Kia has launched its second all-electric offering in India after the EV6 crossover launched in 2022. Brought to the country as a fully imported CBU model, the EV9 is priced at a whopping Rs 1.30 crore (ex-showroom). The EV9 is also the flagship model in Kia’s global lineup. The EV9 is based on the same E-GMP platform, which also underpins EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5.
From the first glance it is clear that the EV9 is a big car with an overall length of 5,015mm, width of 5,015mm, and height of 1,780mm. It boasts a wheelbase of 3,100mm. Earlier this year, Kia EV9 won two big laurels in the form of Best Car of the Year as well as the Best Electric Vehicle of the Year awards.
Kia EV9: Design & Features
The all-electric SUV made its global debut in March 2023 and is currently on sale in international markets such as North America, South Korea, etc. The full-size electric SUV will be offered in a single fully-loaded GT-Line trim with a standard 6-seat layout. Despite its boxy silhouette, the design of the EV9 is very futuristic with highlights such as a digital lighting grille flanked by pixelated LED headlights which Kia calls Ice Cube LED projector headlamps.
The futuristic theme is carried inside the cabin as well, the signature Kia twin-screen display on the multi-layered dashboard. Being a flagship, the EV9 is loaded to the gills as far as features are concerned. Major highlights include a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, digital IRVM, dual-pane sunroof, connected car tech with over the air (OTA) updates, second-row captain seats with massage function, a 14-speaker Meridian music system, a powered tailgate with height adjustment, and more.
In terms of safety, Kia EV9 comes kitted with Level 2 ADAS features with 27 safety features such as lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, collision avoidance, and adaptive cruise control to name a few.
Kia EV9: Powertrain specs
The India-spec EV9 is offered with a dual-motor, all-wheel drive configuration which develops a combined output of 379 bhp and 700 Nm of torque. The electric motors feed energy off a 99.8kWh battery pack that comes with an ARAI-certified range of 561 km on a single charge. As for performance, the EV9 claims to do a 0-100 kmph sprint in 5.3 seconds
The EV9 also benefits from multiple drive modes such as Eco, Normal, and Sport. The battery can be juiced up from 10-80 percent in 24 minutes via a DC fast charger. Kia has not mentioned any other details regarding the charging, but 24 minutes to charge to 80 percent and a real-world range of approximately 450 km is interesting.
