KiaEV9 GT-Line

　　

2024 Kia EV9 Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　, rating written byDan FrioDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　The 2024 Kia EV9 is a big deal. It's literally big, a three-row electric crossover SUV that's even a bit larger than the Telluride, Kia's reigning size champ. But the EV9 is also figuratively big, a spacious, useful family EV that costs tens of thousands of dollars less than three-row electrics from Mercedes, Rivian and Tesla. Granted, the base trim model offers only modest range and power, but consistent with Kia's strategy, it comes with a truckload of standard features.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Kia EV9 Insights

Trim:EV9 Light

　　Light 4dr SUV (electric DD) - $54,900 MSRPLight Long Range 4dr SUV (electric DD) - $59,200 MSRPWind 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $63,900 MSRPLand 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) - $69,900 MSRPGT-Line 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $73,900 MSRP

　　

Range

　　230 miles

　　EPA Estimated Range

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 196 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　10 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　7.6 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　No rebates available in 58067

　　Complimentary Charging Offer

　　Restrictions: The Electrify America Kia Charge Pass is a charging agreement between Kia America and Electrify America. Customers who purchase a new EV9 will receive 1000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of complimentary charging on the Electrify America network. Credits must be used within 3 years of vehicle purchase date. Offer is non-transferable. See your participating dealer for details.

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$81/mo

　　EV9

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Game-changing lineup

While the base trim's reasonable price is the sizzle, the EV9's other trim levels will cover the needs of most electric SUV buyers. The EV9 offers plenty of room for adult legs and torsos in all three rows. Range and charging are similarly impressive for a big SUV. For example, The EV9 GT-Line, which is what Edmuneds tested, travelled 306 miles on a single charge on zzdcar' EV Range Test route. The EV9 also charges quickly at public fast-charging stations — potentially getting the battery from 10% to 80% in 24 minutes according to Kia — meaning you can spend less time sitting and charging and more time driving on family road trips. Even towing is a possibility with a rated capacity of 5,000 pounds.

　　

Competitors to consider

The EV9 steps into a new class of three-row EV SUVs with only a couple of competitors. The Tesla Model X and Rivian R1S both offer varying degrees of astonishing acceleration and impressive range, with the Model X rated for up to 348 miles and the R1S up to 400 miles. The R1S can also perform well off-road. But both cost a lot more than the EV9. Tesla's smaller Model Y offers an optional third row, but it isn't nearly as spacious as the EV9. For now, Kia has a niche to itself. Read our Expert Rating below to learn more.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the EV9 drive? The entry-level Light trim won't wow you with power, but every other EV9 version overdelivers in just about every performance aspect. Our test EV9 was a GT-Line and at our test track it accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds. That's really moving for a big SUV like this. In our brake testing, the EV9 also demonstrated strong braking power for emergency stops. Even handling is pretty secure and stable when you're driving around corners.

　　In more relaxed driving, the EV9 accelerates smoothly and offers adjustable regenerative braking that you can use for one-pedal driving (lifting off the accelerator will brake the vehicle and bring it to a complete stop). This is an easy EV to drive.

　　

Comfort

9.0/10

　　How comfortable is the EV9? The Kia EV9's front seats are very comfortable. They are highly adjustable and have powerful heating and ventilation functions. The available massage function works great too. Our fully loaded GT-Line trim test vehicle had the available upgraded second-row captain's chairs that are adjustable and have nearly the same comfort and amenities as the front seats. If your passengers like naps, you'll want these seats. The third-row seats, while less plush, still put most other third row seats in SUVs of this size to shame.

　　The EV9 has an impressively smooth ride over ruts and bumps without feeling overly buoyant or floaty on the highway. It's also very quiet and does a great job of blocking out wind and road noise on the highway.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below