Kia is launching the EV9 Concept in late 2021 to showcase a large electric SUV positioned above the compact EV6 crossover. The next production version using the same E-GMP platform will be launched soon, and in the meantime, key technical specifications along with pricing details may have leaked out. Car and Driver received from a Telluride owner a screenshot of a customer survey the South Korean automaker sent out to potential EV buyers.
Provided the information is accurate, Kia intends to sell the 2024 EV9 with a choice of five trim levels. The base model will cost $56,000 and offer 220 miles (354 kilometers) of range from an unspecified battery pack. Said to come with a single rear-mounted motor, giving the rear-wheel drive electric SUV a reported 200 horsepower and 250 pound-feet (339 Newton-meters) of torque. That should be enough for a 0 to 60 mph run in 8.5 seconds.
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The next trim level costs $61,000 and may have a bigger battery as the range increases to 290 miles (467 kilometers) while the electric motor remains the same. However, it performed slightly worse as the sprint time increased to 8.9 seconds, likely due to the heavier battery pack. Allegedly it will have 19-inch wheels and a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms).
If you need all-wheel drive, the cheapest dual-motor EV9 is listed for $63,000 with a combined output of 400 hp and 380 lb-ft (515 Nm). It can travel 260 miles (418 kilometers) on a single charge, tow 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg), and reach 60 mph from a standstill in six seconds. For an additional $5,000, the next trim level increased the wheel size to 20 inches, which slashed range by a staggering 240 miles (386 kilometers).
As for the $73,000 flagship, it also has 400 horsepower but an additional 100 lb-ft (136 Nm) of torque for an overall total of 480 lb-ft (653 Nm). The extra oomph increases towing capacity to 4,500 lbs (2,041 kg) and lowers 0-60 mph time to 5.2 seconds. The range-topper features black 21-inch wheels, raised suspension with an additional 0.4 inches (10 millimeters) of ground clearance, and black exterior accents.
| Price | Range (miles) | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Withdrawal (lbs) | Tire size | 0 to 60 mph (seconds) | |
| Crop 1 | $56,000 | 220 | 200 | 250 | 0 | 19″ | 8.5 |
| Crop 2 | $61,000 | 290 | 200 | 250 | 2,000 | 19″ | 8.9 |
| Crop 3 | $63,000 | 260 | 400 | 380 | 3,500 | 19″ | 6 |
| Crop 4 | $68,000 | 240 | 400 | 380 | 3,500 | 20″ | 6 |
| Crop 5 | $73,000 | 240 | 400 | 480 | 4,500 | 21″ Black | 5.2 |
It remains to be seen whether Kia will actually offer all five trim levels, or if this customer survey will help the company decide to stick with the most popular. The equivalent Hyundai Ioniq 7 should have the same technical specifications. It’s worth mentioning that the EV9 has been confirmed to receive the Level 3 autonomous driving system, which is apparently listed as a $4,800 option. According to the same document, the two most expensive trim levels get vehicle-to-cargo and vehicle-to-grid capabilities.
The official debut for the 2024 Kia EV9 will take place in the first half of this year, with Hyundai’s counterpart likely not far behind.