Kia is finally sharing Some of the EV9 electric SUV’s specs, and it could be good news for families planning road trips. The three-row EV will now include Level 3 autonomous driving (meaning the car drives itself in some situations but may need you to take charge) in some countries when it starts in the GT-line model. The planned highway driving commander will use LiDAR and other sensors to allow you to “take a break” from driving, where conditions permit.
The EV9 may also offer more range than you might expect for an SUV of this size. Kia claims the RWD Long Range model with its 99.8 kWh battery will provide up to 336 miles of range, based on WLTP testing. We would have expected a more conservative estimate from the US Environmental Protection Agency, but it’s still a very healthy number for this vehicle class. There will also be an AWD variant with the same battery in addition to the standard 76.1kWh RWD range base configuration. A charging build should give the 800 EV about 149 miles of range in 15 minutes, and the vehicle-mount technology lets you power camping gear and laptops.
Performance can be relatively fast depending on the model. The long-range RWD model with the 150kW motor will be the slowest acceleration model with a 0-62MPH time of 9.4 seconds, but the standard range version with the 160kW motor will manage that run in 8.2 seconds. Opt for the AWD model and you’ll get a 283kW twin-engine engine that can normally hit 62mph in six seconds (more on that in a moment).
Like it or not, Kia joins the ranks of automakers locking car features behind digital purchases. You’ll need to buy items from the company’s Connect Store to improve typical lighting on the grid, and even to add a “Boost” that delivers extra torque to dash from 0 to 62 MPH in 5.3 seconds. Yes, you will have to pay for the features the EV9 can technically handle. You’ll get a number of driver aids and amenities, including hands-free parking and navigation-based smart cruise control. This will be the first Kia to support wide range digital keys, so you won’t have to take out your traditional key to get inside.
Kia has yet to reveal pricing for the EV9. The device will go on sale in some countries sometime in the second half of the year, with pre-orders for South Korea starting this spring. It’s safe to assume the SUV will sell for more than the EV6 crossover. It doesn’t necessarily mean that this will be a problem for the brand. There are a few three-row electric SUVs out there, and those out there (like the Tesla Model X) are likely to be more expensive.