Yahoo News 2024 Kia EV9 Will Be Poky or Punchy, with Power from 201 to 379 HP
The 2024 Kia EV9 is almost identical in size to the three-row Telluride SUV and will offer powertrains with between 201 and 379 horsepower.
The dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup is the mightiest, but the rear-drive option will offer the longest range—claimed to be around 300 miles.
The EV9 will go on sale in North America near the end of 2023, but Kia is still waiting to release pricing and other specific details.
UPDATE 4/5/2023: This story has been updated with some U.S. specs for the 2024 Kia EV9 that the company revealed today at the New York auto show. Kia says it will release more specific trim details and pricing down the road.
Families looking for a mid-size three-row electric SUV will see their limited choices expand ever so slightly when the 2024 Kia EV9 goes on sale in America near the end of this year. With dimensions that are almost identical to the gas-powered Kia Telluride—and a blocky design that sets it apart—the EV9 will be the largest EV in showrooms shared with the subcompact Niro EV and compact EV6. Kia has already released some specs at the EV9's global reveal last month, and today the company debuts the U.S. version at the New York auto show.
Kia EV9 Comes into Focus
By now, most people have had a look at the EV9's Minecraft-like bodywork. Its distinctive design hasn't drastically changed from the concept that debuted at the L.A. auto show. Some production versions will even have similar front accent lights that shine through the body color and can be configured into different patterns. Kia also claims the EV9 has an aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.28—an impressively low number considering its shape.
The EV9's exterior dimensions are all within tenths of an inch of the Telluride's. The electric model is 197.4 inches long, 77.9 inches wide, and 69.1 inches tall (70.1 inches for the GT-Line). However, the EV9 boasts an extra 7.8 inches between its axles, with a wheelbase that stretches 122.0 inches. The smallest wheels the EV9 will wear are 19-inchers, and the biggest are 21s. All models also have 7.8 inches of ground clearance.
Exact measurements for the EV9's passenger space are still being kept under wraps. Based on that and what we already know, the EV9 will be more spacious inside than the Telluride. We've sat in all three rows and can vouch for the EV's roominess, particularly in the rearmost row where there's more headroom and legroom. The amount of individual seats ranges between six and seven, depending on the second-row configuration (captain's chairs cap capacity at the lower number, while a bench seat unlocks the higher one).
Of course, when it comes to interior packaging, the EV9's flat load floor courtesy of its e-GMP platform provides an advantage versus the gas-fueled alternative. Kia says there's 20 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. Folding all the seats behind the drive and front passenger and cargo volume grows to 82 cubes.
The EV9's roster of available features includes a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, a light-up logo on the steering wheel, and a 14-speaker, 708-watt Meridian audio system. Kia also offers what it calls "Relaxation Mode" for people sitting in the first and second rows. This includes power-operated leg rests as well as heated and ventilated seat cushions. It's similar to what's found on the 10Best-winning Hyundai Ioniq 5, where even the driver gets a leg rest so they can chill during charging stops and such.
Do You Want It Poky or Punchy?
The 2024 Kia EV9 will be available with two powertrain configurations split into three levels of potency. Apart from the all-wheel-drive dual-motor setup, the singe-motor variants aren't expected to pack much of a punch. However, the trade-off will likely mean more driving range per charge.
The EV9's two rear-wheel-drive setups feature a single electric motor mounted on the back axle. The base EV9 (called the Standard) is the only one that pairs with a 77.6-kWh battery pack; range estimates are currently unknown. Peak output is 215 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. For comparison, the Telluride's 3.8-liter V-6 makes 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet. Kia claims this will push the mid-size EV SUV to 62 mph in 8.2 seconds, which is considered leisurely, at best.
Straight-line acceleration is said to be even slower with the rear-drive EV9 Long Range. Kia claims a pokey 62-mph acceleration estimate of 9.4 seconds. Not only does its peak output drop from 215 to 201 horsepower, but the Long Range adds weight due to its larger 99.8-kWh battery. Kia says it expects this EV9 to provide around 300 miles of driving range.
While there's no word on expected range, the EV9 GT-Line also has the big battery and is the mightiest of the bunch—at least until the high-performance GT model that's currently being developed arrives for 2025. For now, the GT-Line alone has an electric motor on each axle. Along with creating an all-wheel-drive system, they combine to make 379 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, which Kia says enables the AWD EV9 to hit 60 mph in 5 seconds flat.
Regardless of how mighty the EV9's electric motors are, its 800-volt electrical architecture allows for quick charging times. Kia claims the larger battery can be recharged from 10 to 80 percent in under 25 minutes with a DC fast-charger. Our tests of Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis's fast-charging capabilities suggest that claim can be believed. The EV9 also has a 5000-pound towing capacity, which matches the Telluride's rating but will dramatically diminish the EV's driving range.
Kia to Keep Evolving the EV9
In addition to a boatload of contemporary active safety features, the EV9 will be ready to expand the breadth of its driver-assist technology in the future. Kia says it's working on a lidar-based system called Highway Driving Pilot that'll allow Level 3 autonomous driving in certain situations, meaning the driver doesn't have to control the vehicle (provided they maintain attention). The feature will be introduced on the EV9 GT-Line in the future, with Kia planning to release more details closer to its actual availability.
Among the features that early adopters of the Kia EV9 won't have to wait for are a new digital key and remote parking assist. These two are a package deal, with the "key" used to initiate the parking procedure while the owner watches their EV9 park itself. The digital key also allows people to open and turn on the SUV using their smartphone, which isn't revolutionary but is useful, nonetheless. Owners will also be able to purchase other features and subscription-based services through the new Kia Connect Store, however, exactly what those include remains to be seen.
Kia says the 2024 EV9 lineup will go on sale in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of this year, with info leaked earlier this year suggesting prices between $56K and $73K. Initially, U.S. versions of the EV9 will be built and imported from South Korea, however, assembly will move to Kia's factory in West Point, Georgia, sometime in 2024. That means the EV9 won't be eligible for the federal EV tax credit until production is stateside.
Meanwhile, we expect official pricing and other specs regarding the mid-size three-row electric SUV to be released in the weeks and months ahead, so stay tuned for that.
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