ELECTRIC KIA EV9

The EV9 is Kia’s top-of-tree follow-up to the popular EV6 and is closely related to that ground-breaking car underneath. Both feature distinctive, head-turning design that gives them real road presence and desirability. But can a 2600kg dual-motor Korean SUV exhibit a genuine sense of fun? Kia certainly thinks so and has injected a healthy dose into this EV9 GT-Line, its biggest EV to date – and possibly the biggest we’ve driven to date come to think of it.

There’s an awful lot for your eyes to take in upon first acquaintance because the EV9 is big and really does look like a concept car that’s slipped off a motor show stand. We said the same about the EV6 three years ago, of course.

Kia offers the EV9 with six or seven seats and, in each case, there’s abundant room in row two. While the seven-seater configuration is most popular globally, the six-seater appeals as you can swivel the second row seats to face those seated in the third-row seats, which are also substantial. For convenience, charging ports and cupholders abound and the roofline maintains its height from the windscreen pillars back, meaning headroom is terrific throughout. The only passengers who might complain about a shortage of legroom will be those in the very back.

Up front, all the tech and screens are well integrated and usability is excellent. The seats are large and well-formed for long-distance comfort, the fabric is interesting, and ambient lighting helps make this a feel-good car to look at, drive and sit in.

The dual-motor, all-wheel drivetrain is very refined and delivers rapid, torque-rich performance that’s pretty much up there with the best electric offerings and is competitive for real-world range, too. You can expect over 500km in warm weather with a measured right foot. Power delivery is nicely judged so you’re unlikely to throw your passengers’ heads back when overtaking.

There’s no real catch with the EV9. The suspension smothers most road surfaces well although the ride can be unsettled by bumps when 21-inch alloys are fitted. No complaints about the predictable handling, though, nor the precise steering – both better than you would expect in such a big bopper and reasons why you’re quick to settle in and enjoy driving something that is instantly fresh, entirely practical and, yes, surprisingly fun.