Expanding its lineup, the 2024 Kia EV9 is a three-row SUV with a slick rear-seating setup and so much more.
The 2024 Kia EV9 is a fully battery electric SUV with a long wheelbase, low beltline and a completely flat electric vehicle architecture boasting a generous amount of room for all occupants. It is the largest vehicle to date using Kia’s Electric Modular Platform (E-GMP). It made its debut in 2021 as a concept vehicle at the LA Auto Show.
One of the advantages with an electrified platform is you get to throw away the traditional automotive design rule book and start from scratch. This is due to not needing to incorporate an ICE powertrain and Kia designers certainly took advantage of this approach.
They utilized a lot of this advantage with the seats in all three rows.
Starting with the first and second-row seats, occupants can simultaneously recline their seats to relax when needed like when the EV9 is charging. The second-row seats can swivel 180 degrees to allow for those occupants to be able to interact with those sitting in the third row. Imagine charging and literally sharing a meal, a card game or just talking with each other more easily than if the seats were a traditional setup aka no swivel.
The third-row seats also offer cup holders and charging ports for mobile devices.
For the exterior design, Kia certainly looks like it grabbed ideas from the Kia Telluride with a strikingly similar look, at least to me, while making it more streamlined.
This is seen first on the front end with the traditional no-grille needed look from EVs, sloped hood and sleek side profile give the impression it is smaller than it is inside much like the Telluride design accomplishes.
The rear wraps off the sleek design by allowing the sides to fold in nicely into the rear and the tall, vertical taillights blend into the rear tailgate.
Kia calls this look a “Digital Tiger Face” and says this look will be carried over for future EV models as well as a “Star Map LED daytime running lights (DRL)” animation.
Back to the inside of the 2024 Kia EV9, the dash has two 12.3-inch touchscreens integrated with one 5-inch segment display. The idea is to keep physical buttons to a minimum and use the touchscreens for vehicle controls.
The touchscreen software allows occupants to access navigation, audio controls and vehicle telematics while an array of hidden type touch buttons is located below the screen for features like start/stop, heating, ventilation and air conditioning control.
Kia says the center console offers ample storage space with a large compartment located at the base. There also looks to be ample space around the center console from the photos.
For the 2024 Kia EV9, big questions remain on price, range and availability with this model aimed to be sold worldwide and certain features could be available in select regions.
The answers? We don’t know. Kia hasn’t announced anything in terms of price, range or availability as of when this article was written.
They have said the 2024 Kia EV9 will make its digital debut later in March, 2023 with more details forthcoming.
While the Kia EV9 looks great and the pivoting second-row seats is a novel idea, the lack of range, price and availability dampens my enthusiasm over its unveiling. Hopefully, we will have more concrete details in a few weeks.