Kia Gives A Glimpse Of EV9 SUV During Track Testing

The biggest electric Kia yet was spotted last week being pushed to its limits—on the track.

The EV9, a three-row SUV expected to be officially revealed in the first part of next year, will be the second dedicated EV from the South Korean automaker. The EV6, a smaller all-electric SUV, was new for 2022 and offers a more compact crossover experience.

Several photos of the hefty EV were released during testing at Kia’s Namyang testing center. The camouflaged EV9 made its appearance during technical testing, which includes a four-wheel drive hill climb, rough track terrain, deep-water wading and other high-speed exercises to see how it handles extreme driving conditions.

The test program in Korea is just part of a global development effort to get the EV9 on the road on time for its debut as a flagship EV. The August track session was one of its final durability tests, which includes riding on low-friction track surfaces and other terrain to improve ride quality as engineers finish its buildout. 

Kia said the car has been under development for 44 months, well before it was first previewed at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2021. More information about the EV9 was later revealed at the New York International Auto Show in the first part of 2022, but what will carryover from the prototype to production is still hard to glean, especially when it comes to interior styling. 

The EV9 is expected to have at least 300-mile range and a $50,000 base price, putting it in closer competition with the Kia Telluride, a gas-powered SUV. This month’s photos show the same wide-set and angular SUV first seen in LA as a prototype. The testing prototype has sprouted conventional mirrors and a thicker B-pillar, but otherwise looks largely undiluted.

The wrapped cars also show it’s still boxy and butch with a modified grille, with a different look from the sleeker EV6. It looks more aligned with the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 7 SUV than any existing Kia, gas- or battery-powered. The track reveal didn’t give much more about its battery platform and how it’ll differ from the EV6’s Electric Global Modular Platform (or E-GMP, which is shared with Hyundai’s Ioniq 5). 

The EV9 will enter the market in late 2023 as a new federal clean vehicle program takes effect. Kia was poised to qualify for $7,500 in tax credits for its growing lineup of EVs, but now that most of its vehicles are made outside of the U.S. the EV9 will no longer qualify for any credits. Kia had previously announced plans to build 500,000 EVs per year by 2030 as the Korean brands push for electrification.