The EV9 Is Proof Kia Is Dominating the EV Segment

Amidst the surge of electric vehicle introductions of the past few years, the Kia EV9 stands out as the sole 3-row EV from a mainstream manufacturer. This exclusivity, coupled with its impressive features, makes the EV9 an ideal choice for those not willing to invest in luxury brands or risk with EV-only start-ups. Discover more about this exceptional vehicle in this Kia of Mankato post. 

An Industry-Leading EV platform

That this unique EV choice comes from Kia should not be a surprise. The E-GMP platform under the EV9, EV6, and other models from the Kia parent company is one of the best EV platforms in the industry, regardless of how lofty the brand name is. While an EV’s biggest weakness is on-the-road charging time, the E-GMP platform is one of the few with an 800-volt architecture. This means that when stopped at a 350-kW DC-direct fast charger, the EV9 will charge from 10% to the recommended 80% in under 25 minutes, which is probably not much longer than it will take for the driver and six passengers to use nearby facilities and grab a snack. 

Of course, most of the EV9’s charging can be expected to be done at home, where a full charge will occur in 6 to 7 hours. After that, you will be ready to travel an estimated 230 miles on the standard 76.1 kWh battery (RWD model) and over 300 miles with the larger 99.8 kWh battery. This will be done emission-free and, of course, with no gas station visits. 

The Do-Everything Family Vehicle 

This amounts to a vehicle that kind of does it all. It will seat six and treat all to a smooth, quiet powertrain that luxury gas-powered SUVs can only dream of. They may also dream of a potential 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds and stable handling that comes from the low center of gravity and 122-inch wheelbase enabled by an EV powertrain. As an example, Kia’s Telluride has the exact same overall length but an 8-inch shorter wheelbase. 

That additional space between the axles also gives the EV9 three additional cubic feet of passenger volume, which includes an additional inch in both 2nd and 3rd-row legroom (43 and 32 inches, respectively). Cargo space is 20 cubic feet behind the 3rd row, rising to 82 cubic feet when the 2nd- and 3rd-row seatbacks are folded.

A Great Command Center

At the front of the cabin, EV9 features Kia’s ultramodern (Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) operating system. The driver is greeted by a 12.3-inch configurable digital display, and the same housing stretches to include the 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Smartphone compatibility is wireless, and quick adjustments to the HVAC can be performed with simple physical controls with HVAC status on a dedicated display between the center and driver’s displays. Plenty of quick controls are also housed in the steering wheel spokes, including convenient rollers for volume and info display selection. In addition, the ccNC is capable of over-the-air updates that can increase feature usability in the future.

The EV9 may have a market all to itself, but it was designed as though it had a dozen competitors and aimed to be best in class. It may change your mind about what a family vehicle can and should be. They are already in the Kia of Mankato inventory and waiting for your test drive.