The all-new Kia EV9 has already had a couple of premieres online, but the SUV has made its official North American debut at the 2023 New York International Auto Show. If you’ve been following along with the SUV’s unveilings, there aren’t a lot of new announcements with the EV9’s debut in New York. Kia did, however, confirm that it is targeting an on-sale date sometime in Q4 2023 for the U.S., and the EV9 is expected to be assembled in West Point, Georgia starting next year. It would be the first Kia to be assembled locally in the U.S.
If you haven’t paid attention to the Kia EV9 and this is the first time you’ve heard of it, it’s the Korean automaker’s first three-row EV SUV and will serve as the flagship for the company’s global Plan S strategy. It rides on the E-GMP architecture that also underpins the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Ioniq 6, and Genesis GV60. Like other Hyundai and Kia BEVs, the EV9 also uses a standard 800-volt electrical architecture, which enables DC fast charging speeds of up to 230 kW, potentially refilling the EV9’s battery from 10% to 80% in under 25 minutes. It will however, be the first Kia model to use fourth-generation battery technology that has been designed for improved energy density. The onboard charger is rated at 11 kW, so it’ll take full advantage of a 48-amp Level 2 home EV charger.
Overall, the EV9 measures 197.4″ in length and up to 70.1″ tall and 77.9″ wide. With all three rows raised, it offers 20.2 cubic feet of cargo space, but when both rows of rear seats are folded, volume jumps to 81.9 cubic feet. At launch, the EV9 will be available in a variety of six- and seven-seat configurations. First- and second-row passenger occupants will get to enjoy an available “Relaxation Mode” that offers comfort with power operated leg rests. Second-row comforts include eight-way power adjustments along with heating and cooling.
The EV9 will come standard with a 76.1-kWh battery pack paired with a 215-horsepower electric motor driving the rear wheels. The larger 99.8-kWh battery pack will be available in either a single-motor configuration or a dual-motor configuration with all-wheel drive. The single-motor setup is targeting a range of 300 miles, but the expected range for the dual-motor setup with 379 hp and 516 pound-feet of torque is currently unclear. The SUV will offer four drive modes on all trims: Eco, Normal, Sport, and My Mode.
Look for more details on the 2024 Kia EV9 as it gets closer to its U.S. launch later this year.
“With the launch of the EV9, we are incorporating our experience in producing brilliantly designed, best-in-class SUVs with our deep expertise in developing the industry’s leading EVs,” said Sean Yoon, president and CEO, Kia North America and Kia America. “The EV9 is a credible, high-value SUV that encapsulates our approach to bringing innovative, consumer-focused products to market with a serious commitment to electrification.”
