Production-Ready Kia EV9 Revealed At 2023 New York Auto Show

The production-ready Kia EV9 has been revealed at the 2023 New York Auto Show. Several details of Kia’s new large electric SUV were already available. Now though, the production version has been showcased and as it turns out, the electric SUV is quite a stunner.

Making its debut as the EV9 Concept at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Kia EV9 showed great promise for those who love large full-size SUVs. The design and styling of the concept were futuristic and classy, and the SUV did gain a lot of attention.

In March 2023, Kia released a teaser of the SUV before revealing the SUV properly. Now, at the 2023 New York Auto Show, the flagship EV of the South Korean brand has debuted. At first glance, it is easy to see exactly what Kia is going after.

The production version of the full-size SUV has retained several design elements from the concept, and this includes the boxy styling, the LED DRL up front, and Kia’s signature grille. The silhouette of the Kia EV9 is reminiscent of the Kia Telluride. At the rear, the Kia EV9 features vertically-stacked tail lamps and a stylish bumper, and contrasting elements.

The SUV rides on 19-inch alloy wheels that look very EV-esque. In fact, the styling of the wheels is very similar to that of the Mini Cooper SE. The Kia EV9 is available with multiple powertrain options.

The top-spec variant is driven by two motors which together produce 379 horsepower and is powered by a 99.8kWh battery pack. The entry-level model is driven by a single 215 horsepower motor and power is derived from a 76.1kWh battery pack. The range figures for these two versions haven’t been announced yet.

However, Kia has announced that the long-range, rear-wheel-drive variant powered by the 99.8kWh battery pack will clock over 300 miles (482 kilometres) on a single charge. In the European market, the claimed range is 336 miles (540 kilometres), while in the American market, it is now claimed to be 300 miles (482 kilometres). This difference could be due to the difference in testing cycles and environment.

Kia has also announced that a high-performance GT version of the electric SUV can be expected somewhere down the line. The Kia EV9 comes loaded with the latest and most advanced features.

It is Level-3 Autonomous Driving compatible and therefore comes with Kia’s Advanced Highway Driving Assist, Lane Following Assist 2, and Standard Highway Driving Assist 2. Together, these proprietary technologies keep the Kia EV9 in its lane while out on the highway without needing assistance from the driver. More advanced updates to these technologies are expected to come in the near future.

It is a tech-fest inside the KIa EV9 as well. There are multiple screens and control panels, a great stereo system, several USB ports to keep your devices charged up, and the seats in the first and second rows are even heated. It is available in either a 6-seat or 7-seat configuration.

Kia will start production of the EV9 in South Korea this year and in the USA next year. While the Kia EV9 is expected to be sold in the European market too, it is expected to sell in larger numbers in the United States because large EVs are now the trend in America.

Large American SUVs are also a grand success and very much in demand, in the UAE. In addition, electric vehicles are also increasing in popularity. So, it is safe to say that the Kia EV9 will eventually be launched in the UAE as well.

Until the Kia EV9 is launched, if you’re interested in a similarly sized Kia vehicle, you can look at the Kia Telluride or you could take a look at other Kia vehicles. Here is a list of used Kia cars in the UAE and new Kia cars in the UAE.