Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Making Marks In Luxury: The Kia EV9
Upon its initial foray into the five-meter class, the Kia EV9 commanded immediate respect, gaining the approval of the 27-member panel for the 'German Car of the Year 2024' (GCOTY) award. Recognized in the "Luxury" category, which includes all models priced over 70,000 Euro, the three-row electric SUV stood out amongst eight competitors.
The EV9 is the latest addition to Kia's range of solely battery-operated vehicles, taking after the critically acclaimed EV6, which took the title of European Car of the Year in 2022. With preorders commencing in July, the initial EV9 units are due for European distribution later this year.
"Kia’s EV9 spearheads our transformation into a premier EV supplier. It sets the bar higher for the SUV market with its highly adaptable, roomy interior, striking aesthetic, and rapid-charging capabilities," said Won-Jeong Jeong, President of Kia Europe. "We're immensely gratified by the prior-to-launch recognition the EV9 has received, being named 'German Luxury Car of the Year.' This signals that Kia’s electrification strategy is being acknowledged and awarded by German industry professionals."
This year's GCOTY competition, currently in its sixth iteration, saw a jury of 27 sector journalists test and review a wide range of 48 new models. The contest spans five unique categories - 'Compact,’ 'Premium,’ 'Luxury,’ 'New Energy,’ and 'Performance.’ The jury is currently on the verge of selecting the ultimate winner from the top five, with an announcement expected in early October.
The E9V, the most substantial model in Kia's European roster, mirrors the EV6 in being structured on the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and featuring 800-volt super-speed charging capability. In ideal circumstances, its 99.8 kWh battery can add up to 239km of range merely with 15 minutes of charging. Offering a rear-wheel-drive variant powered by a 150kW motor, the EV9 boasts an impressive electric range of 541km (WLTP standard).
Also, there's an all-wheel-drive version powered by dual 141kW motors, offering a 497km range (WLTP). The AWD model also includes an athletic GT-line edition which can reach 100 km/h from rest in a brief 5.3 seconds with a maximum speed of 200 km/h.The EV9 also caters to comfort during downtime. Its GT-line variant features electrically adjustable front-row 'relax' seats, allowing for a comfortable recline when parked or charging.
As a six or seven-seater, the EV9 provides myriad seating configurations, including swivel seats that can rotate 90 degrees towards the door or 180 degrees to face the back row. Standard features of the rear-wheel-drive base model range from bi-color artificial leather seating, three-zone auto climate control, sensor-controlled tailgate, electrically folding third-row backrests, automatic door handles, V2L function for using the battery as a power source, fingerprint recognition, and the 'Digital Key 2.0'.
Additionally, the driver assistance suite features Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2) with Lane Following Assist 2 (LFA 2), Forward Collision-avoidance Assist 2 (FCA 2) with turning and cross-traffic detection, and Smart Cruise Control (SCC).
The GT-line model also features adaptive dual-LED headlights, a Blind View Monitor (BVM), Blind-spot Collision-avoidance Assist (BCA), and Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 (RSPA 2), which is an optional upgrade for the base model.
Continue with Google