Kia’s EV9 is a true world beater

People took a second look as I drove past them in my huge Kia EV9 SUV, and then took a retake as they wondered what car it was that I was driving. It’s not surprising as this is a very, very large car that seemed to take up half the street in my local town.

This fully-electric EV9 measures over five metres long and has a wheelbase of 3,100mm. The car’s long, geometrically styled and minimalist profile with clean lines also embraces the upright look and big wheel arches of an SUV. The LED lights on the front and rear give a beautiful show in the dark.

There’s always been a demand from families for 6- or 7-seater vehicles and the EV9 offers both seating versions. The lounge-like interior is stylish and quite minimalistic featuring vegan leather upholstery; fabrics and carpets are made from recycled polythene and materials from fishing nets. Noise insulation includes sound-absorbing tyres, laminated glass and sound-absorbing carpets.

Front seats can be heated and ventilated and come with power adjustments and a massage function. The second-row seats and the steering wheel can also be heated. The middle row Captain’s seats in the 6-seater and in the top GT-Line spec can swivel around to face people in the third row. Those in the rear can avail of an independent climate system and there are plenty of USB ports scattered around the cabin to keep devices charged, including a wireless mobile phone charging pad in the front.

The panoramic display contains a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and 5.3-inch climate system for seat and heating information. There's also a Head-Up Display on the windscreen. The navigation system allows connection to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while Kia Connect Live Services provides online navigation and well as real-time information on traffic, the locations of EV charging points, and weather forecasts. There are buttons for temperature controls, a wheel for the volume control, and switchable drive modes.

Storage areas include a big open area close to the floor below the big front armrest which can take an iPad or bag.

Boot capacity is 828 litres when 4-5 seats are upright and 333 litres when 6-7 seats are upright. An additional 90 litres of storage space is provided in the front trunk with the rear-wheel drive version and 52 litres with the all-wheel drive option.

Other standard features are 19-inch alloy wheels, nine airbags, 360-degree Surround View Monitor, and a premium Meridian Sound system. The GT-Line adds 21-inch alloy wheels, dual sunroofs, Intelligent Adaptive Front Headlights and Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 that allows the car to park itself in perpendicular, diagonal, and parallel parking spots. My car also had Downhill Control, Auto Hold, and all-round parking sensors.

A feature of the EV9’s connectivity is the option for owners to receive over-the-air software upgrades.

Kia’s blind spot monitors are really excellent. When you indicate to change lanes, a special circular screen appears in the driver’s information cluster screen showing a live video of your car’s rear blind spot on that side with red warning lines if it is unsafe to change lanes. A blind spot warning triangle also lights up on the side mirrors.

The RWD Earth model has a 150kW motor capable of a maximum torque output of 360Nm; this drivetrain can do from 0-100km/h in 9.4 seconds and has a claimed range of up to 563km. The AWD GT-Line is powered by twin 141kW electric motors and has maximum torque of 350Nm and 350, front and rear. It takes just 5.3 seconds for the 0-100km trip and has a slightly less electric range. Both grades use a huge 99.8Wh battery featuring Kia’s fourth-generation technology.

This big car is a real pleasure to drive once you come to terms with its size. It’s ideal for motorway cruising but do take care when driving on city streets, through towns or villages.

When I collected my car, there were 396km of charge in the battery that represented a 94% charge - not quite the claimed range of 563kms. My time with the car showed an energy consumption figure of 22.6 kWh/100kms.

Ultra-fast charging can add up to 249km of driving range in 15 minutes; using a 7.4kW home wall-box will take over nine hours which is fine for overnight charging. The EV9 can tow up to 2,500kg.

EV9 won the 2024 World Car of the Year award, the 2024 World Electric Vehicle title, and Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year gong.

PRICES: The entry-level 2WD version is from €77,500; the AWD GT-line from €85,500.