We have both been long time fans of Kia models, in particular the Sportage, the strikingly beautiful Stinger and more recently the all electric EV 6, so we were really excited to be trying out the new also all electric larger EV 9.
When it arrived in the driveway, it was a bit of a competition to see who could get to it first. Not surprisingly, Lorraine won!
To say it is a head turner is an understatement, its bold design is simply stunning and at first glance you could easily mistake it for a Range Rover. (We are not sure how deliberate that was by the talented Korean designers.)
It is a large car both inside and out and with the choice of 6 or 7 seats, it is ideal for the larger family who is looking to indulge themselves and enter the all electric market at the same time.
The clever design continues on the inside with great use of space, luxury and versatility. It comes with twin 12.3 inch infotainment and instrument displays with all the bells and whistles you can ask for and you can charge two phones in the front and the rear.
So far so good but how was the drive? We thought it drove and handled really well and just as you would expect from a large car on urban roads and on the motorways for longer distances.
There are numerous safety features too and the parking collision avoidance assist works particularly well… please don’t let on to Ally about Lorraine’s near miss with his car!
As with all electric cars, the two big questions are about range and price. This is a heavy car which will obviously affect the range obtained but you are looking at around 300 miles.
Kia says all versions of the EV 9 can be fast charged with a 10-80% in just 24 minutes, now that is impressive if it is indeed factual. We used a slower charger but it still only took about an hour.
There are three models on offer. The entry level is the rear wheel drive Air which has the longest claimed range. Then there is the all wheel drive GT- Line and the range topper all wheel drive GT- Line S which is the 6 seater.
Prices start from £64,995 for the entry model up to £75.995 for the GT-Line S
Ally says-The Kia EV 9 will be a clear challenger for the better recognised European premium brands, such as the Audi Q8 E-tron and the BMW iX and we wish them well with it.
Lorraine says- We both loved our time in the EV9, however we are not in the market for a 6/7 seater but for those who are, this is one lovely car.
