I get to review a lot of two-row SUVs. For most singles and small families, this formula answers the question of “What do I get for a practical vehicle I can use in most situations?” If you have three or more kids, the three-row SUV is warranted. However, it comes with a substantial price hike for the privilege. Manufacturers know that you desire a third row, but you will not settle for a minivan! But in recent years, even the prices of minivans have skyrocketed. So, the car manufacturers have us. There is a way though to stick it to the high prices of fuel – and that is the Kia EV9.
The Electric Three-Row
There are very few reasonably priced, all-electric SUVs. The Tesla Model X is the standout, but for some, its odd shape and falcon wing motorized doors make it too peculiar and off-putting for the general buyer. The Kia EV9 has a traditional and very attractive SUV shape. It even flaunts the trendy boxy look while still having great aerodynamics.
Tom Kearns, the chief designer of the EV9, says, “The exterior styling of the EV9 is a master class in simplicity of form and expression. With a single unbroken stroke, just like that found on the [new] Kia logo, we were able to define the character of the EV9.” We really like the flush door handles with automatic deployment that underscore the clean side profile lines.
Plenty of Reserve Power
A three-row electric SUV is only good if you have a reasonable amount of range. With its near 100-kWh hour pack and efficiency tricks, the EV9 can achieve over 300 miles of range when conditions are good. I really liked the display that gave an average range, best-case scenario range and worst-case range to alleviate range anxiety. You’ll be able to look at that worst-case scenario on really cold days and know whether you’ll have to stop for an electric fill-up. Kia touts the EV9 as the first Kia model to offer vehicle system over-the-air updates, a strategic move toward software-defined vehicles, along with navigation-based charging guidance using arrival time and distance-to-empty estimates. The EV9’s standard 800V electrical architecture enables ultrafast recharging on high-speed DC chargers, designed to go from a 10 to 80 percent state of charge in under 25 minutes. If the battery, navigation system and driver are in constant communication, range anxiety is drastically reduced.
Sean Yoon, CEO of Kia North America, said, “The EV9 is a credible, high-value SUV that encapsulates our approach to bringing innovative, consumer-focused products to market with a serious commitment to electrification.”
Comfy for the Adults and Kids
Without the need to package transmission components and fuel tanks, the Kia EV9 is unusually spacious. My tester even featured second-row power seats with leg supports so you could kick back while being chauffeured in comfort. The infotainment screen is legible, and I liked the old-school digital displays for climate so you could easily adjust the temperature. This climate display was flanked by the driver’s information cluster and infotainment cluster. To keep beverages and odds-and-ends neat, a dual-level, floating center console stretches from the first to the second row. It offers under-tray storage to front passengers and a sliding storage console for rear passengers. An optional heads-up display makes using the navigation system and advanced driver assistance system-enabled smart cruise control easy. I really liked the Kia system and how it kept the vehicle centered in its lane.
Meridian “Premium” Audio
The Meridian sound system features 14 speakers and 708 watts of power. It has the flair of British sonic accuracy that you would expect from the stalwart home audio manufacturer, but it lacks the oomph you would expect with so many drivers and touted power output. I’m guessing that amplifier power and driver weight were scrutinized to maximize driving range. To make the most of the audio headroom you have, you can use Meridian Intelli-Q data-driven equalization. Meridian says the technology optimizes the audio playback within the cabin, based on data available from the vehicle such as speed, window state, occupancy and audio source. Meridian notes that this ensures that all occupants in the vehicle enjoy optimal audio at all times. However, having your favorite tunes cranked makes the system run out of dynamic headroom. A visit to your local mobile electronics retailer for some tweaks can help the audio experience.
The Kia EV9 is a great choice for those looking at a six-passenger, three-row SUVs. It’s not inexpensive, with my fully loaded tester coming in at $78K, but for those who want to go fully electric, the potential fuel savings (especially if you live in an area with cheap power or have solar panels) makes the Kia EV9 is the best choice. All my friends who had a ride thought they were in a really nice SUV and were surprised after the trip when I told them it was fully electric!
