The Kia EV9, anticipated as one of the upcoming models from the South Korean automaker in India this year, has entered its testing phase in the country. While the official launch date is yet to be disclosed, it is expected to grace showrooms in the second half of 2024. The EV9 is positioned as Kia’s global flagship electric vehicle, built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) architecture and incorporating the latest in Kia’s battery technology.
Globally, the EV9 offers three powertrain options: a single-motor Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) entry-level variant with a 76.1kWh battery, a 99.8kWh battery variant, and a dual-motor RWD variant with a combined power output of 379bhp and a range of 450km. The base variant claims a range of 358km with the smaller battery and an impressive 541km with the larger battery.
The electric SUV features both fixed and portable charging options, with the ability to charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 24 minutes using a fast charger. This setup allows for a 248km range with a 15-minute charge. Notably, the Kia EV9 supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality through its integrated charging control unit. Read: Kia Clavis Interior, Exterior Details – Punch, Exter Fighter
As a flagship model, the EV9 comes packed with lots of advanced features, including Level 3 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technology, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and wireless smartphone connectivity, a 12.3-inch driver display screen, a 5.3-inch climate control screen, a 14-speaker Meridian sound system, Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting, C-Type USB ports, and fingerprint recognition.
To enhance its comfort levels, Kia has equipped the EV9 with heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, three-zone climate control, regenerative braking paddle shifters, a heated steering wheel, USB charging ports for all passengers, a height-adjustable smart power tailgate, and an automatic defogger. The Kia EV9 offers a flexible seating arrangement with 60:40 split remote folding second-row seats featuring headrests and swivel function, and 50:50 split remote folding third-row seats with headrests.
