Kia America has opened the floodgates as they’ve revealed virtually everything about the 2024 EV9, ahead of its launch in the fourth quarter.
While the company has already announced an assortment of details, the automaker confirmed plans to offer four different trims known as Light, Wind, Land, and GT-Line.
The EV9 Light sits at the bottom of the lineup and features LED lighting units as well as 19-inch alloy wheels. They’re joined by rain-sensing wipers and acoustic front glass.
More: 2024 Kia EV9 SUV Debuts With Concept-Like Looks, Swiveling Seats And 3rd Row
Moving inside, there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment system, and a 5-inch display for climate controls. The seven-seat crossover also has a faux leather steering wheel, LED lighting, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system.
Other highlights include eight-way power front seats with heating and ventilation as well as SynTex upholstery. They’re joined by a wireless smartphone charger, an eight-speaker audio system, and a fingerprint reader.
On the safety front, the EV9 Light comes with an alphabet soup of driver assistance systems including Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Forward Collision Warning, and Highway Driving Assist 2. They’re joined by High Beam Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist. Buyers will also find Front/Rear Parking Distance Warning, Rear Occupant Alert, and Safe Exit Assist – among other things.
Power is provided by a 76.1 kWh battery pack, which feeds a rear-mounted motor developing 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and 258 lb-ft (349 Nm) of torque. It enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 7.7 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 118 mph (190 km/h).
More importantly, the 5,093 pound (2,910 kg) crossover can travel approximately 223 miles (359 km) on a single charge. When the battery is depleted, it can be fully recharged in approximately 6 hours and 45 minutes with a 240V outlet and an 11 kW charger. If that’s too long, a DC fast charger can take the battery from a 10-80% charge in less than 25 minutes.
EV9 Light Long Range
Since the entry-level model is short on range, Kia will offer a more capable Light Long Range. Equipment is largely identical, but buyers will find a six-seat interior as well as HomeLink connectivity. The Long Range variant also offers options not available on the base model including a sunroof, a heated steering wheel, and a heat pump.
The big news is the larger 99.8 kWh battery pack, which powers an electric motor developing 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 258 lb-ft (349 Nm) of torque. The battery increases the range to approximately 300 miles (483 km), but the extra weight and weaker motor conspire to raise the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time to 8.8 seconds. The bigger battery also takes approximately two hours longer to charge.
EV9 Wind
Moving up the trim ladder is the EV9 Wind, which has a lightly revised exterior with a dual pane panoramic glass roof and “silver slim flush-type roof rails.” The model also has a seven-seat interior with a heated steering wheel as well as the aforementioned equipment.
Bigger changes occur beneath the skin as the EV9 Wind combines the 99.8 kWh battery pack with a dual motor all-wheel drive system. It produces a combined output of 379 hp (283 kW / 384 PS) and up to 516 lb-ft (699 Nm) of torque. This enables the 5,688 pound (2,580 kg) crossover to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in as little as five seconds and hit a top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h).
The mid-level model comes standard with a heat pump and is slated to have a range of 270 miles (435 km). However, the optional 20-inch wheels will slash that distance to 253 miles (407 km).
EV9 Land
Buyers looking for more luxury can opt for the EV9 Land, which is distinguished by “Small Cube” LED headlights, an illuminated grille, and larger 20-inch alloy wheels. Other highlights include auto-dimming side mirrors, gloss black accents, acoustic rear side glass, and a Vehicle-to-Load exterior outlet.
The six-seat interior has fancier front seats as well as heated and ventilated rear seats. They’re joined by a power tilt/telescoping steering column, a digital rearview mirror, and a heated steering wheel with an illuminated Kia logo. Buyers will also find a “drawer-type” glove box, rear sunshades, ambient mood lighting, stainless steel scuff plates, and a 14-speaker premium audio system.
They’re joined by additional driver assistance systems including a Surround View Monitor, a Blind-Spot View Monitor, and Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance Assist. Customers can also get optional Remote Smart Parking Assist.
The powertrain carries over but, thanks to the 20-inch wheels, the range falls to 253 miles (407 km). However, owners can downgrade to 19-inch wheels to bring the range back up to 270 miles (435 km).
EV9 GT-Line
The EV9 GT-Line sits at the top of the lineup and features a self-leveling rear suspension as well as 21-inch wheels with a two-tone finish. They’re joined by unique front and rear fascias, gunmetal painted accents, and gloss black roof rails.
The six-seat interior has exclusive “trim and garnish” as well as stainless steel pedals and sportier seats with special badging. Buyers will also find suede cloth upholstery on the headliner, pillars, and sun visors.
Other highlights include Remote Smart Parking Assist and Parking Collision Avoidance Assist Front and Side. The model also comes with a head-up display as well as an optional Advanced Highway Driving Assist system with LiDAR.
While the EV9 GT-Line sounds pretty impressive, it only offers 243 miles (391 km) of range. That, of course, is only 20 miles (32 km) more than the entry-level variant.
Reservations Open Soon
While that’s the Kia EV9 in a nutshell, pricing remains a mystery. However, we can expect to learn full details shortly as the company announced plans for an “advance reservation program tailored to customers who are eager” to own the “first mainstream three-row EV SUV.”
We’ll learn more in the coming weeks and Kia noted the EV9 will be built in West Point, Georgia starting next year.