Test Car Specifications
Model: 2024 Kia EV9 Air RWD
Price: From £65,025
Motor: 149.5kW electric motor
Battery: 99.8kWh lithium-ion
Transmission: single-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power: 203hp
Torque: 350Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 349 miles
Economy: 3.08 mi/kWh
0-62mph: 9.4 seconds
Top speed: 114mph
Boot space: 333-828-2,318 litres (plus 90-litre front storage area)
Styling
There's no hiding the EV9's size, so Kia clearly hasn't even tried. Instead, the brand has tried to embrace the bulk, with a kind of fresh and modern design that suits it pretty well. Modern, slim light designs that match the car's chunkiness, yet still ape those of the smaller Niro, give it a really contemporary look. And though the car's size will be off putting to some, there's nothing really to suggest that this is the 'entry-level' EV9 with just the one motor. Yes, anoraks might notice the Air only has 19-inch alloys, rather than the 21-inch wheels on the GT-Line car, but most won't have a clue that this car is £10,000 cheaper than its twin-motor siblings.
Interior
This may be the entry-level EV9, but it doesn't feel that way inside. Like the more upmarket versions, the Air gets posh seats with sustainable materials, as well as a three-screen infotainment system with a massive touchscreen and an equally enormous digital instrument display, plus a smaller climate control screen.
It feels just as modern as the twin-motor models and just as upmarket, despite being significantly cheaper. Quality is better than you might expect from a Kia, and there's a definite sense of semi-premium class about the engineering in there, even if some of the materials aren't quite as upmarket as those you'd find in a BMW iX.
The tech is solid, too, albeit not quite as fancy as in some other large electric SUVs. The screens are sharp and relatively responsive, but they don't quite have the graphics or the functions of those in a BMW or a Mercedes-Benz. Yet they don't need to. They work well and the menus are logical, which makes them easy to use on the road, and that's one of the most important qualities possible.
Practicality
Unsurprisingly, the massive EV9 is roomy in the extreme. You get seven seats as standard, and the rearmost seats really are usable. As long as you don't have any exceptionally tall passengers, it will be easily capable of carrying six adults, although the central seat might be a bit tight for some. Nevertheless, it's a very roomy thing, and there's a massive boot. With all seven seats upright, the luggage space measures 333 litres to the window line, and that's almost as much as you get from a VW Polo. Fold those two rearmost seats down, and it increases to a massive 828 litres. You won't be worrying about space in one of these, and it has a 90-litre 'frunk' which makes it slightly more practical than the two-motor EV9s, which have a 52-litre front luggage space.
Performance
Like the other EV9 models, the basic Air is equipped with a massive 99.8kWh batttery, and that's pretty enormous by anyone's standards. But unlike the other EV9s, it's only fitted with one electric motor that powers the rear wheels. With 203hp, it's much less potent than the more upmarket models, and the 9.4-second 0-62mph time is respectable if not rapid, but it feels faster than the numbers suggest. The response is still immediate, and with no gear changes to worry about, the power delivery feels relentless despite the relatively low 114mph top speed.
More importantly, though, the single-motor layout makes this the most efficient option in the EV9 range. With 349 miles of range, it has a huge long-distance capability, and though you're unlikely to achieve that in the real world, you'll still manage something in the high 200s if you drive with a bit of consideration. Even on a motorway run, you're looking at 250 miles or more.
Charging, meanwhile, is taken care of with the on-board rapid charging system. Plug into a 350kW charge point and the battery can be filled from 10 to 80 per cent in 24 minutes, while even a 50kW charger will manage the same feat in less than an hour and a half. But the battery is so big that charging using a 12-amp three-pin socket will take more than 40 hours, so it isn't really worth doing unless needs must.
Ride & Handling
Unsurprisingly, given its size, the EV9 is definitely more comfort- than performance-orientated. And that's definitely the case in the Air version. With smaller wheels than the GT-Line variants, it's every bit as comfortable as the twin-motor cars, with a really supple motorway ride that's remarkably relaxing. It makes you want to nestle back in those massive seats.
Admittedly, the ride is slightly less composed in urban environments, where the EV9's weight seems to count against it, but it's still generally well rounded and pliant.
The catch is that the car feels out of its depth in the bends, with numb steering and a body that leans noticeably in corners. It isn't dangerously uncontrollable or anything like that, but it doesn't offer much in the way of involvement or engagement for those who enjoy driving. Not that many would-be customers will fall into that particular category.
It's much happier on open roads and at a reasonable lick, where it makes the most of its comfort and refinement, which keeps the cabin feeling hushed and relaxed at all times.
Value
With prices starting from just over £65,000, the EV9 isn't cheap in any form, but this is the least expensive option out there. And by quite a margin. The cheapest two-motor, all-wheel-drive EV9 comes in at more than £73,000. Admittedly, the mid-range GT-Line car comes with bigger wheels, sportier styling and some fancy tech that's missing from the Air, but it's hardly major stuff. Even this base model comes with the massive screens, a 360-degree parking camera and heated and ventilated front seats. Plentiful safety kit is standard, too, along with power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel and a power-operated tailgate. Oh, and you get seven seats as standard.
Verdict
For many drivers, the rear-drive EV9 models will prove every bit as useful and as appealing as their all-wheel-drive counterparts, if not more so. The greater range is a boon – not that the higher-specification cars won’t go a long way on a charge – but with the same amount of space and almost as much equipment for less money, the basic EV9 was always going to be a winner. Unless you need the power or capability of a twin-motor version, this is the EV9 to go for.