Kia EV9 GT-Line review finds EV is perfect mix between a Carnival and an EV6
Super groovy with room for a netball team, a family tests finds the Kia EV9 GT-Line is the leading battery electric vehicle within its genre
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Breaking the six-figure price bracket is accompanied by blazing a new trail.
The all-electric EV9 is the most expensive Kia to make its way to Australia, but also starts a new seven-seat benchmark.
Prices start from $106,000 for the base Air variant. With a range of about 500km it’s a family hauler that combines the latest technology we’ve seen in the sleek EV6 with the flexibility of a people-mover.
Current seven-seat competition is slim. Volvo’s EX90 is coming later this year with prices forecast to be about $180k, Tesla’s Model X is not currently available in Australia, while the compact Mercedes-Benz EQB can’t compare for space and still starts from about $111,000 while its larger EQS brethren pushes past $200,000.
Chinese manufacturers such as Haval and MG have moved into the cheap and cheerful space occupied by the Korean brands more than two decades ago.
While some Aussies still scoff at the Korean marques, sister companies Kia and Hyundai have ascended the quality and quality rankings. Combine the sales of both and they would sit comfortably second on the Australian overall new car sales rankings behind Toyota – well ahead of Mazda and Ford.
During the Christmas holidays our extended family tested the range-topping EV9 GT-Line with the matt blue paint job which has a drive-away price of about $144,000.
Throughout the festive season the EV9 drew enduring looks, and got a big thumbs up from one young dad who took his time on the pedestrian crossing to check out all angles, while a pre-teen boy barked “I like your car” during a wait at the supermarket carpark.
WHAT DO YOU GET?
Digital side mirrors use cameras to project vision onto the pair of seven-inch screens. Together with two 12.3-inch screens that sandwich a 5-inch aircon control display, it helps create a futuristic cabin with LED lights which line the dash.
Whether the digital offering is better than conventional mirrors is debatable, but it’s among the GT-Line’s exclusive feature list which also includes a 14-speaker Meridian sound system, 21-inch alloys, matrix headlights, head-up display, integrated sun shades in the second row, heated and ventilated middle-row outer seats and a massive sunroof.
Other complimentary items include nine drink holders, dual zone front and single zone rear aircon, ability to lock and unlock the vehicle via a smartphone app, start the EV9 and set up driver profiles via a fingerprint, as well as ability to download over-the-air software upgrades.
The EV9 in red would be closer to $140k drive-away, the exclusive matt blue paint adds $3495. Premium white, black, green and grey cost $990.
Both the mid spec Earth and the GT-Line have the larger battery, and with a home wall charger it will rise from 10 to 100 per cent in just over nine hours. Use a common 50kW public charger and the EV9 will shift from 10-80 per cent in 83 minutes. A super fast 350kW charger can achieve the same feat in 24 minutes.
Small appliances can also be powered via two interior three-prong power outlets.
Prepaid service packages are available for three ($706), five ($1351) or seven years ($1997). For comparison, a petrol Kia Carnival over five years costs $2491.
HOW WAS THE DRIVE?
Despite weighing a hefty 3240kg, the EV9 GT-Line can haul. It will rip from standstill to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds – that’s rapid considering there is also enough accommodation for a netball team.
It’s the quickest of the EV9 bunch by some margin.
Daily travels are smooth and serene with limited road noise.
One issue was the constant chimes associated with the speed zone recognition. Travel over the limit and it delivered a warning, along with another bong when entering a new zone. Turning the functionality completely off became the default.
Attack corners with too much enthusiasm and the sheer size and weight became evident.
Measuring 5015mm long, the EV9 is only 100mm short of a Kia Carnival (15mm less width), and that translated to a ute-like 12.4m turning circle.
Yet the expansive cabin space delivered impressive real estate for adults, along with outstanding seating flexibility. Dropping single seats on one side saw us accommodate five adults and three surfboards. One airport trip handled six adults and their luggage courtesy of some Tetris-like packing.
Power consumption during our test saw an average of 21.9kWh/100km. That’s on the thirsty side, mostly due to the EV9’s heavy batteries.
WOULD YOU BUY ONE?
Kel: Smooth and fast, there wasn’t much to dislike about the EV9. The asking price remains the biggest stumbling block, but that’s the same with most new EVs. I could easily live with one in the driveway, although with limited need for seven seats I’d probably take Kia’s cheaper EV6 GT that’s faster and looks sportier.
Grant: Without doubt, it’s the coolest seven-seater on the market. Many wouldn’t consider a people-mover because they aren’t sexy enough, the EV9’s square external lines aren’t for everyone but most people like the standout styling. The GT-Line sticker pushes Kia into a new pricing stratosphere and means it will only appeal to the well-heeled ready to embrace the future.
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