2023 Kia EV9 new car review

The latest machine from the booming car maker is unlike anything it has sold before and pushes it into uncharted territory.

Meet the Kia with a luxury car price tag.

The most expensive vehicle in the brand’s history costs roughly $107,000 drive-away, putting it squarely in the crosshairs of prestige SUVs with ritzier badges on the bonnet.

Peer past the badge, though, and the electric EV9 is brimming with substance.

It’s available in three models: the rear-drive Air, which makes 160kW and 350Nm, and all-wheel drive Earth and GT-Line, which each produce 283kW and 700Nm. Down the track there will be a high-performance GT variant.

The EV9 is the most expensive Kia to date.

Even the entry-level Air is generously appointed. It has 19-inch alloys, tri-zone airconditioning, wireless phone charging, a powered tailgate and heated, ventilated and power adjustable front seats.

The dash is dominated by dual 12.3-inch displays and a 5.0-inch screen for the climate control, while tech includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Drivers can monitor, lock and unlock the vehicle via a smartphone app, as well as download over-the-air software upgrades.

Safety systems include auto emergency braking, blind-spot warning and an alert that stops occupants from opening the doors if other vehicles are passing.

There is an extensive list of standard equipment.

Step up to the Earth (about $120,000 drive-away) and Kia adds a front motor as well as a bigger 99.8kWh battery that extends the range to 512km. There’s also ambient lighting, a 360-degree camera, blind-spot cameras and auto braking in reverse.

The circa-$140,000 GT-Line adds 21-inch wheels that reduce the range to 505km. There’s also a 14-speaker Meridian sound system, matrix headlights, cameras replacing side mirrors, a head-up display, heated middle-row outer seats and dual sunroofs.

The GT-Line also replaces some of the external silver finishes with black.

The EV9 can be charged at up to 230kW, allowing for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 20 minutes for the Air and 24 minutes for the Earth and GT-Line. A 7.4kW home wallbox takes about 11 hours for the Air and 14 hours for the others.

All-wheel drive versions get two potent electric motors and a big battery.

Sliding into the driver’s seat there’s not much that feels cheap about the Air. The faux-leather trim looks convincing, recycled materials lift the ambience and there’s enough gadgetry to keep technophiles content.

Main menu items are housed in clever touchpads built into the dash panel and provide a mild kickback when pressed, although it’s easy to accidentally activate them when swiping through the touchscreen.

The cabin is packed with hi-tech an luxury kit.

Those up front are treated to acres of head and legroom and an abundance of storage bins, including a sizeable space between the seats. There’s only a small covered console, although the glovebox and the under-bonnet storage provide other secure storage for valuables. The middle row is vast and spacious, the third row less so, although adults will still be able to slide themselves in. If they can convince those in the second row to sacrifice some legroom, the space is acceptable.

There are a pair of USB-C power outlets in each of the second and third rows and a home power point in the boot to run everything from a laptop to a coffee machine.

Child-seat anchor points in all three rows and rear aircon controls keep the tribe happy.

Step up to the GT-Line and there are more modern fabrics and classier dual-tone seats.

While the EV9 feels big to sit in it’s never cumbersome on the road. There’s polish to the way it handles bumps and a reassuring solidity. It’s also impressively quiet.

The EV9 doesn’t feel as big on the road as its proportions suggest.

The single motor Air is smooth and responsive, effortlessly shifting 2.3 tonnes of large SUV in a way petrol and diesel alternatives struggle to match.

The dual-motor GT-Line – which hits 100km/h in 5.3 seconds – is noticeably punchier. It also has a terrain selector that tailors the electronics to snow, mud or sand, although the lack of a spare wheel limits its ability to venture into rougher terrain.

The additional few hundred kilograms of the GT-Line affect its agility but the raw talent still shines. Continental tyres add extra confidence when cornering.

For many, though, it’ll be the badge that causes the biggest quandary with the EV9. Those with an open mind will find the space, driving nous and vast equipment list offsets the lofty price tag.

VERDICT 4/5

Look beyond the price tag and you’ll find a spacious and great driving large electric SUV.

Kia EV9 Air

PRICE: From about $107,000 drive-away

WARRANTY/SERVICING: Seven yrs/unlimited km, $1351 for five yrs/75,000km

SAFETY: Nine airbags, auto emergency braking, lane-keep assist, driver monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, tyre pressure monitors, safe-exit warning

POWER: Single electric motor, 160kW/350Nm

RANGE: 443km

SPARE: Repair kit

LUGGAGE: 663 litres (seven seats in place)

Originally published as 2023 Kia EV9 new car review