Kia go large with new EV9

By Tony Conlon

Two different types of horsepower were on show at Goffs for the launch of the new Kia EV9, an all-electric model packed with hi-tech features and offering an abundance of space.

While in the distance we could hear an auctioneer taking bids of tens and hundreds of thousands of euro for thoroughbreds, over at the Club at Goff’s, in Kill, County Kildare, members of Ireland’s motoring press were contemplating horsepower of a different kind as the wraps were taken off the Kia EV9, a new electric car with either 200 or 378 horses under the bonnet.

Large and with futuristic looks, Kia’s six- and seven-seat flagship is quiet and refined inside and composed and comfortable on the road.

Available in Earth and GT-line trim levels, the EV9 is a large SUV that measures up to 5,015mm in length, 1,980mm in width and – depending on whether it’s Earth or GT trim – up to 1,780mm in height. Its main competitors are the Tesla model X, BMW iX, Mercedes-Benz EQE, Audi e-tron Q8 and Volvo EX90.

The latest Kia offers a low centre of gravity and a minimum ground clearance of 177mm. It’s boxy-looking yet stylish and is very well built. It sits on the Korean company’s innovative E-GMP platform and looks like it wants to reinvent the sector.

Kia’s first three-row electric SUV is offered with a six- or a seven-seat layout. The middle two seats of the six-seat layout can swivel and act as captain’s chairs. Good all-round visibility is also a given.

Arriving 11 years after Kia’s first EV and at a time when Kia Ireland has taken 7.5% of the Irish car market with 9,115 sales – fifth in the sales charts – the EV9’s interior is both suitably luxurious and family-friendly.

The Kia is awash with smart tech systems, like the triple panoramic infotainment display screens up front – and the climate controls get a permanent place in the middle of the displays. Partly hidden toggle switches move up and down for key infotainment functions while the rear-view mirror can switch between a mirror and a digital camera view.

Now with its own app store, coming to Ireland soon will be Vehicle to Grid charging (V2G) and Plug and Charge (Ionity).

The Earth and GT-line trims are markedly distinct from drive, power, distance and equipment perspectives.

The Earth, which has a vegan leather interior similar to the GT-line model, sits on 19-inch wheels in comparison to the GT’s 21-inch. Drive to the Earth is via the rear wheels in contrast to the GT’s all-wheel drive system.

There is a big difference in power. The Earth version offers 200bhp while the top model GT produces 378bhp. In a 0-100kmh race, the GT-line covers the distance in 5.3 seconds and the Earth in 9.4 seconds. The Earth version, however, offers the greatest driving distance: a respectable 563km in comparison to the GT’s 512km limit.

Both models come with a 99.8kWh battery, a unit that is claimed to have 8.5% increased energy density per litre versus the EV6. Following my initial brief test drive, which offered marvellous performance, comfort and stability, my choice would be to go for the six-seat GT-line, a seat layout that offers similar boot capacity to that of the seven-seater.

Kia went to a lot of trouble to reduce noise and drag with the EV9. The car features sound-absorbing tyres, laminated sound insulation glass and sound-absorbing carpets. Drag was reduced by designing low-drag closed wheels, a new undercover design was produced for improved airflow under the vehicle and active airflaps, which create an air-curtain, were fixed for improved efficiency.

While the Earth version is packed to its roof with standard equipment, the GT-line still manages to squeeze in additional features such as a front sunroof that has a tilting and sliding function, and a rear fixed sunroof, smart parking and alloy pedals are among some of the additional features.

Its stylish and pronounced wheel arch designs and gorgeous light signatures all help to distinguish this family SUV and make it stand out from the rest of the electric vehicle crowd.

Prices for the EV9 start at €77,500 for the Earth, and €85,500 for the GT-line variant.