Kia Offers Early Peak at 2024 EV9, the First Mass Market 3-Row Electric SUV
Kia unveils details for its much-anticipated 2024 EV9 electric SUV with three-row seating, the first battery-powered vehicle of its size from an affordable brand.
"The Kia EV9 breaks new ground, offering customers an exceptionally high-quality proposition and a fresh EV perspective in the family SUV sector," says Karim Habib, executive vice president and head of Kia global design center.
In the past, shopping for an electric car has largely meant surveying a range of smaller vehicles: sedans, like a Chevy Bolt or Tesla Model 3, and 5-seat SUVs, such as a Volkswagen ID.4. To get three rows and an electric powertrain, consumers have had just two options: a Rivian R1S or Tesla Model X (with a third row upgrade.) Both are considered high-end products, clocking in at $90,000-$100,000 or more.
The Kia EV9 adds a third option to the mix, the first from a brand that offers some of the most affordable EVs available today. Kia has not disclosed the price yet, choosing to focus its announcement on the design details and features.
"Polygonal" is how Kia describes the vehicle, referring to its boxy look (though it's not quite as boxy as the EV9 concept vehicle revealed in 2021, Car & Driver reports(Opens in a new window).) "Kia’s designers have fused a unique combination of sleek, sculptural shapes and assured, assertive geometry to deliver a strikingly contemporary yet gracefully serene SUV," Kia says.
The vehicle has flush door handles, similar to those found on both Teslas and Rivians, and a sleek roof for optimal aerodynamics—an important contributor to preserving electric range.
Inside, the vehicle seats six or seven, depending on the trim. Both the first and second rows recline, which Kia says customers can use to "relax and
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