2025 Kia EV9 Expert Review
Reviewed by Billy Rehbock
Positioned above the sleek EV6 within Kia’s lineup, the futuristic EV9 is a segment originator. While the innovative Rivian R1S came first, the EV9 is the first non-luxury mass-market all-electric three-row SUV. Having just arrived for 2024, the 2025 Kia EV9 carries over into the new year with minor changes. Rivals include other electric SUVs such as the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Volvo EX90.
What’s New
●Front sunroof is now standard for Light Long Range RWD
●Relaxation Seat package is no longer available for Land AWD
●Glacial White Pearl and Ebony Black paint colors
●Ivory Silver Gloss, Ivory Silver Matte, and Ocean Blue Matte paint colors discontinued
●Dark Gray & Navy interior colors discontinued for GT-Line trim
What We Think
The 2025 Kia EV9 is a big deal. Never before has an automaker offered a mass-market electric vehicle that aimed at the traditional three-row SUV segment. The EV9 does so with an extraordinary design and a compelling price. The cabin is both spacious and high-tech, providing comfortable seating and all the modern entertainment features shoppers have come to expect from a vehicle in this class. Clever solutions, including a floating center console, make storage easy for all passengers.
These attractive characteristics are supported by excellent driving dynamics. The EV9 delivers smooth, strong acceleration. Its brakes provide ample stopping power and the pedal offers good feedback. Chuck an EV9 into a corner and you’ll notice some body lean, but this is a small sacrifice for an otherwise comfortable and controlled ride.
Range varies dramatically from model to model, but every version of the EV9 benefits from ultra-fast charging that will get you back on the road in around 20 minutes. As a traditional three-row SUV with an unconventional electric powertrain, the EV9 suffers from the same pitfall as its forebears; most adults will find the third row cramped and suitable only for shorter drives. Other smaller complaints include a hidden start button and a slow-folding second row.
As the first non-luxury electric three-row SUV, the EV9 is an impressive effort from Kia. Its upscale interior, competitive EV tech, and solid performance make it a worthy alternative to its gasoline, hybrid, and PHEV rivals as evinced by its comparison test win against the Toyota Grand Highlander. If you can stomach the EV9’s premium over the gas-powered three-row Kia Telluride, it’s worth the spend.
Performance and Range
Kia offers the 2025 EV9 in single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD configurations. The base single-motor RWD powertrain develops 215 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Equipped with a 76.1-kWh battery, the most basic EV9, dubbed the Light, is good for 230 miles of range.
The variant that can drive the farthest on a charge, the Light Long Range model, receives the 99.8-kWh battery and a single-motor driving the rear wheels. Output falls to 201 hp, but this version of the EV9 can travel an EPA-rated 304 miles on a full charge.
Dual-motor EV9 models develop more power and offer improved traction off the line. These models (Wind and Land trims) use the 99.8-kWh battery and send 379 hp and 443 lb-ft to the wheels. This dual-motor configuration posts a 0-60 mph time of about 6.0 seconds. If you download the EV9’s available "Boost" feature, standard on the GT-Line trim, torque increases to 516 lb-ft. When we tested an EV9 GT-Line, it sprinted to 60 mph from a standstill in just 4.5 seconds. Surprisingly, the 90 pounds-lighter Land model we tested without the Boost feature was even quicker with a 0-60-mph time of 4.4 seconds.
Range comes in at 280 miles for the dual-motor EV9 Wind and Land. The sportier GT-Line gives up 10 miles of range for a total of 270 miles. An even higher-performance Kia EV9 GT arrives for the 2026 model year.
Charging
Kia builds the 2025 EV9 on its E-GMP architecture, which is shared with the smaller Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUVs. Like these other models, the EV9 utilizes an 800-volt electrical system that allows for impressive charging rates. The 2025 EV9 peaks at 230 kW, enabling the use of Level 3 charging at 150 kW and 350 kW fast chargers. Plugged into one of these high-speed DC chargers, the EV9’s battery can recuperate 10 to 80 percent charge in under 25 minutes. Like the EV6, the EV9 can power external devices with its vehicle-to-load capability.
Electric Performance for the Whole Family
Those who want the ultimate EV9 experience should wait for the GT model, which sits at the top of the lineup above the GT-Line trim. Due to arrive for 2026, the Kia EV9 GT’s dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain produces 576 hp. Kia claims a 4.3-second 0-60-mph time, but based on our experience with existing dual-motor models, we anticipate that this claim is highly conservative. Other performance tech includes a rear limited-slip differential and paddles mounted on the steering wheel for simulated shifting fun. Adaptive dampers add to the EV9 GT’s sporty proclivities with a firmer profile for tighter handling while also offering a softer setting for around-town comfort. Bigger brakes painted bright green, 21-inch wheels, and summer tires round out the EV9 GT’s upgrades.
Safety Ratings and Features
The 2024 Kia EV9 received a 2024 Top Safety Pick award from IIHS, the second highest accolade offered by the organization. Both RWD and AWD models garnered five-star overall scores from NHTSA, with five stars given for side crash performance. The EV9 scored four stars in the frontal crash and rollover tests.
Every 2025 Kia EV9 receives a comprehensive suite of driver assist and active safety features. All models are equipped with front automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, emergency evasive steering assist, intersection collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, and automatic high-beams. It’s possible Kia will offer more advanced hands-free driving tech in the future via download, using new software in addition to the EV9’s existing sensors.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
First- and second-row legroom are excellent, but the 2025 Kia EV9 succumbs to a common foible that affects much of the three-row SUV class. Third-row passengers could use more space, but children should have an easy time climbing behind the middle seats.
Technology
Kia equips every 2025 EV9 with standard dual 12.3-inch displays and a small 5.0-inch touchscreen for the climate controls. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are equipped on all models along with a wireless phone charger. There’s no shortage of USB-C ports; every row of the EV9 receives a pair of fast charging ports. Additionally, there’s a single USB-C data port in the front row. Eight-speaker audio is standard, while higher trims receive a 14-speaker setup from Meridian. The Kia Connect Store is accessible for all versions of the EV9, allowing you to download new features such as LED lighting patterns for the grille and increased powertrain torque. Over-the-air updates and remote monitoring via Kia’s mobile app make the EV9 a thoroughly modern SUV.
Which 2025 Kia EV9 Trim Level Is Best?
There are five available trims for the 2025 Kia EV9: Light RWD, Light Long Range RWD, Wind AWD, Land AWD, and GT-Line AWD. Pricing starts at just over $56,000 for the short range EV9 Light RWD while the EV9 GT-Line begins over $75,000.
The 2025 Kia EV9 Wind AWD represents the strongest value of the lineup; standard features include roof rails, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a HomeLink garage opener, a heated steering wheel, dual sunroofs, and Kia’s SynTex faux leather seats with an embossed dot pattern. There’s also a Snow drive mode for low-grip roads. Pricing begins at just over $65,000.
