According to the industry on the 2nd, Car & Driver, a leading U.S. automotive magazine, said, “Three-row SUVs such as Kia Telluride are popular enough to sell hundreds of thousands of units a year in the U.S.,” adding, “EV9 is the first electric model to be introduced in the three-row SUV market, so the debut of EV9 is particularly important.”
Tesla, Volvo, Rivian, and Mercedes have developed electric SUVs with three-row seats, but they are still in the pre-market stage or three-row options are not basic specifications.
Although there are three-row electric SUVs such as Tesla and Rivian, EV9 is actually the mainstream car brand’s first large electric SUV model, the U.S. magazine Motor Trend said. “The newly unveiled EV9 is fantastic.”
The spacious interior space utilizing the advantages of Hyundai Motor Group’s electric vehicle platform E-GMP was also well received
Electrifying, a media platform specializing in electric vehicles, said, “The EV9’s state-of-the-art technology such as wireless updates is good, but the most eye-catching part is the carefully designed interior,” adding, “The wide interior space and ample storage space stand out, which proved that moving from the back seat can be a ‘first-class experience’.”
After the government certification of EV92WD (rear wheel drive) and 4WD (four-wheel drive) models is completed during the second quarter, EV9 will disclose the distance available for one charge and detailed specifications for each trim, and will proceed with pre-contracting in Korea first. EV9 real cars will also be available at the 2023 Seoul Mobility Show, which will be held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, until the 9th.
“At last, the era of large electric SUVs has arrived,” The Drive said. “Kia has challenged the new electric vehicle market through the launch of the versatile EV9.
Overseas media also showed interest in the EV9’s body size. Based on Kia’s own measurements, EV9 has a total length of 5,10mm, a total width of 1,980mm, a total height of 1,755mm, and a wheelbase (inter-axis distance) of 3,100mm.
The EV9 is Kia’s second electrified model, built on the EV6 platform E-GMP, which was dedicated to electric vehicles, after the EV6 launched in 2021.
Kia posted the EV9 World Premiere video on its global brand website on the previous day, and introduced its real car for the first time on the day. Ordinary visitors can see the EV9 from July 31 when the Seoul Mobility Show officially opens.
“EV9 is the first large SUV EV in Korea with both innovative technology and spatiality,” said Karim Habib, vice president of Kia Design Center. “It will provide a new driving experience that will completely change the concept and method of movement.”
The front part of the EV9 has implemented a future-oriented image through a digital pattern lighting grill and small cube projection LED headlamps, Kia explained.
The second row was the first global electric vehicle model to allow customers to choose four seats, including a bench seat and an independent seat, and a panoramic wide display connected to three displays was installed indoors.
The EV9 GT-line is equipped with a wireless software update system that can keep various functions of the vehicle up-to-date, such as highway autonomous driving (HDP) and navigation maps, which are advanced driving assistance functions.
Kia Motors included EV9 and all other exhibition vehicles at the Seoul Mobility Show with electric vehicles only. Visitors can browse the EV9 exhibition in a specialized space.
The “EV9 Hero Stage” created an environment where you can focus on EV9 through a modern space design, and “EV9 Island” is designed to allow you to appreciate EV9’s design in a future-oriented space decorated with mirrors and LEDs.
The EV6 general model and GT-line were on display in the EV6 zone, while the Dior New Niro EV and Niro Plus taxi vehicles were on display in the Niro zone. The Dior New Niro EV is the second-generation model launched last year, following the first-generation Niro EV in 2018.
Kia collaborated with Kakao Friends at the Seoul Mobility Show to create a “Family Communication Zone” with photo zones and also runs a cafe where you can watch cars while drinking coffee in partnership with domestic coffee brand Teraro.
For customers who cannot come to the Seoul Mobility Show in person, it will also operate a Kia exhibition hall and a digital showroom where they can experience EV9.
“The battlefield, which is close to 5m, looks simply huge,” British magazine Car said. “The battlefield, which is 200mm longer than Sorento, is similar to the range Rover.”
Driving performance is also one of the main concerns.
German media outlet Auto Motown Spot highlighted the EV9’s power performance, saying, “With the ‘Boost’ option, it implements a maximum torque of 700 Nm and reaches 100km/h in 5.3 seconds.”