2024 Kia EV9: Family Travel Goes Big, Bold, High Tech, And Electric

Electric vehicle options keep expanding, and the newest one from Kia has expanded into the large, three-row SUV category. The 2024 Kia EV9 made its global debut this week, and it will be on display for U.S. shoppers at next week’s New York International Auto Show. The electric SUV features an advanced exterior lighting system, can seat up to 7 people, and can travel over 330 miles on a single charge. Kia says the EV9 can also recapture 150 miles of range in 15 minutes through its 800-volt charging system.

The Kia EV9 breaks multiple barriers in the electric vehicle space. While it’s not the first large, three-row SUV to hit showrooms, it is the first from a mainstream, high volume brand with pricing likely to start around $50,000 (pricing has not officially been confirmed yet). It’s also the first to offer Level 3 conditional autonomy, which means the EV9 can handle “all aspects of driving” when engaged, though driver attention and readiness to take over is still required.

This capability, dubbed HDP, or “Highway Driving Pilot”, could make the EV9 the first production car sold in the U.S. to feature this level of advanced driver assistance when it goes on sale in the second half of 2023. The EV9 leverages 15 sensors, including dual Lidars (laser imaging sensors) to provide detailed scans of the area around the SUV. With level 3 autonomy a vehicle can, potentially, change lanes, overtake slower traffic, and follow navigation system guidance while the driver watches a video or interacts with a smartphone or tablet.

Additional high-tech features include over-the-air (OTA) updates and upgrades, allowing owners to increase the EV9’s technological pedigree by adding features after purchase. For instance, the EV9 will have Kia’s newest Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 tech, allowing the car to park itself while the driver watches from outside. A more advanced version of the EV9’s “Digital Pattern Lighting Grille” can also be added after purchase, allowing for owners to animate and customize the array of daytime running lights next to the headlights. And added power, or “Boost” as Kia calls it, can also be purchased, improving the EV9’s zero-to-60 time with extra torque.

Base EV9’s come with a single, rear-wheel-drive motor and 76.1 kWh battery. A larger 99.8 kWh battery is available, as is a dual motor model. Single motor EV9s offer 200 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque, and zero-to-60 in 9.4 seconds. A dual-motor version provides 380 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque, with a zero-to-60 time of 6 seconds. Owners can buy an additional 74 lb-ft of torque and drop that that zero-to-60 time to 5.3 seconds.

Seating options include a 6-passenger, second-row captains chair layout or a 7-passenger, second-row bench seat configuration. When opting for the captains chairs they swivel 180 degrees, and both the first and second rows offer a “relaxation” setting, or fully reclined. An appealing feature when stopped for charging and enjoying a nap. The interior also features sustainable materials and the use of recycled and bio-based materials.

The 2024 Kia EV9’s attractive exterior design, roomy interior, 300-plus-mile range and advanced technologies present a unique offering in the electric vehicle category. If it’s priced right and delivers on the promises made during its unveiling it could find a willing customer base in multiple global markets, including the U.S.