addition of a second electric motor on the front axle, offer a combined output of 380bhp/600Nm, slashing the 0-62mph time to six seconds. An optional boost function – selectable via a paid over-the-air (OTA) update – can reduce this to 5.3 seconds.

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Design, price and specifications

What’ll inevitably draw buyers to the largest and latest Kia will undoubtedly be its strikingly futuristic design. Perhaps the EV9’s most distinctive feature – other than its boxy shape – is its imposing ‘tiger face’ front end. Flanked by a set of vertical LED headlights, the front grille-like trim piece features laser-etched elements that allow light to shine through; buyers can configure their own designs via the infotainment system.

Speaking of infotainment, the Kia EV9 debuts an evolution of the brand’s slick dual-screen setup, as seen in the likes of the Kia Niro EV. The Kia EV9 features a digital instrument cluster mounted alongside a centre touchscreen – both measuring 12.3 inches in diameter.  However, this time they sandwich a small five-inch ‘segment’ display which houses the climate controls and seat heating functions. 

As mentioned, the EV9 will be available with both six and seven seats – the former only available on top-spec GT-Line S models and coming with a set of captain’s chairs for the middle row. The overall design of the cabin has a light and airy feel, with unique fabric inserts on the dashboard and door cards, plus trim made of other “bio-based materials” such as corn, sugar cane, and natural oils.

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In addition, the EV9 introduces the Kia Connect Store, whereby customers can purchase digital features and services on demand, before installing them over the air. A Kia spokesperson insisted this wouldn’t be already built-in hardware like heated seats or a head-up display, instead focusing on additional driver assistance systems designed to make living with your car easier. Kia says this functionality will “continuously upgrade the capability of the EV9”.

On the topic of driver assistance systems, Kia says the EV9 will debut the company’s “conditional” Level 3 autonomous driving technology – where legislation allows. This works with Kia’s Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) system, which utilises 15 sensors to provide a full 360-degree view, enabling the car to detect and react to the road and other road users to “prevent potential collisions”.

First deliveries are expected to commence with top-spec GT Line S cars in January 2024, with other EV9 models arriving soonafter. The seven-seat SUV will be the first of nine brand new electric Kia models set to hit UK showrooms over the next five years, with the maker also confirming a range topping EV9 GT is in the pipeline. This high-performance model could easily surpass £85,000, putting the Kia in the same ballpark as several high-end electric SUVs such as the Lotus Eletre and Mercedes EQE.