Kia is giving us our first look at the interior and exterior of its eye-catching mid-size EV9 SUV, while critical details like battery size and powertrain will be revealed early next month.
The market-ready version is very similar to the original EV9 design, which we first saw in November 2021, though the blockiness has been toned down. However, it’s a striking and intriguing design, much like the EV6.
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The forthcoming model, like the EV6, features triangle windows in the rear quarter panel, but otherwise appears to be inspired by boxy SUVs like previous Range Rovers.
According to Kia, it is “derived from a polygonal design language,” with “triangular fender structures and highly noticeable geometric wheel arches combining with the fuselage body.”
Despite all of the lines and edges, Kia claims that the EV9 is still highly aerodynamic. It has three rows of seats, making it one of the first EVs to fit into the popular mid-size SUV segment.
That means it’ll compete with ICE vehicles such as Kia’s Telluride, the Toyota Highlander, the Ford Explorer, and others. Because of the boxiness and squared-off back end, it should have plenty of headroom.
The centre row has swivelling captain’s chairs that may be turned around to face the rear seats, ala the Orient Express. It will be available in 6- and 7-passenger configurations, depending on whether the back seats are buckets or benches.
Kia has replaced the concept’s enormous wraparound display with two 12.3-inch panels for the gauge cluster and infotainment system upfront.
The amount of physical buttons on the dash has been reduced, and touch-sensitive dash controls have been introduced. The interior design incorporates mesh and other materials to increase the sense of space.
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Additional data, such as infotainment system features, will be withheld until the vehicle’s official unveiling in early April.
We do know that it will be constructed on the E-GMP platform used by the EV6, but Kia has yet to reveal anything regarding the EV9’s power, battery size, range, or price.
