Kia | First Look at the EV9 Electric Midsize SUV

Introduced as a styling study at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, the EV9 Concept has sparked some interest in Kia’s electric pursuit. The Korean manufacturer lifted the veil last week on the production livery of this new model intended to occupy the midsize SUV segment.

For those looking to get their hands on a three-row electric family vehicle that’s more affordable than the luxurious promises, this EV9 might just be on your list.

All in all, stylistically rather close to the prototype that served as inspiration, it plays with the angles in a beautiful way. Its cubic appearance is reminiscent of the Telluride SUV currently offered by Kia.

The almost sealed front part is resolutely electric to ensure the least air resistance while complying with the less restrictive thermal management of this type of engine. The diodes that cascade along the front fenders add originality to the rendering. In profile, we can see the presence – or temporary absence – of handles, which are retractable to ensure better airflow, an approach seen on the EV6 model. The rims, made up of a multitude of squares, play the neo-retro.

Inside, Kia adopts a posture similar to that of many recent competitors. The horizontal lines predominate until the design of the steering wheel. As with the EV6, the multimedia system shares the stage with the instrumentation in a glossy black frame. In the rear, the middle seats can be rotated 180 degrees to face the back seat.

Nothing is known at this time about the technical presentation that Kia intends to make to convince potential buyers. This EV9 will be based on the manufacturer’s electric modular platform (E-GMP) with an extended wheelbase, which assumes an electrical architecture of 800 V and a maximum charging power of 350 kW. Two-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configurations should be part of the spec sheet. More details will be revealed by the end of March.