Plus:
Space, range, design
Minus:
Price, two-wheel drive, trailer weight
As you have probably understood: It does not have four-wheel drive. In return, it has a slightly better range, a slightly larger frunk and a slightly lower price than EV9 with four-wheel drive (read Motor’s test here).
Kia EV9
- Price: 740,000 (Exclusive, rear-wheel drive, seven seats)
- Engine/driveline: 99.8 kWt battery, 203 hp/250 Nm, rear-wheel drive, one-speed automatic.
- Range/consumption (WLTP): 563 km/20.2 kWh/100 km.
- Charging speed: 240 kW. 10-80 percent in 24 min.
- Length/width (incl. mirror)/height/ground clearance (cm): 502/230/178/18.
- Luggage volume (litres): 828 (five-seater), 333 (six-seater), 90 (frunk)
- Weight/payload (kg): 2573/542
- Trailer weight/roof load (kg): 900/100
- 0-100/top speed: 9.7 sec/185 km/h.
- Competitors: Xpeng G9 with five seats, BYD Tang with seven seats and 4×4.
And the seven seats are still in place. That makes this version of the EV9 unique on the market.
On paper, only the Mercedes EQB has roughly the same configuration, i.e. seven seats and two-wheel drive – front-wheel drive. The EQB is around 200,000 cheaper, but small and old-fashioned compared to the EV9. We do not see it as a competitor.
Few seven-seaters
There aren’t that many other seven-seaters on the market either. And all of these have four-wheel drive. If we are to find something comparable to this edition of the EV9, we end up with the BYD Tang from 680,000.
But then you have to make do with around 15 miles less range. Then it also quickly disappears from the competition.
Have you read these cases?
Range
The closest competitor is perhaps the Xpeng G9 – the model that has saved the Chinese from failure here in Norway. It also has rear-wheel drive, is NOK 200,000 cheaper, and 110 horses more powerful. But – only as a five-seater.
The EV9 with rear-wheel drive costs NOK 60,000 less than the version with four-wheel drive. Then you naturally lose access in winter. But also trailer weight (900 versus 2,500 kilos) and power (203 versus 384 horses).
In return, you get around six miles better range (563 versus 505 km), and in fact a slightly larger trunk (90 versus 52 litres).
Cut equipment
Rear-wheel drive is only available in the Exclusive trim level. Compared to the GT-line – which is only delivered with four-wheel drive, and which is NOK 160,000 more expensive (100,000 more expensive than Exclusive with four-wheel drive) – the following has been cut from the equipment lists:
Electrically adjustable steering wheel, seat adjustment memory, head-up display, massage in the front seats, interior camera mirror, remote parking assistant, optimized sound system, more advanced lighting technology, black roof covering and service agreement.
Lots of comfort equipment
After a period of varying testing, we really only miss the lighting technology. A modern car in this price range should have high beams that mask other vehicles – not just a simple mechanism that turns the high beams on and off. Otherwise, the model has everything you need in terms of comfort equipment on a daily basis.
MATERIALKVALITET: Alle EV9-er, uansett versjon, har den samme grå overflaten på ratt og ulike paneler. Vi hadde gjerne sett litt andre farger og mindre glinsende overflater. Startknapp innerst på den litt bortgjemte girvelgeren er heller ikke optimalt." alt="" />MASSE PLASS: Andre seterad kan skyves manuelt fram og tilbake. Det er nødvendig om passasjerene helt bakerst skal få ok beinplass. Uansett blir det bra plass for de fleste." alt="" />For the rear seat passengers, we would probably consider a panoramic roof at NOK 20,000. But if you settle for winter wheels and the absolutely fine standard color in metallic, Pebble Grey, you end up with 787,000. With hitch, 805,000.
FEMSETER: Bagasjerommet blir på over 800 liter når de to bakerste setene ikke er i bruk. Disse kan felles opp og ned med bryterne til høyre. Andre seterad kan kun felles ned." alt="" />SJUSETER: Med alle setene i bruk, er det bagasjevolum på solide 333 liter. Det er på størrelse med for eksempel en Mercedes EQA (340 liter)." alt="" />Confident
On bare asphalt, no difference is noticeable in the driveline. The EV9 moves heavily and stably and is suitably soft. The large, angular body gives the car a very special character.
In combination with the rather small 19-inch wheels, this is a car that rolls around a bit in its own world. Confident and unaffected by fashion. A car for those who dare to make active choices.
A bit gnarly
Air suspension is never a necessity. The wheel noise is pleasant. Not quite on par with the Xpeng G9 and the more expensive Germans, but better than most family SUVs in the class below.
The assistance systems, on the other hand, are not quite at the level of the best Germans, and in addition are difficult to deactivate on the steering wheel.
Most read on Motor.no in recent months:
Sufficient effect
In terms of performance, the version with rear-wheel drive lags a little behind. We at Motor have always claimed that electric cars have much more power than we need on Norwegian roads. Therefore, we also do not criticize the EV9 because it is duller than most electric cars – and definitely compared to the aforementioned Xpeng G9.
203 horses in a car that quickly approaches three tonnes with some people and luggage is absolutely sufficient. But never overwhelming.
A bit too expensive
We maintain our previous opinion that the EV9 – regardless of equipment level – will be excessively expensive. And perhaps especially the version we are testing here.
You have to be extremely attached to bare asphalt to squeeze in the difference of 60,000 up to the version with four-wheel drive, and at the same time lose both trailer weight and horsepower.
