Designing The 2024 Kia EV9: Three Rows Of Big Looks

The first in-depth look at the 2024 Kia EV9 shows there’s more to the beefy all-electric SUV from the Korean automaker, especially after the dedicated EV lineup started with the more svelte compact SUV, the EV6. 

From Concept to Reality

The all-new EV with three rows of seating debuted as a concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2021, but now Kia is giving a good look at the production car. Unsurprisingly, the quirkier elements of the concept, including the oval steering wheel and suicide doors, are gone. What remains is much of the angular sheet metal along with a clean, minimalist interior. 

Kia gave us the opportunity to not only see the production car but to speak to its designers about why it looks the way it looks and how this three-row EV heralds the future of the brand.

From 6 to 9

It all started with the EV6, which is a smaller crossover with two rows of seating. It was the first in a new range of electric cars that will all use parent company Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform, or E-GMP platform. Unlike other electric vehicles in the Kia lineup (the Niro EV is based on the…Niro), the EV6 and EV9 were built as dedicated EVs rather than converting an existing gas model into an electric version. That gave designers the freedom to rethink how these cars should look.

The EV series stands out—in good ways—from the rest of the Kia lineup. The EV9 even more so for its upright posture and angular sheet metal. Designers purposely scaled back the bulging fenders and curves so common on today’s SUVs and went for something more streamlined. Not an easy feat in a big, three-row SUV. It’s especially noticeable looking at the EV9 from the front and makes this big vehicle look less bulky.

Connecting the Lights

The front view also highlights one of the more striking design elements of the EV9: its lights. Lighting has taken center stage in electric vehicles as designers found a new focal point in the absence of a traditional grille. In the EV9, the lights mimic the bold, geometric design of the body with a combination of vertical headlamps and narrow daytime running lights.

Kia calls it a Star Map LED design. It’s intended to look like the constellations in the night sky. Imagine connecting stars to make the image of a person or an animal. That’s what Kia aimed for, trying to create the illusion of connected points of light. The resulting design looks like lightning bolts and could slip right in next to Cassiopeia or Orion. This is set to become a signature design element for future Kia electric vehicles. Porsche has its four-point headlights. Volvo has Thor’s hammer on its headlights. Ford’s Mustang has the triple bar icon. Now, Kia has its Star Map.

Big Looks, Inside and Out

Look at the EV9 in profile and, even without yet knowing its exact dimensions, you can see the long wheelbase. That means more room for people and when you open the doors, you can easily see how that design paid off. It’s cavernous inside the EV9 with an available glass roof that lets in even more light so those in the third row don’t feel isolated. Access to all three rows is easy. Even those over 6-feet will find their way into the third row without issue.

The futuristic, thoroughly modern exterior design carries over to the interior of the EV9. Materials, which were chosen with a focus on sustainability, are minimalist. There’s nothing flashy inside this SUV. Instead, there’s a simplicity that’s pleasing to the eye. The lack of visual clutter makes the EV9 a refuge from the world outside and that’s what the designers intended.

More than a Family-Hauler

Kia sees cars as evolving into more than just a way to get from one place to the next. Sure, they can take you on a grocery run or to the office, but they can also provide you with a place to relax. Especially in an SUV with seating for the whole family, a car is a place for people to connect and enjoy their time together. The EV9 was designed with this in mind from its roomy, uncluttered interior to its infotainment system.

The need to stay connected makes infotainment screens a focal point of car interiors. That’s good, but it’s also bad. A big screen makes these systems easier to use, but when they’re huge things plopped on the dashboard, they’re somewhat unappealing. Kia managed to include a large infotainment screen in the EV9, but did it in a way that makes it a part of the design rather than an intrusion.

There are three screens mounted horizontally across the dashboard with an instrument cluster on the left, infotainment screen on the right, and smaller screen in the middle with additional information. These three distinct screens are all housed in one long, horizontal display that sits atop the dashboard rather than being broken up into separate units. It’s a single smooth, clean line that melds well with the simple interior aesthetic.

As for details on battery size, range and charging, Kia is keeping that under wraps for now. The expectation is that there will be a large battery to provide ample range with somewhere around 300 miles per charge. Since it uses the E-GMP platform, it will also be able to take advantage of fast (and bi-directional) charging, just like its EV6 sibling. This makes the EV9 a solid pick for families who take the occasional road trip and don’t want to spend unnecessary time charging the battery.

How Much Will the 2024 Kia EV9 Cost? When Will it be Available?

Pricing is also still unknown, but even without a dollar amount, the EV9 stands to be an affordable three-row electric vehicle that will finally allow families on a budget a chance at electrification. The Kia EV9 has all the room of a luxury model, but is likely to have a price starting somewhere around $50,000. Its roomy interior with three generous rows of seating and expected budget-friendly pricing are unique in the segment.

There are plenty of small crossovers with a wide range of pricing from affordable electric options including the Chevrolet Bolt EUV ($27,800) to sky-high luxury models like the BMW iX (over $84,000 to start). But when it comes to three-row SUVs, the electric options are more limited and usually pricier.

Existing models, including the Tesla Model X and Rivian R1S start at over $100,000 and $78,000, respectively. The smaller Tesla Model Y with an optional (and very tight) third-row starts at just under $60,000. This puts them out of reach for families with more modest budgets. The Mercedes-Benz EQB has a more modest starting price of around $55,000, but its third row is optional and very small for adults. 

The 2024 Kia EV9 builds on what Kia started with the EV6 (which starts at $48,700) with a fresh design that is modern and minimalist. It’s expected to go on sale this fall with its striking exterior design elements that give it a signature look with an interior that’s welcoming, open and relaxing for busy families on the go. The Kia EV9 shows off not just what the brand is designing today, but what it plans to design for families in the electrified future.

Kia provided lodging, meals and travel to enable us to bring you this first-person report. Although Forbes Wheels sometimes participates in manufacturer-hosted events, our coverage is independent, unbiased and aimed at offering consumers an objective view of every vehicle we test.