The Kia EV9: A Game-Changer in the Midsize Three-Row SUV Market

I am joined by you today from the picturesque countryside of Napa Valley, where I have the privilege of bringing you the latest news on the Kia EV9. This midsize three-row SUV is not only visually stunning but also boasts impressive electric capabilities. The first thing that catches your eye when looking at the EV9 is its unique design, which can be described as being "designed with a chisel." Yes, it's a midsize three-row SUV, and yes, it's all-electric. Moreover, the EV9 starts up under 60 miles per hour, making it an exciting addition to Kia's lineup.

Up until now, we have seen relatively affordable two-row EV crossovers like the Tesla Model Y and Kia's own ev6. However, the EV9 marks a significant departure from these models by introducing an affordable three-row electric vehicle to the market. It's worth noting that while the $55,000 price tag may seem steep, it falls significantly below the prices of competing three-row EVs. For instance, we have seen vehicles like the Rivian R1S, Tesla Model X, Mercedes EQS SUV, and BMW starting above $80,000. In contrast, the Kia EV9 offers an attractive balance between affordability and features.

One of the standout features of the EV9 is its spacious rear two rows. This is particularly notable in that the second row comes equipped with a sliding mechanism, adding extra functionality to the interior. Furthermore, the third row may be suitable for adults on occasion but is more often recommended as a space for children. The EV9 can also be configured in a 7-seat or 6-seat setup, depending on your needs. Moreover, one of the most luxurious options available is the super-luxurious Lounge-style seating package, which comes with a $2,000 price tag.

In addition to its impressive interior features, the Kia EV9 boasts rapid charging capabilities thanks to its fast-charging system that can get you from 10% to 80% in as little as 24 minutes. This makes it an ideal choice for families who want to combine comfort and convenience with a practical electric vehicle solution.

Kia has also announced plans to expand its manufacturing operations, including the construction of a new factory in Georgia. This move aims to make EV9s more accessible to customers by potentially offering them at under $50,000. However, as things stand today, the current production of EV9s being built in South Korea are not eligible for this incentive.

The Kia EV9 is also positioned as a symbol of innovation and change within the automotive industry. The car's ability to adapt to various driving conditions through its multiple drive modes and one-pedal driving capabilities represents a significant shift from traditional vehicles. These features, however, might raise questions about their necessity in the future, given the likelihood that drivers will intuitively adjust to EVs' regenerative braking and acceleration patterns.

In conclusion, the Kia EV9 occupies an interesting position in the market by bridging the gap between affordable two-row electric vehicles and more expensive three-row models. Its unique features, such as its rapid charging system and spacious interior, make it a compelling option for families seeking both style and practicality. As the automotive landscape continues to evolve with new technologies and innovations, we can expect to see how this model fits into Kia's ongoing efforts to drive change within the industry.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enI join you from the countryside of Napa Valley where I bring you the Kia ev9 and yes this thing does look like it was designed with a chisel yes it's a midsize three row SUV yes it's all electric and yes it starts under 60 okay up until now we've seen relatively affordable two row EV crossovers like the Tesla Model Y and Kia's own ev6 but the ev9 is a promising new entry for Kia since it introduces an affordable three row EV to the market and look I get it it's easy to say the $55,000 price tag is anything but affordable but up until now competing three row EVS have started well above 80 ,000 including the rivan r1s Tesla Model X Mercedes eqs SUV and the BMW and no the Kia ev9 does not hit that luxury Benchmark but here it does a nice job Bridging the Gap between the affordable two row EVS in the more costly three rows however since current ev9 are built in South Korea they are not eligible for the $7,500 hack credit Kia is working on a factory in Georgia that will in theory allow customers to snag an ev9 for under $50,000 out the door the rear two rows are why you're looking at a Kia ev9 in the first place they're super spacious and the second row is on slider so it adds additional functionality back here the third row is doable for adults in a pinch but you'll likely want to save these for the kiddos the ev9 is available in a 7 or six seat configuration and you can option these with super luxurious Lounge style seats this is a $2,000 option though combine these luy seats with Kia's super fast 350 KW charging and you've got yourself the ultimate family Road Tripper that quick EV charging will get you from 10 to 80% in as little as 24 minutes Kia didn't allude to any specifics here but they did say that coming in 2025 the ev9 will be compatible with KNX meaning that you can stop at any one of Tesla's thousands of supercharging stalls for a quick juice up eeve signify a total rethink of what a car should be we've seen rivan and Tesla step out of the automotive comfort zone removing buttons knobs keys and more but Kia uses a traditional Automotive logic when building out their EV product lines Kia sticks with a start button I'm not exactly sure what we're starting here this has always felt like an extra step that's unnecessary I'd love to see a more passive system here the infotainment also feels a bit less intuitive and layered and feels like they're sticking to a fundamental Legacy automaker type style and what's with this light on the top of the dash it indicates when when the high voltage battery is charging the low voltage battery but I'm not exactly sure why we need to know this additionally Kia adds multiple Drive modes and levels of one pedal driving I don't know about you but part of the appeal of an EV powertrain is Simplicity and here I find anything but I'm convinced that 95% of drivers will set their regen setting and never look back so is it entirely necessary to map that setting to the paddles for now I think it's important to remember why Kia is making these choices it might help encourage a sale to those who may otherwise have never even considered an Eevee in the first place I firmly believe we'll be questioning these choices in the future remember at one point we were using blackberries to type out why we were certain that a touchscreen keyboard on a phone would never work the Kia ev9 is a bit of a goldilock situation nestling itself comfortably between the affordable two row EVs and the functional three rows and much like the wine of this region this vehicle is clearly very full-bodied and bold yet at the same same time it remains balanced complex smooth and sophisticated so even though we're at a bit of a weird transition period for EVS I think this particular EV will age wellI join you from the countryside of Napa Valley where I bring you the Kia ev9 and yes this thing does look like it was designed with a chisel yes it's a midsize three row SUV yes it's all electric and yes it starts under 60 okay up until now we've seen relatively affordable two row EV crossovers like the Tesla Model Y and Kia's own ev6 but the ev9 is a promising new entry for Kia since it introduces an affordable three row EV to the market and look I get it it's easy to say the $55,000 price tag is anything but affordable but up until now competing three row EVS have started well above 80 ,000 including the rivan r1s Tesla Model X Mercedes eqs SUV and the BMW and no the Kia ev9 does not hit that luxury Benchmark but here it does a nice job Bridging the Gap between the affordable two row EVS in the more costly three rows however since current ev9 are built in South Korea they are not eligible for the $7,500 hack credit Kia is working on a factory in Georgia that will in theory allow customers to snag an ev9 for under $50,000 out the door the rear two rows are why you're looking at a Kia ev9 in the first place they're super spacious and the second row is on slider so it adds additional functionality back here the third row is doable for adults in a pinch but you'll likely want to save these for the kiddos the ev9 is available in a 7 or six seat configuration and you can option these with super luxurious Lounge style seats this is a $2,000 option though combine these luy seats with Kia's super fast 350 KW charging and you've got yourself the ultimate family Road Tripper that quick EV charging will get you from 10 to 80% in as little as 24 minutes Kia didn't allude to any specifics here but they did say that coming in 2025 the ev9 will be compatible with KNX meaning that you can stop at any one of Tesla's thousands of supercharging stalls for a quick juice up eeve signify a total rethink of what a car should be we've seen rivan and Tesla step out of the automotive comfort zone removing buttons knobs keys and more but Kia uses a traditional Automotive logic when building out their EV product lines Kia sticks with a start button I'm not exactly sure what we're starting here this has always felt like an extra step that's unnecessary I'd love to see a more passive system here the infotainment also feels a bit less intuitive and layered and feels like they're sticking to a fundamental Legacy automaker type style and what's with this light on the top of the dash it indicates when when the high voltage battery is charging the low voltage battery but I'm not exactly sure why we need to know this additionally Kia adds multiple Drive modes and levels of one pedal driving I don't know about you but part of the appeal of an EV powertrain is Simplicity and here I find anything but I'm convinced that 95% of drivers will set their regen setting and never look back so is it entirely necessary to map that setting to the paddles for now I think it's important to remember why Kia is making these choices it might help encourage a sale to those who may otherwise have never even considered an Eevee in the first place I firmly believe we'll be questioning these choices in the future remember at one point we were using blackberries to type out why we were certain that a touchscreen keyboard on a phone would never work the Kia ev9 is a bit of a goldilock situation nestling itself comfortably between the affordable two row EVs and the functional three rows and much like the wine of this region this vehicle is clearly very full-bodied and bold yet at the same same time it remains balanced complex smooth and sophisticated so even though we're at a bit of a weird transition period for EVS I think this particular EV will age well\n"