More than 20 years ago, Porsche unveiled the Cayenne to great controversy. A performance SUV from a sports car brand? Who would buy that over a BMW M5? Well, history has since vindicated that product planning decision. Performance SUVs are everywhere, but yet there still isn’t one for every niche. For instance, what if you want to go quickly and emit no tailpipe emissions, but you need to transport more than five people including yourself on a regular basis? Previously, you’d have needed to buy a Tesla Model X, or pony up for the quick versions of the Rivian R1S or Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, but not anymore. The Kia EV9 GT is here to be the first mainstream performance electric three-row crossover, and we’re certainly intrigued.
The overarching theme of the EV9 GT’s exterior is certainly understatement. Sure, the accent color of choice for Kia’s GT models is a cornea-searing shade of lime green, but it’s kept to the brake calipers, upholstery stitching, and the odd understated highlight. Most people out on the street would never know how quick the EV9 GT is, but some of them would know they’re looking at something special. That’s because in addition to a tweaked front valence, the EV9 GT features big four-spoke 21-inch wheels wrapped in Continental tires, a setup slightly brasher than you’d get even on a GT-Line trim.
Mind you, the big aesthetic changes for the EV9 GT are on the inside. Not only do the front seats gain some serious bolsters and sueded inserts, lime green accents are everywhere, from striping to stitching. Add in a three-spoke steering wheel with a lime green noon marker, and the cockpit of the EV9 GT looks like it’s ready to get down to business.
So, what sort of business are we talking about here? Well, Kia claims a 122-horsepower increase over the 379-horsepower EV9 GT-Line to 501 horsepower. That’s not quite as high as the 601 horsepower in the updated EV6 GT but still enough to haul the mail. Kia claims that the bump in output is good enough to shrink the zero-to-60 mph time down from five seconds in the GT-Line to 4.3 seconds in the EV9 GT, which is properly quick.
However, the Kia EV9 GT isn’t just about straight-line speed. In fact, you can make it slower if you want, thanks to a virtual gearbox, very much like you get on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Yes, this means fake paddle shifters and simulated engine noises, but you know what? I’m here for it. While few customers will likely ever use it, the same sort of feature added engagement on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, and engagement is exactly what we need in an age of heavily refined everything.
Now, powertrain talk is great, but what about the other important things a car has to do — turning and stopping? Well, the Kia EV9 GT features adaptive dampers that firm up in sportier drive modes, bigger front brakes with monoblock brake calipers, and an actual limited-slip differential in the rear drive unit so it can properly put its power down, as well as rotate out of corners. It all adds up to a reasonably comprehensive arsenal for those looking to indulge a bit while still needing to tote around their large family.
Admittedly, knowing what’s in Kia’s parts bin, the brand could’ve gone further on a performance SUV than the EV9 GT, but there’s likely a good reason it didn’t. Not only does the hi-po GT trim keep the same 7.8 inches of ground clearance found in the regular EV9, it can also still tow 5,000 pounds. If you already like the regular EV9, going for the fast one won’t bring in a whole bunch of serious compromises that affect the bulk of its utility as a family hauler. Mind you, there is one unknown at this point — range.
As it sits, we don’t have an estimate of how far the Kia EV9 GT will go on a charge, and performance EVs typically compromise on range to deliver a more exhilarating experience. You still get an 800-volt architecture for fast recharging and you now get a NACS port in the side of the crossover for Tesla Supercharger compatibility, but how far you can actually go on a charge remains a question.
Price also remains a question, but it’s safe to assume that the Kia EV9 GT won’t be cheap. After all, GT is the top trim, and the next-highest trim currently demands $75,395 including freight. Given the substantial performance gains, we’d have a hard time seeing the EV9 GT starting at any less than $80,000, which is an enormous amount of money for a Kia. Still, how many brands offer performance-focused three-row electric crossovers? The EV9 GT certainly knows its niche, now it’s just about seeing how big the audience is.
(Photo credits: Kia, Griffin Riley)
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The first thing that came to mind is how fast can you throw a brick? It’s a brick of an SUV, do we need it to be that fast and powerful? Does every version need a high powered version?
This!
When do the autojournalist say this car has too much power and/or is too quick? The average Joe
can’t handledoesn’t need the stupid fast acceleration, the passengers will throw up before the second corner and other traffic is not prepared for cars buzzing through like maniacs.I can’t tell if this is satire?
The title excludes “electric” which seems like it would include so many Volvo, Cadillac, Dodge Durango, and I’m sure BMW and Mercedes.
The article then says electric there is nothing else in the space – but lists a price higher than a R1S – which has more HP. Is it not crossing over?
How many vehicles does an auto maker have to deliver before becoming mainstream?
For when the twins and their sister need to get to hockey and dance quickly and under the radar.
Whoever is shopping for a new car and their needs include electric, 7 seats and dragstrip ready acceleration, I have so many questions for you
Someone’s gonna need to fill this space until the Suburban/Yukon’s go the EV route.
Release the EV8 (Carnival) GT already!
The L lights on the front feel like the designers are telling me that the world is going to roll me, and that I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Take your all-sta, er, smiley.
There is just something about giving that much HP to untrained overconfident people.
I agree with the sentiment, but the real ‘something’ is that much nearly instant torque, not HP.
I went looking for an article on the subject and lazily came up with this:
the HP figures are in the title so I went with that. You are correct.
“ first mainstream performance electric three-row crossover” and costing more than 80K is a bit of an oxymoron, wouldn’t you say?
If it was 10 years ago, yes, now? Sure. I can’t throw a dead frog without hitting an $80K Suburban or Yukon or something and I live in a small town in the Midwest.
For real. I once could afford new cars, not anymore and I even earn more money than I ever have.
That’s why I just keep buying
garbagegreat cars at the bottom of their depreciation curves!I bought so many
garbagegreat cars that were so bad that I was banned for a while from buying used cars. like the 1970 Jeepster commando that had to be pushed out of a garage and towed to the shop, to be my daily driver. or the VW Scirocco that I drove from buying to the shop with almost no fluids in it at all.