a seven-seater that drives like a compact

Kia’s “Plan S” continues to take shape and the work of the Koreans is worthy of well-deserved recognition. Its designers have taken a step forward in the battle of innovation, with transgressive and avant-garde proposals under the “United Opposites” design language. The objective is to take advantage of electrification to become the reference firm, with 1.6 million electric vehicles sold by 2030 in Europe and a growth of 28.5% in the next 7 years. To do this, they need a complete range that also includes a flagship of the Kia EV9 nature.

A few months ago we had our first contact with this 6 or 7-seater SUV that, despite having a price of 86,200 euros in Spainremains far from its competitors in the premium segment such as the Mercedes-Benz EQS (124,429 euros) or the Volvo EX90 (102,269 euros). There is only a more economical seven-seater electric and it is the BYD Tang, with a clear focus on price as a purchase argument. The Kia EV9, on the other hand, does not pretend to be a luxury SUV, but it comes close to them without hesitation with an exquisite level of finish, cutting-edge technological equipment and a solid image.

First impressions are vital and, with 5.01 meters long by 1.75 m high, 1.98 m wide, the impact generated by its structured silhouette is the first positive point of the EV9. It is built on the E-GMP platform, which uses the Kia EV6 and also promises to be that of the future EV7, but this time with a 3.10 meter wheelbase. Despite its exaggerated size, this SUV was effective for urban traffic. Possibly, its imposing design helped the rest of the users give us a certain margin in maneuvers.

During the presentation and subsequent test of the Kia EV9, they explained to us some technological curiosities of the GT-Line models. In Spain only this variant will be marketed with two 141 kW motors, with a front torque of 350 in the GT-Line and a rear torque of 350 Nm. Accelerate 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and offers a tour of 497 kilometers (WLTP)with an approved consumption of 22.8 kWh/100 km that we managed to reduce it to 18 kWh/100 km during a stretch of curves at a relaxed pace.

The battery is 99.8 kWh and supports 800-volt ultra-fast charging. It charges on its own 24 minutes on 350 kW outlets, but the logical thing would be to charge it at home using three-phase outlets of up to 10.5 kW, so it would take about 10 hours. Few of us imagined the parking that a Wallbox with these capacities would accept, but the home that hosted our presentation in La Finca (Madrid) could be the future of a Kia EV9 like the one we tested.

Right at the door was the unit that Rafa Nadal, brand ambassador and future owner of a car, will drive. Kia EV9 GT-Line matte Ocean blue color. That tone highlights, even more, the avant-garde aspect of an Americanized but digital silhouette.

The front keeps l“tiger face” configuration but with the blind grille and the LED headlights that are reminiscent of a constellation, the same lighting signature that the taillights imitate. The wheels on this unit are 21 inchesspecific for the top of the range.

Electric driving is more comfortable than thermal driving and any automotive enthusiast would be unable to question it. Drive the Kia EV9 drives silentlywithout vibrations or noise derived from the engine, and with an ealmost instantaneous thrust that improves the reactions of a 2,648 kilogram vehicle of weight.

It is a notable fact, but the dynamism of this SUV with up to seven seats has pleasantly surprised us due to its ease, stability and performance. Despite its heights and ground clearance of 177 millimeters, the EV9 He completed a route through Madrid and the Sierra with excellent rolling comfort on any type of road. Driving modes Normal, Sport and Eco they affect the reactivity of the accelerator and coexist with the modes Snow, Mud and Sand, which modify the torque delivery to solve any situation of loss of traction.

The Driving sensations are more pleasant and natural than those of a BYD Tang, its main rival by price, and are very close to that of its competitors in the premium segment. Even its braking system, with d360 mm front and 345 mm rear ventilated discsare able to stop the EV9 in the blink of an eye. It is a relevant attribute, given that its approach makes it a car for family travel and, in that sense, it gets our notable approval.

The EV9’s cabin is familiar, there is no doubt, but also highly technological. Have a 828 liter trunk capacity in its 4 or 5 seat configurations and goes on to 312 l 333 l for six and seven seats respectively, but the surprising thing is in front of the front seats. This SUV maintains the firm’s panoramic screen structure, but adds a third surface of 5.1 inches for air conditioning and, therefore, adds 30 inches total.

Beyond the digital evolution, I especially liked to see how Kia also maintains haptic buttons under the screens and even the traditional analog buttons for quick access to emergency lights and climate control. A respect for tradition that not only improves safety, but also coexists excellently with avant-garde solutions such as digital rearview mirrors, the fingerprint sensor or the possibility of carrying your key on your smartphone.

Kia does not expect volume results for its flagship and it is the most realistic. Its price places it below the competition, but it remains an untapped niche and dependent on public charging infrastructure. In their first year, they are content with selling 200 units of Kia EV9 and, as Emilio Herrera, president of Kia Iberia, stated: “We continue to be generalistswe cannot compete with the German premium firms.”

Faced with the invasion of the Chinese marches, Herrera is calm and assures that they are rivals of the “low-cost” segmentin which very few European brands can be found today.