2025 Kia EV9

There aren’t many 3-row electric SUVs on the market yet; and most of those that do exist are luxury cars with luxury prices. But last year Kia introduced the first one priced a little below the luxury market. Notice, we said a little. The EV9 is cheaper than a comparable 3-row Tesla Model X or Rivian R1S. But it’s still the most expensive thing on the Kia sales lot.

Let’s be clear — you notice the Ev9’s distinctive look long before you note its third row of seats. Its unique fractal design theme and linear “star map” lighting are cool in pictures and much more striking in person. Kia could have gotten away with building an electric Telluride. People would have bought that. Instead, they built its “Terminator 2” sibling, which has its own appeal. And appeal it does. In fact, we crowned it our Best Buy Award winner for 3-row EV last year.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of electric SUVs, including the Kia EV9.

The EV9 is still new enough that Kia hasn’t changed much for the new model year. For 2025, Light Long Range RWD models get a standard sunroof, and Land AWD models lose the optional Relaxation Seat Package, which put 8-way power-adjustable captain’s chairs in the second row. You can still get that on the GT-Line trim.

The base model Light trim has been the best-seller so far. Kia keeps decision making simple for shoppers this year. There’s just one package available on the 2025 model — that set of captain’s chairs — and it’s offered only on the high-end GT-Line trim.

Kia sources tell us a high-performance GT model is on the way, but haven’t said when it will appear.

There aren’t many electric 3-row SUVs to compare it to. Tesla builds a Model Y with a small third row in the mid-$50K range. Other midsize 3-row electric SUVs include the Rivian R1S and the upcoming Volvo EX90, both starting in the low $70,000 range.

Before buying a new EV9 all-electric SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The EV9 is too new for much resale value data. But if resale values of the Kia Telluride 3-row SUV in particular and electric vehicles in general are any indications, the EV9 should hold its value reasonably well.

Light trim levels are rear-wheel drive (RWD) thanks to a single electric motor on the rear axle. They make 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque — enough for family hauling duty but nothing that grabs you. The instant-torque nature of electric motors makes that 215 horsepower feel more at neighborhood speeds. But not much more.

Strangely, adding the long-range battery to the Light version cuts power to 201 hp.

Wind, Land, and GT-Line versions are all-wheel drive (AWD), with a motor on each axle. Those total 379 horsepower and give you the thrilling electric vehicle (EV) acceleration you may have heard about. We’ve found two-motor versions quick for such a big vehicle. Kia claims a 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds. That easily beats the Telluride’s roughly seven seconds.

But if you want a truly speedy EV9, you’ll have to wait for the GT. Kia is keeping details about that one close to the vest for now, but a recent investor presentation promised a 0-60 mph time of “about four seconds.”

We are fans of Kia’s one-pedal driving mode, and brake regen can be further adjusted on the fly thanks to shift paddles behind the steering wheel.

No 3-row SUV handles like a sports car, but a light steering feel makes the EV9 comparatively easy to steer.

Many electric cars go for a minimalist interior these days, with large screens looking glued on to geometrically simple dashboards. Designers’ approach in the EV9 wasn’t drastically different, but they made it work better than most. The wide-screen display looks integrated into the dashboard, not added to it later. Touch-sensitive controls below handle some critical functions you probably don’t want hidden behind a touchscreen.

A fairly large steering wheel can block your view of parts of those screens — this reviewer’s new pet peeve — but not critical things you need to know at all times.

The EV9 has three rows of seating, which immediately puts it into a small class of EVs. The third row is actually built to adult dimensions, and reclines. We put a 6-foot-4-inch editor in the back and he had no complaints (though we didn’t make him stay there for a long road trip).

All three rows get USB-C charging ports, even in the base model.

Second-row captain’s chairs make it easier to reach. We wish Kia made those available at more trim levels. In overseas markets, the second-row chairs can rotate to face out the doors. Kia hasn’t brought that feature to the U.S., though engineers tell us they believe it could pass American crash tests.

Kia uses synthetic leather with no animal products, but it’s convincing stuff that doesn’t feel plasticky. A thoughtful touch — the front seat headrests are built of a mesh material. Turn around to view a child in the back seat, and you can actually see them.

The luggage area behind the third row measures 20.2 cubic feet, which expands to 81.9 cubic feet when rows two and three are folded. Those are slightly smaller figures than you’d get in a Telluride, but class-competitive enough that it may not matter to you.

The EV9 is one of the most unusual-looking vehicles of 2025. It has the general silhouette of a normal 3-row SUV; but that shape is constructed of fractal-looking lines and flat planes. They’re punctuated by constellation-like linear LED lights in front and back.

It looks like something an automaker would show off as a concept, then tone down beyond recognition for production.

The Kia EV9 is normal enough to be at home in the work parking lot. But it’s abnormal enough to look like something you’d expect to drive in the 2030s. Matte colors make the linear vibe even more pronounced but require special washing.

3-rows of seating
There aren’t many EVs that can seat seven. The few that exist tend to wear luxury badges, with all the costs that entails. The EV9 is one of the first options for those looking to carry a large family in an EV.

Dual 12.3-inch displays
A little inside secret — Kia hired away an interior designer from BMW, who pioneered this look. If the EV9’s cabin sometimes seems near-luxury, there’s a reason for that. His name is Jochen. Jochen has Kia, in most new designs, mount a pair of 12.3-inch displays in a single housing so they look like one wide screen. The one directly in front of the driver handles instrument cluster duties. The one in the center is a touchscreen for infotainment functions. The look is becoming common, but it’s common because it looks great, and more costly than this car’s price tag.

Over-the-air updates
Kia can upgrade the infotainment experience and fix some potential issues in the EV9 remotely.

Vehicle-to-Load Technology
Otherwise known as V2L, this technology lets you use your EV9 as a roving battery. Plug in sound, lighting, and cooking gear at a tailgate party. The output is in the cargo area.

Remote Smart Parking Assist 2
The new EV9 offers the latest generation of Kia’s parking assistance system, allowing the driver to stay in the vehicle or control it with the keyfob while outside.

Sharp-creased look
The EV9’s best feature might be its striking appearance. One of our editors compared it to a car in a video game that hasn’t fully loaded yet. It works in pictures and works better in person. You can buy a lot of look-alike 3-row SUVs. This doesn’t look like those.

EV buyers should know there’s some trade-off between power and range. The EV9 gets up to 304 miles between charges — quite good for a 3-row vehicle — but only in its least powerful form.

That’s competitive with its limited competition. A 3-row Tesla Model Y can get up to 330 miles. The Rivian R1S is currently EPA-rated between 289 and 321 miles of range, depending on wheel size. The plush and much pricier Mercedes-EQ EQS SUV is estimated at 305 miles.

Kia builds its EVs on an 800-volt architecture, which lets them accept energy faster than Teslas, which are built on a 400-volt platform. Kia says the EV9 can go from 10% capacity to 80% in less than 25 minutes. That puts it in league with the fastest-charging EVs. But that kind of speed can only be accomplished with a Level 3 fast charger — the rarest sort, found mostly at highway rest stops.

Maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds with the all-wheel-drive version. Rear-drive models can handle 2,000 pounds. Towing cuts range significantly. That’s true of all tow vehicles regardless of fuel, but it means more when you can’t refuel in two minutes.

5-Year/60,000-Mile Warranty

Along with Hyundai, Kia has the best warranties in the industry. New-vehicle coverage is five years or 60,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. That goes for EV batteries as well.

Safety Ratings

The federal government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t yet crash tested an EV9. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave high marks and a Top Safety Pick award to the mechanically identical 2024 version. It scored the top score — Good — in every test but one. The headlights on the base model earned a Poor score, but those on higher trim levels earned Good. The IIHS doesn’t give its highest award — Top Safety Pick + — to cars unless they make their best headlights available at every trim level.

We’re fans of Kia’s effective and user-friendly driver assistance technologies. Every EV9 has standard forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and intersection assistance.