Kia unveiled the all-electric 2024 EV9 SUV to an anxious crowd at the 2023 New York International Auto Show for the first time in North America. As the first three-row EV SUV from Kia, the EV9 is the flagship of the global Plan S strategy and a beacon that points to the future of an electrified lineup for Kia as a mobility leader.
The EV9 is the first Kia EV to feature 4th-generation battery technology designed for improved energy density. From launch, the EV9 will be available with a choice of two powertrain options. Standard is a 76.1-kWh battery with a 160-kW (215-hp) motor that drives the rear wheels. An optional 99.8-kWh battery will be available in a single-motor configuration targeting 300 miles of all-electric range (AER), or a dual-motor, 283-kW (379-hp) torque vectoring all-wheel-drive configuration with 516 lb.-ft. of torque. The EV9 will offer four drive modes at launch on all trims: Eco, Normal, Sport, and My Mode. The EV SUV standard 800V electrical architecture enables ultrafast recharging on high-speed DC chargers, designed to go from a 10 to 80% state of charge in under 25 minutes.
The EV9 will also be the first Kia model to offer vehicle system over-the-air updates, a strategic move towards software-defined vehicles, as well as navigation-based charging guidance using arrival time and distance-to-empty estimates. The EV9 is expected to arrive in the United States in Q4 2023.
