KIA EV9

Is bigger always better? When it comes to bank balances and widescreen TVs, the answer is yes. Does the same apply to electric cars? The humongous Kia EV9 certainly makes a compelling case – we love it so much it won the Outstanding EV category in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.

As an electric seven-seater it’s in rarefied air. The Volvo EX90 is the only other one on the horizon, though you can also buy the left-hand drive-only Tesla Model X if you’re not picky about speccing it. If you just want a big, posh electric SUV without the seven seats, you could also consider the Audi Q8 e-tron and BMW iX.

The big Kia certainly dwarves its little sibling, the EV6 – if that car is a small island-hopping aeroplane the EV9 feels more like a jumbo jet. And with a spacious, well-appointed interior, it’s like sitting in business class.

The cabin looks suitably luxurious and high-tech. Twin-screen dashboards are pretty common these days, but the EV9 goes one better with a three-screen layout. You get the usual big displays for the driver and infotainment, as well as a smaller one between them for the climate controls.

It's poorly positioned, though, because the steering wheel blocks your view, but at least you can also control it through chunky dashboard-mounted buttons that are easy to get to. And while the EV9 looks posh inside, and certainly most of the stuff you touch regularly feels suitably upmarket, it’s not hard to find some less satisfying plastics around the dashboard. A similarly priced BMW iX feels fancier inside.

The seats are delightfully comfy though, and top-spec GT-Line models have fancy reclining chairs with footrests, even in the front, for maximum relaxation while charging. There’s also a six-seat option, which gives you second-row seats that can swivel 180 degrees when you’re stopped so you can chat to those in the back seats. It’s a bit clunky and cramped if you do so, but a cool idea nonetheless.

Less cramped is the boot. Even with all seven seats in place, there’s enough space for a few carry-on bags. Fold the rear-most seats down and the boot is cavernous, while you also get a small front boot, too. The Tesla Model X has a bigger capacity for both, but few will actually need the extra space...

The prospect of paying £65k-plus for a Kia might have seemed crazy even a few years ago, but the EV9 makes a strong case for itself thanks to its seven- or six-seat layout and comfortable, spacious interior. It doesn’t quite feel as posh as some German alternatives at this price but it’s close enough to be a compelling option if you want something less obvious. It looks absolutely brilliant, too. This is essentially an MPV, but wearing the clothes of a chunky SUV people will actually buy..

The EV9 is Kia’s top model, so it’s no bargain, but it’s considerably less expensive than the Volvo EX90 and Tesla Model X. At this price you could also shop for the likes of the BMW iX and Audi Q8 e-tron – they are not seven-seaters, but do feel a bit more special inside.

Having said that, looking at the overall space and technology on offer compared with similar cars at this price, a £65,000 starting price actually feels pretty reasonable. Imagine saying that about a Kia just a decade ago.

There are three trim levels, with the entry-level Air model starting around £65,000 and only being available with the single-motor setup. Upgrade to GT-Line for about £10,000 extra and you get more kit and the more powerful dual-motor system, while top-spec GT-Line S models cost around another £3,000. This GT-Line S trim is the only one offered in the six-seat layout.

Source: https://www.carwow.co.uk/kia/ev9

DETAILS

All EV9 models get the same big battery, which delivers a range of up to 349 miles if you choose the long range single-motor model, or 313 miles if you go for the higher-performance dual-motor version. The faster model sprints to 62mph in 5.3 seconds – quick, but easily beaten by the warp-factor acceleration of a Tesla Model X, which also has the edge for range.

If the Kia’s batteries do run low, you can quickly top up thanks to the EV9’s maximum charging rate of 210kW. There aren’t many super-powerful public chargers that can reach this, but if you do find one Kia claims a 10-80% recharge in as little as 24 minutes.

One thing to note is that the motors are tied to the trim levels, so you can’t get a top-spec model with less power and more range, for example.

Out on the road the Kia EV9 is easy to drive. Because the cabin is so spacious it feels almost intimidatingly huge at first, but the steering is light and the electric motors are powerful so it’s not at all cumbersome.

The suspension is smoother at higher speeds, but sharp, low-speed impacts such as potholes give a noticeable thud, and tyre roar is fairly prominent with the top-spec model’s massive alloy wheels. Country road undulations can induce some side-to-side wobble, too.

That being said, it’s generally a relaxing way to pile on the miles and handles corners surprisingly well for such a big, heavy SUV. Some light off-roading did rather flummox the on-board software though, so it’s probably best not to test the ‘mud’ drive mode too much…