Kia has finally unveiled the design of its highly anticipated all-electric SUV, the EV9. It closely resembles the earlier concept car, but with several exciting upgrades. This new SUV from Kia is expected to fill a gap in the market as the first three-row, all-electric SUV that regular buyers can afford, unlike the Tesla Model X.
While Kia has kept details about the EV9 under wraps, a sneak peek in Seoul provided some insight into which aspects of the stunning EV9 concept from 2021 will make it to production.
The EV9 retains the bold design approach seen in the EV6 but with more polygonal lines, which, according to Kia, gives it a robust SUV stance while still maintaining excellent aerodynamic efficiency. The vehicle’s ruggedness and sleekness are evident in the cohesive integration of triangular fender structures and pronounced geometric wheel arches into the body.
The exterior boasts flush door handles and a tapered back roofline, while the interior is equally impressive. The front cabin has a floating panoramic dash, consisting of two 12.3-inch displays and a 5-inch display. Physical buttons are minimal, and the second-row seats can swivel 180 degrees, making it easy to converse with third-row passengers or facilitate cabin access.
Kia is targeting a 540-kilometer (337-mile) range for the EV9, which is slightly more than the RWD 77.4-kWh EV6. It aims for a 0-to-60-mph acceleration time of five seconds, almost matching the EV6 AWD’s 5.2 seconds.
Built on Kia’s E-GMP platform, the EV9 supports superfast 800-volt charging and vehicle-to-load capabilities. The target charging time is six minutes to add 100 kilometers of range at a high-speed charger.
While the concept version’s solar panels and pop-up steering wheel haven’t been mentioned, the EV9 will be the first Kia model to feature Automode, the company’s autonomous driving technology. According to Karim Habib, Executive VP and head of Kia Global Design Center, the EV9 offers a fresh perspective in the family SUV sector.
