Kia EV9 2024 Review | Goodwood Test

Kia has said to me on a couple of occasions that the intention is not to go after the Range Rover with the EV9. You only have to look at it to understand why people might think that's the case. A flippin' great SUV that imposes itself upon everything else around it whether it's parked up at the supermarket or lording over the roads, sounds awfully familiar, doesn't it?

Perhaps the most telling sign that Kia is secretly very pleased with itself is the inevitable smile that appears on company faces when you mention the fact that the EV9 has beaten the impending electric Range Rover to market by a full year. Even if the car itself is not intended to be matched squarely against JLR’s seven-seater overlord, there's no doubt Kia believes it can take a substantial foothold in the market.

This is a big step for the brand. Kia has established itself as one of the best when it comes to EVs, the EV6 has received plenty of acclaim, so there's an expectation that the EV9 will follow suit. We've tested it in GT Line S spec, let's see how it stacks up.

The looks are striking, there's no two ways about it. You'll be hard-pushed to find a single rounded edge, it's made up entirely of angular polygons and chiselled lines. It makes for an incredibly imposing shape, almost on the verge of intimidating with what is an incredibly upright stance. You have to stand next to it to truly appreciate the size of this thing, at five metres long, almost two metres wide and 1,780mm tall the EV9 is absolutely massive.

It's a distinct look that sets it apart from much of the competition it faces, and I have to say I enjoy what Kia has put together here. The proportions are on point and there's a subtlety to the detail that's far more pleasing on the eye than many of the more garish designs you see on the road.

It does seem to be a growing trend these days that car manufacturers are less and less worried about a cohesive range of designs. Indeed, if you didn't see the Kia badge on the bonnet of the EV9 you'd have a tough time drawing the link between this and the EV6. That's no bad thing, but an interesting development of modern car design. The one identifying feature is the upward sweep at the rear end of the lower window line.

There's no such thing as a slow car anymore, particularly when it comes to electric cars. This 2.6-tonne seven-seater develops 385PS (283kW) and 700Nm (516lb ft) of torque from its electric powertrain to bring up some pretty alarming performance figures. Getting from 0-62mph takes 5.3 seconds on the way to a 124mph top speed.

There is a genuine feeling at times with this car that it is actually too fast. A car this size has no right to blaze away from a standstill the way it does, nor does it have any real need to. There's no doubt the engineering involved in generating those numbers is hugely impressive, and the way you get pinned back in your seat if you do put your foot down never fails to draw a smile.

One area that is less surprising is the way the EV9 responds to corners and undulations. The ride is pretty good, the comfort of the interior is generally unspoiled by even the harshest of surfaces, however when the road does divert from straight and flat it doesn't take much to unsettle the car. You get the feeling that the MacPherson front suspension coupled with a five-arm multi-link setup at the rear is working incredibly hard to keep the body in check. It's certainly on the softer side but does a reasonable job of absorbing the initial roll in most cases, but it takes two or three attempts before the car is reset to a central balance over more extreme undulations.

Considering the size and weight of this car, the efficiency of the powertrain is truly impressive. Driven with a mind for conserving battery power, the EV9's official range of 313 miles is not out of the question. It's a figure that makes this car extremely usable as an electric family car.

The closest comparison you can make between the Kia EV9 and the Range Rover is the interior. This is where Kia has really made it count. First there's the feeling of quality that you get when you climb inside. Everything from the dashboard, to the roof lining, the doors and the seats all feel like they've been appointed with care and attention, there are no loose ends or shortcuts.

Even the small things like the buttons for the seat adjustments and massage settings, which have been positioned on the door card, feel as though they've been thought through. Almost everything is easy to find and easy to operate.

Perhaps most important is the amount of space on offer. This is a big old seven-seater after all. That said if you're intending to use this car primarily as a five-seater with a big boot, that is probably the best use of the space available in the EV9.There's head and legroom to burn even with the inclusion of the chunky panoramic sunroof. The luxury isn't limited to the front two seats either, the outer middle row seats are also heated, ventilated and electrically adjustable.

The best part of the two rear-most seats is how easy they are to access. A press of a button will fold the middle row seat forward automatically to open up a way into the back seats, but once you're in, you'll need to be flexible or far shorter than six-foot to get yourself comfortable. The good thing is these are actual seats, so if you can make enough space for yourself sitting in the back is by no means the short straw.

The Kia EV9 is filled with plenty of convenience features, but one aspect of this car is incredibly inconvenient. At first glance, the dedicated 5.3-inch screen for the climate controls is a great idea, you can adjust the settings without having to navigate any menus at all. The trouble is the screen is positioned in such a way that you can't see it behind the steering wheel. It's an issue that makes it almost completely redundant without having to crane your neck to make an adjustment. Thankfully there are a couple of actual switches on the dash to adjust the temperature.

The climate display is flanked by a pair of 12.3-inch screens, one for your instruments and one for the infotainment. Both are crystal clear, and the touch control for the central display is quick and accurate. There's wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with voice control and wireless charging. The shortcut buttons for your media, nav and home are touch-sensitive and provide some haptic feedback.

In terms of safety tech, there's not a lot, if anything, missing from the Kia EV9s list. Cruise control, all manner of autonomous braking systems, stability assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane assist, parking sensors, reversing cameras and collision avoidance are all present.

Kia has taken a bold step into the big time with the EV9. You can see why the comparisons to the Range Rover are being made, and there's no doubt this is a car that deserves to be in that conversation. When it comes to excellence within the EV space, Kia is right at the forefront and everything that is good about the EV6 has been carried into this car,

With a very usable range and an interior that's both extremely comfortable and incredibly practical, there's not a lot more you can ask for. Even the price, at a little over £75,000 for the brilliantly appointed GT Line S spec, compares favourably to many petrol-powered alternatives.

As electric seven-seaters go, the Kia EV9 jumps straight to the top of the pile. It's fresh, it's interesting, and most importantly it's very good.