Kia has confirmed its new EV9 electric SUV will start at €77,500 in Ireland, with customers getting a choice of seating configurations and trim levels. The headline price pays for the basic seven-seat Earth model, but customers can upgrade to the more luxurious GT-Line version with its choice of six- and seven-seat layouts. The first cars will arrive in Irish showrooms in late November.
High tech base model
Even customers choosing the cheapest EV9 - the seven-seat Earth variant - will get plenty of standard equipment for their €77,500. Features including heated front and second-row seats, 19-inch alloy wheels and a 360-degree manoeuvring camera are all included as standard, along with ventilated front seats, a Meridian sound system and a head-up display for the driver. A raft of safety features is included, too, with blind-spot collision avoidance and highway driving assistance tech to help control the car on long motorway drives.
Power, meanwhile, comes from a 99.8kWh battery that feeds a 204hp motor on the rear axle. That means the basic EV9 only gets rear-wheel drive, but it will have greater range as a result, managing up to 563km on a single charge, according to Kia's predictions. It will also feature 800-volt ultra-fast charging, allowing the car to take on up to 294km of official range in just 15 minutes at maximum DC charging speed.
More powerful GT-Line cars
Those who want to upgrade to the GT-Line specification must shell out an extra €8,000, taking the asking price to €85,500. However, in exchange for that extra outlay, customers will benefit from a noticeable increase in equipment. The Earth model's 19-inch alloys are replaced with larger 21-inch rims, while dual sunroofs and remote smart parking assistance technology are also thrown in. Those who choose the six-seat version can swivel the two middle-row seats, creating a 'club' seating arrangement when the car is stationary.
The GT-Line cars will also benefit from a second electric motor on the front axle, giving the EV9 all-wheel drive and a chunky 384hp. That cuts the Earth version's 0-100km/h time quite dramatically, from 9.4 seconds to 5.3 seconds, and increases the top speed by 15km/h to a nice, round 200km/h.
However, that additional performance comes at a cost. The official maximum range is just 505km, which is still competitive but far less impressive than that of the EV9 Earth. And because it's less efficient, 15 minutes of maximum-speed charging will only add 219km of official range.
New standards
Every EV9 will also come with a three-screen infotainment screen comprising a central display, a touch-sensitive climate control panel and a digital instrument cluster while also benefitting from an "eco-friendly" interior. There's a leather alternative on the seats, while recycled materials have been applied to the dashboard, door and window pillar trim. The fabric carpets, for example, also feature recycled materials, while the switchgear is adorned with "bio-paint".
With such a huge body - the EV9 is more than five metres long - there's also plenty of space, with 333 litres of boot space even when all three rows of seats are upright. Fold down the two rearmost seats and that swells to 828 litres, while every car will also come with a 'frunk' under the bonnet. In the Earth models, that space measures 90 litres, but GT-Line cars' second motors impinge on that somewhat, reducing their forward luggage space to 52 litres.
"The EV9 sets new standards for the segment while completely redefining it," said Ronan Flood, managing director of Kia Ireland. "There has always been a demand from families in Ireland for six- and seven-seat vehicles, and if these families seek to change to electric, the EV9 is an attractive proposition for them. In recent years Kia has proved itself a prime mover in the road to electrification and the EV9 further proves our determination in this regard."