Kia EV9 review

Is the Kia EV9 a good car?

We crowned the Kia EV9 our best large company car at the 2024 New Car Awards, so that should give you some idea of how highly we regard this electric seven-seat SUV. A big battery helps it to deliver a long range, fast charging recoups energy at a rapid rate, while all versions are well equipped.

The seven-seat layout features plenty of room in all three rows, while the fit and finish is befitting of the car’s price, which makes it the most expensive Kia ever sold in the UK. There are a few minor issues with the EV9, but they’re not big enough to stop it being on your shortlist if you’re looking for a premium family SUV.

How much does the Kia EV9 cost?

The arrival of the Kia EV9 means the Korean company reaches new heights in terms of price, with the range starting at more than £65,000. However, this does get you a well-equipped seven-seat electric SUV with a long range that will make it a more viable option as a premium family car than you might think.

Kia has offered buyers a seven-seater for decades. Following on from the Sedona MPV, there was the slightly more compact Carens, and then the firm aimed to add some desirability with the first Kia Sorento. That nameplate has carried the seven-seat option for the brand since, but it’s the EV9 that moves that onto a fully electric powertrain. 

There’s a whopping 99.8kWh battery (96kWh usable), providing up to 349 miles of driving range. You can choose from two motor configurations: a rear-drive set-up with 200bhp and 350Nm, or a dual-motor, four-wheel-drive layout with 380bhp and 700Nm of torque. 

Kia buyers get three trim levels to choose from, but the only reason to step above the base Air model is if you require the power of two electric motors instead of one. That’s because the entry-level car is superbly well equipped, with 19-inch alloys, LED headlights, twin 12.3-inch displays plus a 5.3-inch climate-control panel in between, six USB-C sockets (two per row), front and rear parking sensors, a powered tailgate, second-row window blinds, an eight-speaker audio system and power-adjustable front seats.

Anyone stepping up to a four-wheel-drive model can choose the GT-Line model. It’s around £8,000 more than the EV9 Air and features 21-inch alloys, two-tone upholstery, electric adjustment on the steering column, massage functionality on the driver’s seat, adaptive-beam headlights and exterior styling tweaks.

The top-of-the-range trim is GT-Line S, which is around £3,000 extra. It takes everything GT-Line has and adds a head-up display, a 14-speaker Meridian sound system and separate sunroofs for the first and second rows. This is also the only version available with a six-seat layout, incorporating ‘captain’s chairs’ in the middle row for £1,000 extra; they can rotate 180 degrees when the vehicle is stationary, allowing occupants in the back to interact more easily.

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The Kia EV9 is a big, heavy electric vehicle that majors on comfort above all else. It’s relaxing on the motorway, and is able to deal easily with big bumps in the road. However, the car’s weight means there’s lots of body roll in corners, while the car’s sheer size means it’s tricky to handle in town. The EV9’s overall performance is excellent, though. Read more about the Kia EV9's electric motors, performance and drive here…

The Kia EV9 can go from 10-80 per cent capacity from an ultra-rapid charger in just 25 minutes – a mighty impressive feat given this SUV has a huge 99.8kWh (96kWh usable) battery. This is courtesy of the 800-volt architecture that it shares with the brand’s other EVs. The Air model is our choice because it has more than 300 miles of electric range. Residuals are strong, and the only disappointment is the car’s high insurance rating. Read more about the Kia EV9's range, charging and running costs…

The EV9 has a very modern, open interior design, with a finish that doesn’t quite match the best premium offerings, but feels about right for the money. There are soft-touch materials in the right places, but some of the dashboard buttons are obscured by the steering wheel. The exterior looks are square, but Kia has paid attention to aerodynamics to boost the car’s range. Read more about the Kia EV9's interior, design and technology…

Even in seven-seat mode, the Kia EV9 outdoes many rivals for boot space, and it could be used for house removals with all seats folded. There’s plenty of space for all passengers, and it’s easy to slide the second row forward to access the back row. The six-seat captain’s chair configuration (which is available on GT-Line S only) isn’t as useful as it seems, because you can only use it while stationary, and it requires the front seats to be pushed forward. Anyone looking to tow will need an AWD version, which has a 2,500kg braked trailer limit. Read more about the Kia EV9's boot space, comfort and practicality…

The Kia EV9 is too new to appear in our Driver Power customer satisfaction surveys yet, but Kia as a brand generally performs well in the manufacturer poll. There’s also a long seven-year/100,000-mile warranty for additional peace of mind. The EV9 is a very safe car to put your loved ones in according to safety experts Euro NCAP, and every version comes with all the latest safety assistance technology. Read more about the Kia EV9's reliability and safety…

Kia EV9 alternatives

As it stands, EVs with seven seats are hard to track down. The main choice comes from converted vans such as the Citroen e-Berlingo and larger Spacetourer (as well as their Stellantis group alternatives) and the V-Class-based Mercedes EQV. Beyond that, there’s the Tesla Model X (which is only offered new in left-hand-drive form) and the Peugeot E-5008. When it comes to outright space, it’s down to the Volkswagen ID. Buzz in long-wheelbase form and the very leftfield Maxus Mifa 9 as the viable alternatives.

The Volvo EX90 offers similar seven-seat versatility in electric form, but that is several orders of magnitude more expensive. Then there’s the cheaper Mercedes EQB, which also offers seven seats but is smaller and therefore not as practical as the EV9. It doesn’t have the big Kia’s clever EV technology, either. There is another contender on the way from Hyundai, though. Kia beat its group partner to the punch in building a true jumbo electric car., and it’ll be a while before the Hyundai Ioniq 7 enters the fray in the UK.

Expand your search to include combustion engines and plug-in hybrids, and there’s more variety on offer. A mainstay of the class has been the Land Rover Discovery, while the company also offers the Defender with similar boxy style as the Kia. It’s worth noting that the Discovery is diesel only, while the Defender has a selection of petrol, diesel and PHEV powertrains, as well as three body lengths to choose from, although the 110 and 130 versions are the ones to choose if you want passenger-carrying ability. 

Elsewhere, company car-friendly plug-in hybrids such as the Audi Q7, BMW X5, and Volvo XC90 are on offer, as are PHEV versions of the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe. If you’re not a fan of SUVs, then the VW Multivan is available with plug-in power, as well as diesel and petrol engines, and offers a bit more style and is better to drive than a van-based MPV, because it has more in common with the Volkswagen Passat under the skin than any VW van.