2025 Kia EV9: A Game-Changer in the Electric SUV Segment

The Kia EV9 is here to revolutionize the electric vehicle (EV) market, particularly for buyers seeking a three-row SUV with a combination of style, performance, and eco-friendly driving. As Kia’s first electric SUV offering with three rows of seating, the EV9 stands out not just for its futuristic design but for its impressive performance, technology, and overall practicality. In this detailed blog, we’ll take a deep dive into the 2025 Kia EV9, breaking down its design, features, driving experience, charging capabilities, pricing, and safety.

Whether you’re a seasoned EV driver or someone considering your first electric car, the Kia EV9 brings a lot to the table and is poised to set new standards in the world of electric SUVs. This comprehensive review will help you understand why the EV9 could be the ideal choice for you and your family’s needs.

Design and Exterior Features: A Bold Statement on the Road

Kia has taken a bold approach with the design of the EV9, giving it a distinct, boxy silhouette that strikes a balance between rugged SUV styling and aerodynamic efficiency. While most electric cars tend to have smooth, flowing lines for better aerodynamics, the Kia EV9 breaks the mold with its aggressive, squared-off shape, reminiscent of traditional SUVs but with a futuristic twist.

• Digital Tiger Face Grille: Kia’s signature “Digital Tiger Face” front grille gives the EV9 a commanding presence on the road, with integrated LED lighting elements that add a futuristic touch. The grille is flanked by full LED headlights, which not only enhance visibility but also give the EV9 a high-tech look.
• Panoramic Sunroof: Available on higher trims, the panoramic sunroof stretches across the cabin, providing an open, airy feel to the interior and letting in plenty of natural light. This is a perfect feature for long road trips, adding to the overall comfort of the ride.
• 21-inch Wheels: The EV9 offers a variety of wheel options, including striking 21-inch wheels on higher trims. These large wheels not only improve the vehicle’s stance but also help enhance its on-road presence, making the EV9 look even more imposing.

Kia also ensured that the EV9 is as functional as it is stylish, equipping it with practical features such as a hands-free liftgate for easy access to the cargo area, roof rails for added utility, and a rugged exterior designed to handle various terrains.

Interior and Comfort: Luxury Meets Practicality

Step inside the 2025 Kia EV9, and you’ll be greeted by a modern, high-tech cabin that blends comfort, luxury, and practicality. The EV9 is designed with families in mind, offering ample space for up to seven passengers and plenty of cargo room for road trips or daily commutes.

• Seating Configurations: Depending on the trim, the EV9 can seat six or seven passengers. The higher trims come with captain’s chairs in the second row, providing a more luxurious experience for rear passengers. For those opting for the base model, a bench seat is available in the second row, offering seating for three.
• Ventilated and Heated Seats: The ventilated seats in the EV9 perform exceptionally well, providing superior comfort on hot days compared to similar models like the Tesla Model 3. The availability of both heated and ventilated seats across various trims ensures that all passengers remain comfortable, regardless of the weather.
• Infotainment System: The cabin features an impressive, dual 12.3-inch digital display that merges seamlessly into the dashboard. This setup includes a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a secondary screen for controlling various functions such as climate control and media settings. The user-friendly interface is responsive and offers a wealth of features, from navigation to smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto).
• Cargo Space: With all seats up, the Kia EV9 still offers a generous amount of cargo space. However, fold the second and third-row seats down, and the cargo space expands dramatically, making it ideal for those who frequently haul large items.
• Sustainable Materials: Kia has committed to eco-friendly practices with the EV9, using sustainable materials throughout the cabin. The seats, for instance, are upholstered in vegan leather, and various trim pieces are made from recycled plastics, helping to reduce the car’s overall environmental footprint.

Performance and Driving Experience: Power Meets Efficiency

The 2025 Kia EV9 offers a powerful, refined driving experience, making it a top contender in the electric SUV market. While it’s designed to handle the demands of daily driving, the EV9 doesn’t shy away from adventure, offering robust performance and an impressive range.

• Powertrain Options: The EV9 comes with multiple powertrain options, including both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The entry-level Light RWD trim offers a 230-mile range and a 0-60 mph time of 7.7 seconds. On the other hand, the performance-oriented GT-Line AWD trim boasts 516 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to hit 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
• Towing Capacity: One of the standout features of the Kia EV9 is its towing capacity. Unlike many electric SUVs, the EV9 can tow up to 5,000 pounds, making it a practical option for those who need to haul trailers, boats, or other heavy loads.
• Adaptive Cruise Control and Auto Steer: The adaptive cruise control system works well, adjusting the car’s speed based on traffic conditions. The Auto Steer feature assists with steering, particularly useful on highways. However, the multiple-button setup for controlling these functions may take some time to get used to.
• Drive Modes: The EV9 offers multiple drive modes, including Eco, Normal, and Sport. Each mode adjusts the car’s throttle response and steering feel, allowing drivers to choose a driving style that suits their needs.

Performance Highlights:

• 0-60 mph: As fast as 4.5 seconds (GT-Line)
• Max range: Up to 304 miles (Light Long Range RWD)
• Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
• Drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport

While the performance is commendable, the EV9 is not without its quirks. For instance, the transition from gas to electric driving isn’t as seamless as one might expect, and the multiple-button configuration for adaptive cruise control can be slightly confusing for new users. However, once accustomed to the settings, the overall driving experience remains smooth and confident, particularly on highways.

Charging Experience: Convenient but Room for Improvement

The charging experience of the 2025 Kia EV9 is generally positive, though there’s still some room for improvement, especially for drivers who plan to take long road trips. Kia is working on improving the EV9’s charging infrastructure, with plans to integrate Tesla Supercharger network access by 2025, but until then, drivers will need to rely on third-party charging stations.

• Charging Speed: Kia claims that the EV9 is capable of 350 kW charging, but real-world tests show a peak charging rate closer to 230 kW. At this rate, you can charge the EV9 from 10% to 80% in about 24 minutes, which is impressive but still behind the Tesla Model Y in terms of charging convenience.
• Home Charging: For daily use, most drivers will likely opt for home charging, which is convenient and reliable. The Kia EV9 supports Level 2 home chargers, which can fully charge the vehicle overnight.
• Public Charging: While the EV9 supports DC fast charging, its compatibility with certain third-party chargers can be hit or miss. Charging infrastructure in certain areas may be sparse or unreliable, which can cause frustration during long road trips.

Pricing and Trims: Affordable Yet Feature-Rich

Kia has priced the EV9 to be competitive in the market, especially considering its features and capabilities. With the availability of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, the base price for the EV9 can drop below $50,000, making it an attractive option for families and eco-conscious buyers alike.

• EV9 Light RWD: Starting at $54,900, this base model offers a 230-mile range and seating for up to seven passengers.
• EV9 Light Long Range RWD: Priced at $59,200, this trim boosts the range to 304 miles and reduces the seating to six for a more spacious second-row configuration.
• EV9 Wind AWD: For $63,900, you get 280 miles of range and all-wheel drive, along with additional features such as dual sunroofs.
• EV9 Land AWD: The Land trim, starting at $69,900, adds premium features and a more luxurious interior.
• EV9 GT-Line AWD: At the top of the lineup is the GT-Line AWD, priced at $73,900, offering enhanced performance with 516 lb-ft of torque and a 4.5-second 0-60 mph time.

Safety and Driver Assistance: Packed with Advanced Features

Kia has made safety a top priority in the 2025 EV9, equipping it with a wide range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to ensure both the driver and passengers are well protected.

• Highway Driving Assist 2: This semi-autonomous driving feature helps keep the vehicle centered in its lane, adjust speed based on traffic, and even change lanes with minimal input from the driver.
• Blind Spot Monitoring: The blind spot monitoring system provides visual and audible alerts if a vehicle is detected in the EV9’s blind spot, ensuring safe lane changes.
• Automatic Emergency Braking: The AEB system can detect pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, automatically applying the brakes if a potential collision is detected.
• 360-Degree Camera: The 360-degree camera system provides a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle, making it easier to navigate tight parking spaces or avoid obstacles.

Final Thoughts: Is the 2025 Kia EV9 Worth It?

The 2025 Kia EV9 brings a lot to the table, offering a perfect blend of style, performance, and utility. Whether you’re looking for an electric vehicle for your daily commute or need a versatile SUV for family trips, the EV9 checks all the boxes. Its spacious interior, impressive range, and a host of safety features make it a strong contender in the increasingly crowded electric SUV market.

Despite minor drawbacks like the charging infrastructure and slightly confusing adaptive cruise control setup, the overall package is hard to beat. Kia has positioned the EV9 as a strong competitor to vehicles like the Tesla Model X and Rivian R1S, but with a more affordable price tag and a family-friendly design.