Kia, upwardly mobile, has unveiled its new flagship EV9 seven-seat electric family SUV with a range of over 300 miles as it accelerates its plans to become a greener brand.
Convenience being a unique selling point, users can even swivel and recline the seats to relax, nap or chat face-to-face while the battery is charged en route.
The bold new EV9 is said to have a high-tech ‘lounge-style’ interior and will be sold in the UK and Europe as one of the very few seven-seater electric vehicles on sale. A six-seat model will also be available.
However, it won’t come cheap, with prices expected to start from £60,000.
No shrinking purple: it’s the new Kia EV9. It’s a massive seven-seater electric family car with a range of 337 miles. But it won’t be expensive…
The Korean auto giant, once famous for its value and budget prices, is now upping its game – and its prices – to take on high-end automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
The EV9 – the big brother to the existing EV6 – makes its official world premiere at the end of March, although full UK specs and prices are yet to be confirmed ahead of sales from late 2023.
Kia bosses have hinted that entry-level prices could start at around £60,000 while top models could top £70,000, with some commentators, such as the highly respected Autocar, suggesting that top models range could even break the £80,000 barrier.
This prompted the question, “Would you pay £70,000 for a Kia?” “.
Announcing the new zero-emissions SUV, the company said: “The Kia EV9 is our first three-row electric flagship SUV, embodying bold styling and sophisticated elegance inside and out.”
He said the new EV9 represented “a big step” in the company’s journey to green and electric.
Pricing for the huge electric SUV is expected to start from £60,000 with top spec versions expected to top £80,000
Full UK specs and pricing are yet to be confirmed ahead of sales from late 2023
Although no official specs or performance figures have been released, expect power from a 100kWh battery offering a range of around 337 miles with a quick charge giving 62 miles in six minutes.
There will be a choice of rear (single electric motor) and four-wheel drive (twin motors) variants and a maximum acceleration of 0-62mph in around 5 seconds.
Autocar speculated: “A fat-packed EV9 GT will follow closely behind to rival the BMW iX M60 and Mercedes-AMG EQS SUV, potentially boosting power beyond the hottest EV6’s 577bhp.”
The new EV9 is built on Kia’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).
Its long wheelbase and its completely flat electric vehicle architecture allow for a generous interior and “lounge style” comfort for the occupants of the three rows of seats.
Kia said it took feedback from families to assess the EV9’s seating configurations for all occupants, not just the driver.
He added: “Occupants seated in the first and second row seats can simultaneously recline their seats to relax and rest when the EV9 is under load.
“Second row seats can effortlessly rotate 180 degrees so occupants can interact with those seated in the third row. The third row seats also offer cup holders and charging points for mobile devices.
Although no official specs or performance figures have been released, expect power from a 100kWh battery offering a range of around 337 miles with a quick charge giving 62 miles in six minutes.
Its long wheelbase and completely flat electric vehicle architecture provide generous cabin space and “lounge-style” comfort for occupants of all three rows of seats.
It promises a spacious, light and airy cabin with premium, simple and elegant materials and a user-friendly design. The open, floating panoramic instrument panel extends from the steering wheel to the center of the vehicle.
On the dashboard, two 12.3-inch touch screens are integrated into a 5-inch segmented display and cover high-definition audiovisual, navigation and telematics.
The emphasis on digital touch means physical buttons are kept to a minimum, which may not appeal to traditionalists and non-tech-savvy motorists.
It should also have plenty of storage, including a spacious compartment at its base.
This is the first all-new Kia created by former BMW stylist Karim Habib.
Across the entire dashboard, two 12.3-inch touchscreens are integrated with a 5-inch segment display and cover high-definition audiovisual, navigation and telematics
Emphasis on digital touch means physical buttons are kept to a minimum – which may not appeal to traditionalists and non-tech-savvy motorists
The boxy yet contemporary design is based on Kia’s design philosophy called ‘Opposites United’ which it says combines and creates a tension between the natural world and modernity, and between rugged capability and serene calm.
On the vehicle, this translates into a bold grille and striking vertical headlights and a digital version of Kia’s “tiger face” design: “Flush door handles and a tapered rear roofline give a feeling of fluid movement and effective.”
The simple, clean lines of the tailgate have slim taillights that mirror the design of those up front.
For occupants, the interior of the EV9 promises new forms of space and comfort combined with the latest advanced technologies to “re-imagine what a family SUV can offer”.
The big new EV9 is just one of 14 electric vehicles to be launched globally by 2027, nine of which are coming to the UK ahead of an all-electric range by 2030, some of which will be built in Slovakia from 2025.
‘Affordable’ small electric cars are ‘economically difficult’ to produce
At prices starting around £60,000, Kia’s EV9 is the latest electric vehicle to be priced well above the budgets of the majority of motorists.
With the price of electric cars being the biggest barrier to demand, there is a desperate need for new, more affordable models to come to market.
A zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate is expected to be introduced by the government in 2024 and will require automakers to increase the share of electric vehicle sales each year.
Paul Philpott, Managing Director of Kia UK
In theory, this should force manufacturers’ hand to sell cheaper battery-powered vehicles, although Kia’s UK boss says there are major difficulties in achieving this.
Chief executive Paul Philpott said earlier this year that affordable small electric cars are “economically difficult” to market due to the high cost of batteries.
Kia’s Niro EV, which starts from £36,795, was Britain’s third best-selling electric car in 2022, while its cheapest battery car is the Soul EV, which starts from £32 £845.
Famous for its pioneering seven-year warranties, it’s a sign of how things are really starting at Kia which for the first time broke the historic barrier of 100,000 cars a year in the UK and is now the 6th most the country’s biggest seller, after increasing sales last year by 10.3 percent against a market decline of 2 percent.
Kia has sold nearly 1.4 million cars in Britain since its UK launch in July 1991.
Philpott said: “Since Kia first entered the UK car market 32 years ago, the brand has gone from strength to strength.”
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