Kia America revealed on Aug. 22 additional details about the 2024 EV9, including an advance reservation program to reserve the three-row EV SUV.

At launch, the EV9 will be available in Light, Wind, Land, and GT-Line trim levels, offered in two battery sizes and rear-wheel drive or dual-motor AWD configurations.

As part of Kia’s EV9 reservation program, the EV9 is expected to go on sale in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Reservation program details will be announced at a later date, as well as pricing.

Expected to be assembled in West Point, Ga., beginning in 2024, the EV9 will be the first Kia EV to be assembled locally.

EV9 Interior Design

At the core of the driver cockpit is an elliptical-shaped dash, artfully designed to have a floating effect. A wide panoramic display sits on top of the driver cockpit, with standard dual 12.3-inch screens and a 5.0-inch HVAC screen integrated into one single panel.

Underneath the screen are centrally mounted, hidden-until-lit haptic switches for key infotainment features that appear when the EV9 is turned on.

In the seven-seat configuration, the second-row bench allows access to the third row thanks to a tilting walk-in system, even with a child seat installed.

Throughout the cabin are USB-C outlets. Additionally, standard tri-zone HVAC can help ensure true temperature control in front and back.

With all three rows raised, the EV9 offers 20.2 cubic feet of cargo space. With the second row folded, volume increases to 43.5 cubic feet, and with both rows down, that expands to 81.7 cubic feet. For a bit of extra space, the frunk (front truck) offers up to 3.2 cubic feet.

EV9 Technology

The EV9 features Kia’s connected car navigation cockpit (ccNC) system. 

Navigation-based charging guidance using arrival time and distance-to-empty estimates can help with range anxiety.

Through the upcoming digital Kia Connect store, a number of digital features and services can unlock the ability to remotely upgrade performance, entertainment, and more.

At launch, the EV9 will offer Boost, designed to improve acceleration through increased front-wheel torque, resulting in a 5.0-second 0-60 mph time in certain trim levels.

While the EV9 is already a mobile power source courtesy of an integrated charging control unit (ICCU) and V2L, V2X (Vehicle to Everything) may expand on its capabilities.

Expected to be available via the Kia Connect digital store at a later date, V2X can potentially enable the EV9 to return in-vehicle power to the grid to help balance out electricity demand or return in-vehicle power to the owner’s home via the available Wallbox Quasar 2 Bi-directional charger.

EV9 ADAS

The EV9 expands Kia’s roster of standard and available advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

Debuting on the EV9 for the Kia brand in North America is the forthcoming advanced highway driving assist (AHDA), an available driving feature that utilizes LiDAR-based technology to help maintain distance from the vehicle detected ahead and helps keep the EV9 in the center of detected lane markers.

Central to the EV9’s 20 standard ADAS features is forward collision-avoidance assist (FCA-2), designed to help detect and prevent collisions from occurring under certain conditions.

The system is also designed to help provide a degree of braking and/or steering input to help prevent or minimize certain collisions if the system detects: oncoming vehicles while passing other vehicles (FCA-LO); vehicles in front of the car while changing lanes (FCA-LS); and obstacles, pedestrians, or other vehicles in front of the car while driving straight (FCA-ESA).

EV9 Powertrain

The EV9 is the second Kia model based on the E-GMP platform and features a fourth-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 (201-hp) targeting 300 miles of all-electric range (AER), or a dual-motor, 283-kW (379-hp) torque vectoring all-wheel-drive configuration with up to 516 lb.-ft. of torque.

Drive modes available at launch on all trims include Eco, Normal, Sport, and My Mode, while AWD models add Snow Mode.

The EV9’s standard 800V electrical architecture enables charging on high-speed DC chargers, designed to go from a 10 to 80% state of charge in under 25 minutes. With a maximum DC charging speed of up to 236kW, the EV9 can facilitate charging with compatible DC chargers, while the 11kW onboard charger enables expedient Level 2 charging, as well.

The EV9 offers up to 7.8 inches of ground clearance with up to 5,000 lbs. of towing capacity for AWD versions.