Kia EV9
I’ve got a long awaited car tour on deck today! The Kia EV9 is finally here and I have a super sassy model behind me and I cannot wait to show it to you all. I’ve got everything with me (strollers, car seats, the works) to truly test if this mass market electric SUV can work for families.
If you’re new here - welcome! I’m Kelly the Car Mom and as a CPST, mom of three, and car lover in general, I have been waiting to do this car tour for a long time. By the end of this post, you’ll have an understanding of every row in the Kia EV9, but more importantly if it’s right for your family.
Before you dive in and start car shopping, make sure you’re fully prepared to tackle today’s market with confidence. To learn everything from dealership prep to a complete negotiations strategy, check out my Car Buying Course!
Kia EV9 Exterior
This car has been so anticipated I can’t even emphasize it enough. The Kia EV9 is what I'm calling a mass market electric SUV because of course we had the Rivian R1S and Tesla Model X, but this is the first to enter the more affordable market and have the potential to be really family-friendly.
Starting off with the exterior, I'm a pretty big fan of it. I think it looks cohesive with the Kia brand, I don't think they tried to make it too different, but it definitely looks fun and futuristic. Think if a Soul met a Telluride with an emphasis on the Soul’s boxiness. I just love all the sporty elements on this car - we've got the blacked out fenders, roof rails, and some super cool tail lights.
The EV9 is a part of the GT line meaning it's all-wheel drive in the long range. You're looking about right under 300 miles of range and the one I’m walking through today has an MSRP of $76,000. The base EV9 model comes in at an MSRP of $60,000.
Kia EV9 First Row
In the EV9, you actually got a good 8-9 inches of space length wise more than the Telluride because there’s no engine. This means you’re able to lengthen the cabin space and get some great first and second row room. My head clearance is great, the seats are firm but comfortable, and I love the gunmetal gray they used instead of piano black. For the most part, I feel like you’re getting a lot of good tech and a more high end version of the Telluride, but some of the materials feel a little cheap for its price tag.
One thing I have to note is in the driver’s seat, there is calf support. Although I’ve never experienced this before in a vehicle I actually really like it. When driving, all you have to do is slightly move your foot back and forth from the gas to the break, but not your leg at all.
Before we break down the infotainment system, I want to talk about the rear view camera in the mirror because this is key for anyone carrying second and third row passengers or a giant stroller. It means zero vision obstruction without compromising any family-friendly features.
Infotainment System
Let’s get into this infotainment system because it’s beautiful. Kia put in a semi curved display, along with Heads Up Display, and I’ve said it before - Kia makes one of my favorite infotainment systems. You can easily customize different features and it’s very responsive.
I always talk about the climate controls, but the way it’s placed on the screen, I can’t see it because of the steering wheel. It’s completely blocked. They also have features down below, but I don’t understand the additional buttons.
Kia EV9 Second Row
Amenities in the second row include:
Built-in sun shades
Heated and ventilated seats
Ceiling vents
USB-C ports
The EV9 comes in both bench seating or captain's chairs. I've actually already toured a bench seat and it can fit three across. To see a tour of just the bench seat, click here. I have the captain’s chairs with me today which have their own seats of lower and tether anchors and I can almost guarantee you can install any car seat without a problem.
As a passenger at about 6 ft tall I am very comfortable in the second row. It feels very spacious back here. The car sits a little lower to the ground than something like the Telluride, so you don't really feel like you're driving that big of a car when you're in it, but I'm very comfortable back here.
Kia EV9 Third Row
The two seats in the third row are going to match the captain’s chairs as far as hardware is concerned with their own sets of lower and tether anchors. This is really impressive and something I don’t always see manufacturers put into the third row, you all know how much I prefer just two seats back here. We have excellent clearance in the second row, but with the seats pushed all the way back, we are lacking in third row space.
As far as third row access is concerned, we have the Tilt and Slide, which is what I was expecting for the EV9, and a nice deep bench seat for the third row. If I’m a little more realistic and would actually have a passenger back here, with enough leg room to be semi-comfortable, you’re looking at a tight squeeze in both the second and third row.
Kia EV9 Trunk + Frunk
The frunk of this car (front trunk since there’s no engine) is a major disappointment. You can’t fit anything up there! Although it can feel a bit weird to store stuff up front where the engine would be, I still think there was room to have more storage available.
In the trunk, we were able to fit the Zoe double stroller and there is still a little bit of room and some extra storage underneath. I wanted to note the third row seats are not powered, which is okay, and actually can be much quicker.
Kia EV9 Wrap Up
Overall, I think the Kia EV9 checks a lot of boxes for families. Above all, the tech is outstanding from an EV perspective and in the safety department. The first and second row are excellent in terms of space and comfort, but when you try to fit people in the third row, the space is cut in half.
To see a complete walkthrough of the Kia EV9, watch my car tour here.
What do you think of the Kia EV9? Is it a competitor for the Rivian R1S and Tesla Model X? Let me know in the comments! And to keep up with the latest family vehicles on the market, check out my recent car tours:
