2024 Kia EV9 walkaround

Power figures in the U.S. differ slightly from what Kia previously stated during the global launch. Instead of the top-shelf dual-motor model starting with a base of 380 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, it will output a combined 379 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Kia said the higher output version that we get as the standard dual-motor model would be available as an after-sales purchase or subscription for global markets. This dual-motor version is paired with a 99.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Kia says it’s targeting a 5.0-second 0-60 mph time 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 U.S. as it concerns the single-motor EV9 options. The Long-Range RWD version still comes with the big 99.8-kWh battery pack — Kia is targeting 300 miles of range with this model, but final EPA certification is not complete yet. The base model comes with a smaller 76.1-kWh battery pack and a single motor producing 215 horsepower. Range estimates for this model aren’t yet available. Specs for charging the EV9 are also spelled out today. It will feature a maximum DC fast charging speed of 230 kW, which Kia says is good for a 10-80% charge in just 25 minutes. That charging speed is precisely what we expect from a car on the Hyundai Group’s E-GMP platform with 800-volt architecture. Level 2 charging will max out at 11 kW. More intriguing specs concern cargo space, as Kia says the EV9 will offer 20.2 cubic feet of space with all three rows raised. That’s nearly identical to the Telluride’s figure of 21.0 cubic feet. With both rows folded, the maximum volume increases to 81.9 cubic feet, or 5.1 cubes less than a Telluride. We’ll still need to perform proper luggage tests to see how that space works in practice, but it’s safe to assume that if a Telluride works for your use case, an EV9 will, too. Kia went in-depth on U.S.-specific tech options for the EV9 in NY, with the most intriguing details coming in the driver assistance offerings. There’s no talk of Kia’s Level 3 autonomy being made available in the U.S. any time soon, but the car will still be optionally fitted with the lidar and other sensors that Kia says will make “conditional Level 3 autonomy” possible. What is confirmed instead is a new version of its Highway Drive Assist, now named AHDA for “Advanced Highway Drive Assist,” that improves the system’s operation by using said 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 a number of scenarios via the fob. The last big tech item of note is a new generation of infotainment technology debuting in the EV9 that Kia calls Connected Car Navigation Cockpit or CCNC for short. This new tech will make the EV9 the first Kia with other-the-air update capability for vehicle systems. Most importantly of all, though, it will also house Kia’s first navigation system with EV route charging guidance. Up until now, the lack of a native route planner integrated with the car’s systems has been one of the biggest omissions from otherwise stellar Kia EVs like the EV6 and Niro EV. We can’t wait to get our hands on the route planner and test its mettle in the real world. Initial U.S. sales will begin in the fourth quarter of 2023, and while production for the EV9 will begin in Korea, Kia announced today that sometime in 2024, it will also be building the EV9 locally in West Point, Georgia using both U.S. and globally sourced parts. We’ll need to wait and see what the ever-fluid EV tax credit rules are by then, but the EV9 could potentially be eligible for a federal tax credit if Kia meets all of the government’s criteria in 2024. Learn more about the Kia EV9 at Autoblog: https://www.autoblog.com/2023/04/05/2024-kia-ev9-revealed-ny-auto-show-debut/ #NYIAS #NewYorkAutoShow #KiaEV9

Video Transcript

ZAC PALMER: Zac Palmer with Autoblog here at the New York Auto Show. And right next to me is the 2024 Kia EV9. This is Kia's big new three row SUV electric vehicle.

So this is pretty much the third three row SUV that is electric in the market now. And it's one of the most stunning to look at in person, honestly. So you have Kia's new design philosophy with the opposites united, so you have a lot of sharp angles. It's very squared off. It's a really utilitarian shape.

Some of my favorite touches are up front with the lighting here. You can see this light that actually shines through the paint. It's a dynamic lighting option. You can customize it. There's a few settings in the infotainment. It's really, really neat.

I'll move along the side here though. See, this one has a really, really awesome 21 inch wheel design. There are a few different wheel sizes that you can get, but this one is probably my favorite. I just love all of the different shapes through there that really create an awesome look. You have some really emphasized fender cladding here. It's painted in a very shiny black.

And then moving further along the side here, as I step through, you'll see you have the pop-out door handles that we're used to with like the Kia EV6 and other Hyundai E-GMP models, because yes, this is the E-GMP platform. So moving along to the back here, we really get to see that squared off shape to it. I love, love this design, because it's going to be very useful in addition to just flat out looking good.

So we get this awesome shape for the LED tail lights, some really great detailing in there, of course, your GT-line badge back here too. We have our extra long spoiler actually that helps the coefficient of drag. And yeah, overall, this is a really, really impressive and premium looking three row SUV from Kia. And the fact that it's electric is really, really neat. But we should hop on the inside first because there's a lot going on in there.

So welcome on into the interior of the Kia EV9, and this is where things start to look very premium for Kia versus a lot of their other models. So directly in front of me, I have this very squared off shaped steering wheel, which is different, unique, very interesting. And also here, we have a totally new and different dash design versus what we're used to. These few buttons here are actually haptic. And they light up when the car is on, but they dim when the car is off so you don't actually see them when the car is off. It's just a blank piece of trim right there.

Your climate controls are in this strange little middle panel right here in between the two 12.3 inch touch screens, but there are some physical controls down there. Now, one of the beauties of this being an EV is that you have a nice flat floor, which allows you a ton of storage and space up front here. You can see that Kia has tried to take advantage of that with just a lot of down there floor storage space, and a giant center console with a ton of space everywhere, huge, huge cupholders.

And as you're looking at these seats and whatnot, I will point out that this is a new effort from Kia to create a vegan style interior, so there's no leather at all, but they're using a lot of unique materials that are recycled, using other items that Kia just has never tried to do before. I think it looks really cool, honestly.

So this one specifically being the GT-line, it has this awesome two tone interior with lot of suede in here too, so suede pillars, suede headliners. Feels really, really premium in here. But we should hop to the backseat because this is a three row SUV that can seat up to seven, and it's really, really comfortable back there.

So here we are in the back seat of the EV9. And this thing's real party trick are the various seat options that you have here. This one is rocking the comfort seats. So that means you can fully recline, and you're like at a full sleeping angle, honestly, when you throw these seats all the way back. Kia says that it's very convenient when you're charging and want to rest if you're sitting around for 25, 30 minutes, because that's about how long this thing takes to charge from a 10% to 80% charge because you do get the 800 volt architecture with 230 kilowatt charge speed. It's really, really good specs.

And very similar to the Telluride, that this car has a similar shape to in size, tons of space back here, the third row is not the biggest in the segment. But it's still very usable for a small children and/or short rides for adults. And before we end here, let's take one quick look at the trunk because this is an SUV. That's what it's about.

So back here we have the cargo space. It's very similar to what the Kia Telluride's cargo space is actually because similar size. You have about 20 cubes with the third row up, which is a respectable amount. And then when you put them all the way down, both the second and third row, it's a little over 80 cubic feet. So a very utilitarian car. But that's what this EV9 is about, premium, great utility, great EV specs.

You're looking at with the top spec 300 miles of range is what Kia is estimating, with the dual motor, 516 pounds feet of torque, about 5.0 to 60. So a lot of really good things going for this car. We don't know a price yet, but definitely looking forward to driving it and spending more time with this big three row Kia EV.

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