The 2024 Kia ​​EV9 made its world debut just a week ago, but now it’s here at the 2023 New York Auto Show, and Kia has U.S.-specific details to share with us about the three-row electric SUV.
Get the latest updates from the 2023 New York International Auto Show from our live blog.
Power figures in the US differ slightly from those previously stated by Kia during the global launch. Instead of the top-shelf dual-motor model that starts with a base 380 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, it will produce a combined 379 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Kia said the top version we get as a standard dual-engine model would be available as an aftermarket purchase or subscription for global markets. This dual-motor version is paired with a 99.8 kilowatt-hour battery. Kia says it’s aiming for a 0-60 mph time of 5.0 seconds and up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity with this model. It also features torque vectoring to make it more fun to drive.
Nothing changes for the US in terms of single-engine EV9 options. The long-range RWD version still packs the big 99.8kWh battery – Kia is aiming for 300 miles of range with this model, but final EPA certification has yet to be completed. The base model features a smaller 76.1 kWh battery and a single motor that produces 215 horsepower. Range estimates for this model are not yet available.
Specifications for charging the EV9 are also specified today. It will feature a maximum DC fast charging speed of 230kW, which Kia says is good for a 10-80% charge in just 25 minutes. This charging speed is precisely what we expect from a car on the Hyundai Group’s E-GMP platform with 800-volt architecture. Level 2 load will peak at 11kW.
More intriguing specs concern cargo space, as Kia says the EV9 will offer 20.2 cubic feet of space with all three rows up. That’s nearly identical to the Telluride’s figure of 21.0 cubic feet. With both rows folded, maximum volume increases to 81.9 cubic feet, or 5.1 less cubes than a Telluride. We’ll still have to do proper luggage testing to see how this space works in practice, but it’s safe to assume that if a Telluride works for your use case, an EV9 will too.
Kia delved into the US-specific tech options for the EV9 in New York, with the most intriguing details on the driver assistance offerings. There’s no word that Kia’s Level 3 range will be available anytime soon in the U.S., but the car will still be optionally equipped with the lidar and other sensors that Kia says will make “Level 3 conditional range” possible. What is confirmed, instead, is a new version of its Highway Drive Assist, now called AHDA for “Advanced Highway Drive Assist”, which improves the operation of the system by using this lidar. This is complemented by a new Lane Following Assist 2 system that will help keep the EV9 centered in its lane better than previous systems. Remote Smart Park Assist 2 will be available as an option, allowing you to park your EV9 from outside the vehicle in various scenarios via the fob.
The last big tech item to highlight is a new generation of infotainment technology debuting in the EV9 that Kia calls the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit, or CCNC for short. This new technology will make the EV9 the first Kia with over-the-air upgrade capability for vehicle systems. Most important of all, however, it will also house Kia’s first navigation system with EV route charging guidance. Until now, the lack of a native route planner integrated with the car’s systems has been one of the biggest omissions from Kia EVs, such as the EV6 and Niro EV. We can’t wait to get our hands on the route planner and test its value in the real world.
Initial U.S. sales will begin in the fourth quarter of 2023, and while production of the EV9 will begin in Korea, Kia announced today that sometime in 2024 it will also build the EV9 locally in West Point, Georgia, using both of American and global origin. parts. We’ll have to wait and see what the ever-fluid EV tax credit rules are by then, but the EV9 could be eligible for a federal tax credit if Kia meets all the government’s criteria by 2024.
