The Kia EV9: A bold statement in the Large Ev market.
The Kia EV9 GT-Line is Kia’s all-in statement for the large electric SUV market in New Zealand, and it doesn’t do subtle. With a near-100kWh battery and dual-motor all-wheel drive producing 287kW and 700Nm, it moves its 2.6-tonne bulk from 0–100km/h in about six seconds — properly quick for a seven-seat family bus. On the road it’s impressively refined, soaking up our patchy chipseal with ease, and the low-mounted battery keeps it surprisingly composed in corners. The ride is plush rather than sporty, but that suits the brief. Inside, the GT-Line leans into comfort and tech: twin 12.3-inch displays, a 14-speaker Meridian sound system, heated and ventilated seats in the first two rows, heaps of space thanks to the flat floor, and flexible storage that expands to van-like proportions with the rear seats folded. Efficiency sits around 22–23kWh/100km, which is reasonable for something this size, and peak DC charging of up to 235kW means 20–80% can be knocked over in roughly 20–25 minutes on a fast charger. It’s not cheap, and it’s not shy, but as a practical, high-tech, fully electric seven-seater, the EV9 feels like a genuinely well-executed flagship rather than a compliance car.
