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by Alex Forrest
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28 May, 2024
Electric vehicles have been growing in more ways than just the number of them on our roads.
Watch Alex take you through the Kia EV9 in detail. Keep reading below for his article review.
They’re also growing in size, there’s more to choose from and more are coming. And while big EVs aren’t especially new to Australian roads - the seven-seat Tesla Model X arrived here back in 2017 – nowadays there’s a more diverse selection of them.
The latest to arrive is the Kia EV9. Classified as an upper large electric SUV, the EV9 can seat seven people and has a quoted battery range of up to 512km, depending on which variant you choose.
Clearly, the EV9 is set to extend the appeal of EVs to those who need more space in their vehicle. But those customers will also need to have more cash to spend than most.
Pricing for the EV9 starts from $109,690 for the entry-level Air variant, moving up to $122,920 for the mid-spec Earth and topping out at $142,990 for the range-topping GT-Line. The latter is just $8,600 short of the electric BMW iX xDrive40 – though that’s not a seven-seater.
On the road, even the base model’s performance with its single motor is brisk. As with many larger EVs, its ride is supple – as you might expect with a vehicle weighing 2300kg, including a 460kg battery.
There is no shortage of tech in the EV9 and it could be argued there’s a little too much, given the amount of attention that needs to be paid to the touchscreen for some functions.
But the EV9 stands to displace other large internal combustion seven-seater SUVs that are often used for carting kids and shopping around urban areas, and that’s a good thing given this is where most vehicle emissions occur.
The range-topping EV9 GT-Line will be impressive for its extra performance, but apart from that, it’s a big price premium for what are otherwise mostly superficial additions compared to the Air.
Kia EV9 Air
Specifications
ENGINE: Single electric motor
POWER:160kW
TORQUE: 350Nm
ENERGY EFFICIENCY: 195Wh/km
PRICE: from $109,689 drive away
ANCAP SAFETY RATING: 5 stars
