Four versions of 2023 Kia EV9 to be available in Australia

The Kia EV9 will be available in at least three model variants when it arrives in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The all-new seven-seat electric SUV is expected to be priced from close to $100,000 for the entry-level Air, which will get a single electric motor making 160kW/350Nm and driving the rear wheels, and the line-up will be topped by the high-performance Kia EV9 GT by around 2025.

At base level, a 76.1kWh battery pack with an 800V-capable charging architecture is claimed to provide 418km of WLTP range when running on the standard 19-inch wheels. The Kia EV9 Air comes with a 900kg towing capacity and is claimed to accelerate to 100km/h in 8.2 seconds.

The same rear-drive single-motor powertrain will also be offered with a larger 99.8kWh battery, although that configuration is unlikely to be offered in Australia, at least initially.

The bigger battery runs at a slightly lower voltage, in turn lowering peak power to 150kW while retaining 350Nm of torque. Range is claimed at 541km and the claimed 0-100km/h time drops to 9.4sec, predominantly because of the additional weight of the battery pack.

But, again, that combo is unlikely to make it Down Under.

Instead, Australia’s mid-grade EV9 Earth variant is expected to get the dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up, which adds another 160kW/350Nm motor to the front wheels.

Limitations of the battery mean peak combined power for the two motors is 283kW and the standard torque output is 600Nm. An optional over-the-air software update can increase the torque peak to 700Nm, in turn lowering the 0-100km/h time from 6.0 to 5.3sec.

The WLTP range for the AWD dual-motor EV9 is 497km, although that is when running on 19-inch wheels. When fitted with 20- or 21-inch wheels the WLTP range drops to about 470km.

The dual-motor EV9 can also tow up to 2500kg.

The Kia EV9 line-up will be topped by the GT-Line flagship (at least until the GT arrives in a couple of years), which gets the same longer range battery and dual-motor set-up.

All Kia EV9s will get a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch central infotainment touch-screen. In between them is a 5.0-inch touch-screen dedicated to ventilation controls. The trio of screens are integrated into the one panel.

The entry-level EV9 Air is expected to get 19-inch alloy wheels with tyres designed to maximise efficiency and range. It will get an unbranded eight-speaker sound system and cloth trim.

The Earth looks set to get 20-inch wheels while the GT-Line will get the largest available 21-inch wheels with 285mm wide tyres.

The GT-Line will also pick up wireless phone charging, electrically adjustable front seats, powered tailgate, dual sunroofs, heated and ventilated front seats, a 14-speaker Meridian sound system and separate rear air-conditioning controls with roof-mounted vents feeding the second and third rows.

There’s also fake leather trim and some modern surface textures as part of an interior design ethos that aims to emulate a home living room and maximise the use of sustainably sourced materials.

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