The experts on staff at Car and Driver remarked in one of their blogs last week that car designers these days must not be excited to design 3-row SUVs. Some have reflected that there is only so much to be done with a two-box shape, and that the segment is competitive enough to just play it safe. Kia had excitedly proved that sentiment wrong three years ago with the Telluride, and we now have another modern masterpiece on our hands with the all-electric EV9.
The all-new Kia EV9 certainly makes a bold impression; the engineers and designers met and exceeded the challenge of designing a large battery-powered SUV that is so appealing to many American consumers nationwide. The EV9 is built on Hyundai Motor group’s excellent electric global modular platform (E-GMP) and starts things off with proportions that are slightly different from the Telluride’s.
The wheelbase is 122 inches long, which is nearly 8 inches longer than the Telluride, with the wheels pushed further off into the corners. The headlights offer a bit of a sci-fi vibe, with the vertical orientation of the taillights appearing quite the same way. Even though the EV9 doesn’t claim to be a luxury SUV, the design and materials selected smartly prove otherwise. The 12.3-inch infotainment screen is large enough to satisfy current trends, and there’s also a very cool climate-control center directly behind the wheel.
The 2nd row captain’s chairs are heated and ventilated, with an excellent amount of power adjustability and extendable footrests. With the Hyundai Ionic 5 proudly claiming an esteemed spot on Car and Driver’s “10Best” list, mini car experts are thrilled with the EV9’s shared E-GMP platform potential. This crew tested the top-of-the-line dual motor, all-wheel drive model, cranking out 379 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. The power source is the 99.8-kWh battery pack which boasts a greater capacity than seen from any other E-GMP models to date.
This large and lucent lithium-ion pack weighs over 1200 pounds, while the EV9’s final weight is an immense 5839 lbs. The EV9’s motors crank out more power and torque than the Telluride’s 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6, with their considerable acceleration abilities easily making up for the extra weight. The dual-motor EV9 blasts up to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, and nails the quarter-mile trot in 13.3 seconds at a formidable 101 mph. These are very fast numbers for ANY segment, and the EV9’s amazingly fast accelerator response can render the Telluride on the slightly slower end.
With the EV9 situated in the first wave of three-row electric SUVs to first hit the mainstream market, it will have to live up to some sizable expectations. This team immediately loved the 285-mm Hankook Ion Evo AS SUV all-season tires, and the primo stopping power courtesy of much larger brake rotors. The EV9 was quite well gripped around the skid pad and made the stop from 70 mph in just 184 feet. The steering quality offered up excellent weighting, and directional changes yielded an eager response. At 70 mph, the EV9 “kicks out the quiet jams” with a hushed 67 decibels and offers an EPA-estimated range of 270 miles,
