We recently tested the Lexus TX 500h, and came away impressed with the large 3-row SUV’s overall efficiency, and Lexus lusciousness. But where the TX uses a hybrid powertrain, there are still plenty of folks looking to find a 3-row, EV SUV.
So, it was perfect timing that we got into a Kia EV9 to compare. We were not only interested to see how the EV9 stacks up against the Lexus, but also to see how compares to the Kia Telluride – one of the most popular 3-row SUVs on the market. Let’s check it out!
Boxy but Futuristic
The design is a head-turner, an interesting blend of big-box SUV and EV futurism. Frankly, nothing on the road looks like it!
Up front is what Kia calls the “Digital Tiger face” a fresh take on the Kia Tiger Nose grille. We love the rows of small digital lights plus the slashing daytime running light that give a presence unlike any other vehicle. Like other Hyundai/Kia products, the lights are hidden in the design until they illuminate for dramatic effect.
You also have a large body-color front grille, with a lower blacked-out front fascia that adds some toughness.
The profile makes the big impression, with short overhangs and an insanely long-looking 122-inch wheelbase – almost 8-inches longer than the Telluride. When we saw the EV9 we were sure it wouldn’t fit in our garage, but surprise! Its overall length is actually shorter than the Lexus TX.
Those wheels are also pushed out to the corners, with large fender flares and blacked out wheel trim, along with cut ins in the lower doors. It looks rugged as well as modern. The door handles lie flush until you unlock the EV, and then they glide out for easy access. Cool. And we love the GT-Line’s massive 21-inch black alloy wheels with a unique 4-spoke-meets-aero look.
The rear echoes the front with slim “Star Map” taillights that wrap around the corners, while the large KIA logo and subtle EV9 badge are nothing but tasteful. Speaking of tasteful, our tester’s Ocean Blue paint got loads of compliments – reminding us of the aqua blue colors you used to see on American vehicles in the 60’s and 70’s, but freshened up for today.
Massive Luxury
Inside, the EV9 wows you with loads of luxury, space, and tech.
Open the door and you’re immediately wowed by upscale materials. – and Kia will point out the cabin is devoid of any animal-based products! Our tester was outfitted in a gorgeous two-tone color scheme of navy and ivory on the seats. They’re more than just pretty, the front seats are heated, cooled, feature a massage function, and even boast a swing-up leg support to give you a supremely comfortable place to relax while charging the vehicle. And the mesh design headrests? Chef’s kiss!
There won’t be any complaints in back, either, with 2nd row captain’s chairs, also heated and ventilated with a swing-up leg support. Access is easy with a power-tilting second row that can even give access with a child seat in place. (Note: not with a child in there, OK?).
The third row is adult friendly, and while it’s not the best seat in the house, it’s certainly friendlier and more comfortable than the one in the Lexus TX. Like the TX, though, you have impressive space with the third row up, and folding the third and second rows respectively opens up a huge amount of room. The batteries in the EV9 take up some cargo space though, but still, you have plenty of space.
Put us up front, please! The driver gets a beautiful dual-screen panoramic display – it doesn’t curve as much as the one on the Telly, but it still is impressive to look at. And with no center shifter – you have a small lever protruding below the steering wheel – the center console is a massive hold-all for everything you want to bring.
The steering wheel has the horizontal motif we’ve seen on many Hyundai products, and it looks just as elegant here, and the wheel has some remote switches to help things out, but not so many that it gets busy.
Those dual displays are lovely, with our only gripe being the steering wheel block the readouts for the climate controls – the only downside to an otherwise stunning display. Speaking of displays, we love that you get a thumbwheel on the steering wheel for volume control, plus another one directly below the info-tainment screen – easy for a passenger to reach, if needed.
Other tasteful goodness comes from haptic control panel beneath the touchscreen, letting you shortcut to specific info-tainment needs, as well as a dedicated climate control setup with easily-accessed push buttons. There’s loads of capability here, but it’s all done in an exceptionally thoughtful, approachable, way.
Helping to keep things simple, our GT-Line also had a useful head-up display, minimizing the time you need to look away from the road. Filling the massive cabin with equally massive sound was a 14-speaker, 708-watt Meridian premium audio system, and it’s goofy, but we love the ambient sound system that pumps in soothing goodness. Our favorite – Lively Forest.
More than Just Lively
Driving the EV9 lives up to it’s GT-Line trim designation. This is a stormer!
The EV features a variety of powertrains, starting with a 215-horsepower, single motor, rear wheel drive model. Our tester had the big guns – a dual motor, all-wheel drive version, with an impressive 379-horses and a mountainous 516 lb.-ft of torque.
Even weighing in at over 5800 lbs., the big EV just shrugs it off, and in Sport Mode it slingshots to 60 mph in the mid 4-second range, which is fast by any standard, and astounding for something so big.
It also does it silently, which make it seem even quicker – you just stare in disbelief as the speedo racks up the numbers like crazy. And with power like this, you find yourself taunting all those snooty types in expensive sports cars and sedans. Look out for the big box!
With torque vectoring AWD and those big wheels and tires, the EV9 is also a grippy handler, but you are aware of the weight. While it doesn’t make you want to find your favorite mountain road, it’s responsive and reassuring in the daily drive. We found the braking to be excellent, with good feel and no hint of regenerative braking – just smooth, easily controlled stopping.
Of course, the big questions with an EV are range and charging and EV9 continues to impress with an EPA range of 270 miles. You have little feeling of range anxiety. And when you do need to get some juice, with the EV9’s 800V electrical architecture, and a maximum DC charging speed up to 235 kW, you can go from 10 to 80 percent state of charge in under 25 minutes – helping make the EV9 one of the fastest charging EV’s available.
While towing would certainly hurt that range number, it is equally impressive to know that our tester also featured a 5,000 lb. maximum towing capacity.
Big Bucks for the Big Box?
EV’s are expensive, no doubt. But we don’t think prohibitively so. You can get into an EV9 Light RWD starting at $54,900, for a large 7-passenger EV SUV with great style and capability, very reasonable. We think that model’s 230-mile range might turn some buyers off, so we’d recco going for the Light Long Range RWD model at $59,200, that gives you a serious bump up to 304 miles of range.
Our GT-Line AWD tester is the full-boat version and starts at $73,000. We also added Ocean Blue paint ($695), the GT-Line 2nd Row Relaxation Package ($2,000) and some nice carpeted mats.($340) Add in $1,495 for Destination, and we rang the bell at $78,430.
While that is not cheap, for comparison, our hybrid Lexus T 500h F Sport came in at $77,235. So, the EV9 stacks up well – it’s more about whether you want to go EV or not. If you want an even hotter EV, there’s the looney-tunes BMW XM, but at $168,395 it’s a whole ‘nother ball game.
And since it’s natural to compare the EV9 to its sibling the Telluride, the gas powered Telly would set you back $55,275. We don’t think this shows the EV9 to be pricey, more that the Telluride is crazy good value for the dollar!
Stunning outside, luxurious inside, incredibly quick and capable, the all-new Kia EV9 shows that large 3-row, EV SUV’s can be a fantastic choice for your family!
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.