All the things I would like in a three-row household EV

The EV market is hotter than ever within the US, however there are solely a handful of choices for households who want three rows of seats and tons of space for storing. There’s the Rivian R1S, an attractive and well-reviewed automobile, however one which’s firmly in luxurious territory with a beginning value of $75,900. Tesla’s Model X is equally dear, and its tiny rear row is not suited to adults (the smaller Mannequin Y’s third row choice is even worse). That is why Kia’s EV9 is such a giant deal. It presents much more inner house than the corporate’s large Telluride, and it begins at a extra palatable $54,900 (together with a $1,495 vacation spot cost).

It is smart why automobile makers have been extra targeted on smaller EVs up till now. Massive batteries are costly, and many individuals do not really want three rows of seats. However I am a dad of two youngsters nonetheless utilizing little one automobile seats, and we additionally must journey with my two mother and father now and again. So the extra room is a should. And even with out rear passengers, we frequently want additional room to lug two youngsters’ price of drugs to native parks (particularly if we convey alongside our wagon stroller).

There are, in fact, authentic causes to be cautious of huge EVs. Like several large automobile, they’re extra harmful for pedestrians, particularly when coupled with the near-instant torque energy of EVs. They’re additionally far worse for the atmosphere than smaller automobiles, as a result of they require these aforementioned giant batteries and all of the uncommon earth materials they comprise. If I lived in a metropolis with usable public transportation, I might quit on the EV9 immediately. However for now I am caught traversing Atlanta suburbs, so the EV9 (ideally a pre-owned one in just a few years) is our greatest worst choice.

Design

Like Kia’s EV6, the EV9 (out there in Mild, Land, Wind and GT-Line configurations) seems to be putting up shut. It does not shrink back from being a big SUV — its boxiness is a characteristic, not a bug. And what it lacks in curves, it makes up for with polygonal physique panels that look futuristic with out being garish like Tesla’s Cybertruck. From the entrance, the EV9 pairs vertical headlights with customizable LEDs. (It’s a must to purchase extra lighting patterns individually, although, a really unlucky alternative by Kia.)

Kia did not stray too removed from the original EV9 concept it revealed in 2019, and that is a great factor. There are not any rear-hinged suicide doors, however I do not miss them. Structurally, normal door frames are safer for passengers, particularly throughout accidents.

Inside

Upon opening the driving force facet door, you are greeted with a sublime setup: well-cushioned seats with comfy mesh headrests; Kia’s 30-inch “Triple Panorama Show,” which includes a gauge cluster, HVAC controls and a 12.3-inch infotainment display; and tons of unpolluted and usable house. It is just like the EV6’s setup, however a bit much less cluttered since gear controls are dealt with by a stalk on the steering wheel, as a substitute of a dial by the cupholders.

Regardless that it includes a large display, the EV9 additionally has a mixture of bodily and capacitive buttons. You may change the temperature, mode and fan speeds with rocker switches on the driving force and passenger facet (rear passengers even have simply reachable HVAC controls). You may also management heating and cooling utilizing the small show subsequent to the infotainment display, however I discovered {that a} bit awkward whereas driving. It was typically obscured by the steering wheel, and there wasn’t a lot suggestions when altering settings on the display.

Kia’s infotainment software program is zippy and responsive, befitting the EV9’s trendy shows. Wi-fi CarPlay and Android Auto assist additionally makes it straightforward to attach your cellphone with out fiddling for cables. The EV9 has a big wi-fi charging pad that ought to match my iPhone 15 Professional Max simply nice, and there is sufficient room to squeeze in even greater telephones. It was a bit finicky to search out the precise wi-fi charging zone, a lot so it made me want Kia had applied MagSafe or the newer Qi2 standard to maintain my cellphone in place. I might suggest at all times having a USB-C cable useful to benefit from the EV9’s quick charging port.

I used to be blown away by the GT-Line EV9’s 14-speaker Meridian system, which has simply sufficient low-end oomph (because of an open-air subwoofer) for music and exact readability for voices whereas listening to podcasts and audiobooks. Meridian says its DSP (digital sound processing) optimizes sound for the EV9’s cabin, and it additionally upmixes audio for five.1 encompass sound (or the equal with many extra audio system).

The corporate’s Intelli-Q Equalization additionally transforms audio because the EV9’s in-cabin noise modifications — as a substitute of simply elevating or decreasing the quantity, it could possibly emphasize particular frequency ranges to cowl one thing like tire noise. In my testing, the Meridian system sounded nice throughout each noisy freeway driving and relaxed native journeys. I undoubtedly seen when the Intelli-Q software program kicked in, nevertheless it wasn’t insufferable like older automobiles that may simply get louder on the freeway. (You may also modify the extent of computerized sound equalization, and audio purists can disable it completely.)

The EV9’s second row captain’s chairs are simply as comfy because the entrance seats, however they’ve cushioned headrests as a substitute of versatile mesh. As a lot as I just like the second row, although, my household would possible be higher off with the 7-seat association from Mild or Wind EV9 fashions. These depend on a bench seat as a substitute of two captain’s chairs, which my spouse prefers when she must experience beside my two-year previous.

The EV9’s third row seats are comfy as nicely, however as in lots of three-row SUVs, most adults will not have a lot legroom to work with. I used to be in a position to squeeze in my 5-foot 8-inch body, however I would not name the expertise best. Anybody using within the EV9’s final row will possible should discount with the particular person in entrance of them for some leg house. It is also price noting that the second row is immovable with little one seats, since they lock seat belts down. So you should definitely have the second row at a cushty spot for rear passengers earlier than hooking up little one seats.

Sadly, the US model of the EV9 won’t have second-row seats that can swivel 180-degrees to face the third row, as a result of they do not meet federal security requirements. That characteristic, which was a serious a part of Kia’s preliminary EV9 publicity blitz, will likely be out there in South Korea and different international locations.

For cargo, the EV9 sports activities 20.2 cubic toes behind its third row seats, and a extra usable 43.5 cubic toes of storage when the third row is folded flat. In the event you push down the second row seats as nicely , you may slot in as much as 81.7 cubic toes of drugs. There is a entrance trunk, or frunk, beneath the hood too, nevertheless it’s not as helpful as different EVs. It may possibly maintain 3.2 cubic toes within the rear-wheel EV9, and an much more minuscule 1.8 cubic toes within the all-wheel drive fashions. In each circumstances, you’ve got simply sufficient room to carry Kia’s degree 1 charging cable and some different small objects.

Driving

On the highway, the EV9 seems like a paradox. Much like Rivian’s R1S, it is a big SUV that is surprisingly fast and nimble for its measurement. I used to be in a position to effortlessly glide by way of native visitors, launch rapidly from stoplights and move automobiles on the freeway with ease. It wasn’t as straightforward to maneuver as my 2019 Volvo XC90, however I used to be nonetheless impressed for the reason that EV9 is a far boxier automobile.

After visiting my dad or mum’s dwelling, a 45-mile freeway journey every means, the EV9 dropped from 80 % cost to 52 %. The AC was blasting closely to fight Georgia’s warmth and humidity, in order that vary felt about proper. Simply remember that an EV’s estimated mileage can simply change relying on AC utilization, exterior temperatures and how briskly you are driving.

My spouse, who hasn’t spent a lot time with EVs, famous that she didn’t really feel like she was truly driving whereas behind the wheel of the EV9. On well-paved roads, it rides easily with out a lot discernible highway noise. My spouse took some time to regulate to the EV9’s sensitive brakes — it’s straightforward to slam the automobile to a halt — however that’s one thing I’ve seen on many EVs. You need to use the EV9’s paddle shifters to regulate regenerative braking, which places a little bit of energy again into the battery and doesn’t use the automobile’s conventional brake pads.

In its most excessive type, the EV9’s regenerative braking permits for one-pedal driving, which lets you utterly cease the automobile just by lifting your foot off of the accelerator. It’s an odd characteristic to get used when you’ve solely ever pushed fuel automobiles, nevertheless it’s a kind of issues that EV house owners study to like rapidly.

It could be good to see Kia provide adaptive suspension on the EV9 finally, since you may really feel the impression of tough roads and enormous bumps far too simply. For a automobile that scales as much as close to $80,000 — like our GT-line evaluate unit — smarter and smoother suspension ought to at the very least be an choice. With out it, the EV9 does not really feel practically as luxurious as the Rivian R1S as driving situations worsen.

I didn’t have a lot bother parking the EV9 in most heaps, however backing out of areas may typically be painful. That was significantly true in places designed for smaller automobiles–I’m taking a look at you, Dealer Joe’s. It took me six bouts of reversing and precarious turning to make it out of 1 spot at my native Regal Cinema. Even then, I may solely depart in a single path, because of a slew of different giant automobiles (together with a very ugly Cybertruck) sitting round me.

Fortunately, the EV9’s high-resolution cameras, proximity sensors and 360-degree overhead digicam (on the GT Line solely) helped me get out of tight spots. However even with these assists, it was nonetheless extra annoying than the chunky Pacifica hybrid minivan I used to personal.

Charging

The Kia EV9 helps 210 kilowatt quick charging, and it’s appropriate with each 400- and 800-volt chargers. Utilizing essentially the most highly effective 800V {hardware} (which admittedly isn’t at all times straightforward to search out), the EV9 can cost from 10 % to 80 % in 24 minutes. Utilizing an area Electrify America charger, which clocked in at 150kW, the EV9 went from 21 % of battery to 90 % in 39 minutes.

I don’t have a Degree 2 charger at dwelling, which may utterly juice up the EV9 in six to seven hours, however I used to be in a position to plug it right into a Degree 1 charger utilizing an ordinary 120V outlet in a single day. That usually added an extra 10 to fifteen % of cost after eight to 10 hours. This degree of charging might not be possible for the long run, nevertheless it’s useful when you don’t have the power so as to add a Degree 2 system at dwelling, or when you’re touring and want so as to add a bit extra juice to succeed in the following quick charger.

Pricing and the competitors

The Kia EV9 begins at $54,900 (not together with vacation spot fees) for the “Mild” mannequin, which incorporates rear-wheel drive, 215 horsepower and 230 miles of vary. Leasing choices begin at $487 a month on average, with $2,000 due at signing for a 36-month time period. These numbers may additionally change relying on the presents Kia makes out there, in addition to what native sellers are prepared to cost.

The “Mild Lengthy Vary” mannequin will get you an even bigger battery with 304 miles of vary for $59,200 and a barely weaker 201hp motor. Increased-end trims are practically twice as quick with 379hp all-wheel drive motors. That features the $63,900 “Wind” EV9 and the $69,900 “Land” mannequin, each of which have 280 miles of vary.

On the high finish, there’s the flagship GT-Line mannequin we reviewed, which begins at $73,900. It has a bit much less vary (270 miles) than mid-range decisions, nevertheless it additionally has nearly each characteristic Kia may throw in, together with a 12-inch heads-up show on the windshield, 21-inch alloy wheels and the 14-speaker Meridien sound system.

Whereas its value escalates rapidly, the EV9 continues to be a greater deal than each different three-row EV available on the market. The Rivian R1S begins at $75,900, and it at the moment leases for $699 a month with at the very least $8,500 in signing charges. The getting older Tesla Model X begins at $77,990. These automobiles are additionally each considerably sooner than the EV9, they usually provide higher experience choices like adaptive suspension.

Wrap-up

After eagerly awaiting the right household EV for years – following my time with the Rav4 hybrid, Sienna hybrid and the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid – I’m stunned it’s coming from Kia and never a extra established model like Toyota. The EV9 is spacious, extra reasonably priced than different EVs and it drives (principally) like a dream. It fees rapidly, and most fashions have greater than sufficient vary to cope with the occasional highway journey. Merely put, the Kia EV9 is every little thing I’ve been in search of in a three-row household EV.