2026 Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD EV - Bottom Line Review

HK FLAGSHIP SUVS ARE EV : Should there be any doubt of the reality of a battery electric propulsion future, one need look no further than the current set of amped-up offerings coming from South Korea.

With a versatile platform and 800 volt architecture out of the block, Hyundai - Kia crossover utility models such as the Ioniq 5, EV6 have already demonstrated their battery EV chops.

Now the sportier of Seoul's duo is swinging for the fences with its first all-electric full size three row SUV, the 2026 Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD.

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WHAT: 2026 Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD plug-in battery electric three-row crossover utility vehicle, is cousin to the Hyundai Ioniq 9. Launched in MY 2024, the EV9, laucnhed in co-hosts a flagship role with the petrol Kia Telluride. It shares its Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) foundation with the brand's other rear drive layout model the Kia EV6 sportback.

WHAT PROPELS IT:

Electric Motors + Drive Unit(s): Mobis (Rear) 400 V synchronous PM, (Front) 400 V asynchronous AC traction & reverse polarity regenerative charging motor + 1 x Motor Gear Drive Unit single (1) speed gear reduction drive x 2 E-Motors

• Dual Motor: 379 horsepower Net (283 kW) @ 4919 - 11,100 rpm / 516 lb-ft @ 0-3600 rpm

Electric Supply & Charging: 110.3 kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt battery, 800 Volt architecture

• On-Board Charging Ports: NACS 11.0 kW, (AC Levels 1, 2); 350 kW (DC, Level 3)
• Quick charge, 0-80%: 24 minutes @ 350 kW peak, 40 minutes @ Tesla Supercharger V3
• Level 2 AC charge, 0-80%: 9.7 hours

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE(S): Intentionally Telluride -like, the 2026 Kia EV9 reprises the long tissue box with equally blocky nose. Kia's first flagship EV evokes Origami folded paper. It sports compact Sportage's exaggerated vertical corner creasing with attendant hockey stick LED lighting. Faceted wheel arches complete the rugged demeanor.

Up Front: √ Waterfall hood with flat metallic lettered emblem; √ Slim dark upper grill; √ Body-color parabolic mid front fascia; √ Lower darkened louvered fascia with body color corner ducts; √ Vertical hockey stick DRL directionals with vertical tandem LED headlight array

At Side: √ Sharp raked windshield, slight tapering spillover dark contrast roof; √ High beltline with shoulder crease; √ Flush, body color power ejecting door handles; √ Fully darkened post 1st Row greenhouse terminating in sharp D-pillar kink mating with roof spoiler; √ Gloss black clad faceted pentagonal wheel arches and matching rising / descending lower body cladding with metallic skid plate

Out Back: √ Kammback upper liftgate with center creasing, descending to bumper cover; √ Rising lower rear quarter panel kinks meet liftgate bottom corners; √ Vertical "Lighting Bolt" taillights with mid-tailgate inboard arms; √ Flush gloss black clad bumper cover, containing wide license plate bowl, √ Satin metallic lower diffuser

• +1 Lighting Bolt lighting theme
• -1 Liftgate lacks collision protection from flush bumper cover

WHY: Lighting bolt blocky flagship three row Korean EV SUV

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since Winter 2025

WHERE: Kia new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: West Point, Georgia, U.S.A.

WHERE TO: Front and rear axle independent dual motor torque distribution in 2026 Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD can be driver electronically locked at a 50:50% split.

Terrain Modes adjust throttle response, F:R torque split, traction & hill hold controls, and descent braking programmed for Snow, Mud, Sand conditions.

HOW ROADWORTHY: The 2026 Kia EV 9 Performance SUV dispatches its plentiful power with an instantly gratifying linearity inherent to battery electrics. While sport drive mode releases more power, the throttle is responsive without being hyper sensitive.

Flipping the right dorsal steering wheel paddle three times from the least regenerative slowing simulates a traditional transmission downshift. Experienced EV drivers will likely stick with I[ntelligent]-Pedal single pedal driving, which will have the added benefit of increased friction brake wear part longevity.

Low speed alert whine goes gentle on pedestrians. Subtle motor whirring, featuring selectable synthetic amplification, is best left on the lowest volume, leaving a placid cabin, interrupted by some occasional panel rattle.

• Three (3) drive modes = Eco, Normal, Sport: the latter for testing occupant G-Force tolerance.
• Variable Regenerative Slowing: 3 levels, with 3 being most aggressive, accessible via steering wheel dorsal paddles
• One pedal driving: "I-Pedal" about the easiest to master.
• Drive actuation = twist to shift steering column lower right side stalk, includes start button

Nearly three tons of 2026 EV9 GT-Line remains relatively flat in corners slightly, owing to that low center of gravity. Restrained damping rebound allows placid motion over pavement breaks for a righteously civilized ride. Turn-in is on the duller side for a performance EV SUV despite wide Hankook Ion Evo rubber and road feel remains muffled. Mechanical braking is always there to supplement motor regenerative slowing, but the pedal is pillowy.

HOW FAR (EV Range):

• 311 miles - maximum urban cycle (110.3 kWh)
• 247 miles - nominal highway cycle

HOW TO CHARGE IT:

The Kia Connect included Charge Pass app works with established ChargePoint, EV Connect, EVgo, Electrify America, Shell Recharge, Tesla public charging network accounts (w/ bank credit card for overage). EV9 drivers can also access major public charging networks directly via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay OS.

Native GPS navigation includes dedicated public charging location search in vicinity; Native in-vehicle at-home charge scheduling with remote Kia Connect control; Charge depletion level re-charge notification settings.

• +1 Prominent instrument cluster & infotainment battery charge status + range graphics
• +1 Three (3) years complimentary 30 minute Electrify America DC station charging
  • +/- Complimentary charging limited to 30 minutes per charge and 60 minutes wait between successive complimentary charge.

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: √ 6 Occupant 2+2+3 seating

• First & Second Row power lounge recline & ottoman seating
• First Row seat massage, driver adjust optimization
• Second Row power slide & fold, with cargo bay remote actuation

HOW USEFUL: √ Variable speed & height, approach activated power liftgate; √ Fully carpeted cargo bay; √ Strap release 50:50% split flat folding 3nd Row seat backs; √ Cargo bay accessed power flat fold 2nd Row seat backs; √ 110 VAC V2L* capable outlet; √ Sub cargo floor management & home 110V charging cable; √ Mouse fur lined glove box soft action lid; √ Under-hood bay covered bin = "Frunk"

√ 1st Row roll-top center console tray w/ twin retractable cup holders and aft inductive charging tray; √ Center console bin with aft hinged lid; √ 2nd Row sliding tray & storage bin from aft 1st Row center console; √ Cup holders x 6, Bottle holders x 6

• +1 Low load liftover
• +/- "Frunk" = small, shallow covered tray located under-hood
• *Vehicle to Load (V2L) 3680 Watts available through 110V AC outlet at base of 2nd Row seats or via external charging port
  • Continues outbound feed for 36 hours
  • 1.1 kW supply to another vehicle = 110V charge supply

HOW SAFE: IIHS MY 2026 Top Safety Pick Plus award

STANDARD: √ 7 airbags; √ Rear camera w/ predictive grid; √ Audible rear park assist; √ Roll mitigation; √ Kia Connected + restrictive access & geo-fencing; √ Auto high beam LED headlamps; √ Rear occupant alert + sensor + mobile device app notification; √ Driver attention monitor; √ Traffic street side driver's door alert + 2nd Row door lock-in; √ Rain sensing interval windshield wipers

INCLUDED ADAS: √ Blind Spot & Rear cross traffic warning + avoidance braking; √ Blind Spot View adjacent lane monitor; √ Post collision S.O.S. alert; √ Lane Departure Warning & Steer Prevention; √ Forward collision, pedestrian detection warning w/ avoidance braking; √ Intersection left turn oncoming traffic avoidance braking; √ full Adaptive Cruise control, curve speed control, w/ lead vehicle lane follow notice; √ Sonar fore & aft park collision warning w/ avoidance auto-braking.

+/- Remote Smart Parking Assist limited to moving directly forwards or backwards in a straight line where convenient where there is limited space to open doors, while stopping for obstructions in the path.

AVAILABLE ADAS:^{(included in test vehicle)}

• Surround View camera w/ sonar proximity warning
• Lane Change Assistance

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY: In terms of cabin craftmanship, the not inexpensive 2026 Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD lacks little for flagship accoutrements.

more curved panels and splashier finish. Traditional door card controls have been moved to the broad center console, ergo the full floating bridge. The de rigeur contiguous dual panoramic displays are framed in brightwork. Dashboard and door card print schemes match the welcome displays with waveforms. Otherwise climate and infotainment controls have been retained in the same intuitive groupings, using tasteful matte metallic buttons set within a restrained amount of piano gloss black bezels.

Dueling Blended Big Screens: Curved, contiguous, landscape dual 12.3 TFT instrument and touch LCD infotainment displays have the acreage to disseminate power, charge/ discharge, maps, road signs, ADAS systems, media & comm in a story book way. The Kia Connect infortainment screen contains the expected corporate swipe menu screens to touch set up, with absolutely logical menu flow. Variable size font script is welcome. MFI displays, usefully including ADAS settings, are selected via a ribbed metallic steering wheel spoke toggle.

• +1 Horizontal array of dots which illuminate white driven forward, and red when backing, is Morse code for the letter "H"; Oval key FOB button array forms slanted "H" brand insignia
• -1 Audio fine tune settings contained under SETUP sub-menu

ICE Non-traditional, EV Conventional: √ Power ejecting, retracting blade style exterior door handles; √ Open center console; √ Center console knurled metallic rotary drive position twist knob

√ H-Tex vegan leatherette seating - heated Row 1; √ Wide berth, sport bolstered front bucket seats; √ 8-way power front seats, w/ 3-setting driver memory; √ Push button start; √ Thick rimmed, flat bottom heated leather tilt + telescoping steering wheel with spoke integrated tactile redundant controls; √ Automatic 2-zone climate control; √ 2nd Row climate vents; √ 2nd Row outboard heated seats; √ Large center console ribbed rotary metallic transmission position dial; √ Overhead console retracting sunglasses bin; √ Power folding side mirrors.

Cool Gizmo(s): √ 12.3" drive mode variable TFT instrument cluster w/ navigation map; √ Blind Spot View gauge cluster display; √ Tinted panoramic moonroof, front power open & venting + power barn door shade; √ Variable color foot well, center console & striated door panel ambient lighting; √ "KIA" symbol LEDs embedded in steering wheel boss.

Details Done Right: √ SynTex vegan simulated leather seating; √ Recycled cabin plastics; √ Segment printed soft touch dash and center armrest; √ Knurled aluminum button + barrel controls; √ Matte metallic switches and bezels; √ Parametric pixelated mid-dashboard accent printing; √ Aluminum trimmed pedals; √ Microsuede headliner, pillars; √ Variable color illuminated "Meridian" door audio loudspeaker covers.

Nearly Non-Descript: -1 Haptic mid center stack infotainment shortcut switches easy to initiate with hand wrist when screen tapping

• Coarse grain below waist-height, pillar, aft cabin wall plastic cabin trim & omission of center console knee padding; seats low on lateral torso support

HOW CONNECTED: √ Digital Key + Finger Print Module; √ Kia Connect center dash top pod mount 12.3"-inch landscape, capacitive touch LCD infotainment screen is curved and contiguous to the instrument display; √ Bluetooth & voice command hands-free communications; √ GPS HDD OTA Navigation w/ 3-D map, voice guidance w/ connected weather at destination app; √ SMS messaging + pre-defined replies; √ Android Auto / Apple Car Play smart phone projection; √ USB-C x 6, 110 VAC (Cargo bay - V2L), 12V x 2 (incl. cargo)

♦ Audibly: 14 speakers DTS 5.1 Meridian audio

• Credible depth, muddying sound-stage effects
• "Sounds In Nature" - seven (7) pre-recorded instrumental audio tracks

HOW "APP" -LICABLE: Kia Connect - 5 year subscription included

• +1 Extensive Kia Connect voice commands for climate, audio, and navigation inputs; Simple to decipher menus
• "Last Mile" pedestrian walking destinations from between 0.1 and 1.2 miles distance
• -1 "Navigation Charging POIs" lacks real time charger status and electricity cost (in contrast to phone projection charging apps)

By Subscription: √ Sirius XM (90 days included); √ Navigation maps OTA updated (3 years incl.) √ Wi-Fi hot spot (by Verizon Wireless - 90 days or 2 GB included)

HOW MUCH: $76,670 = as tested 2026 Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD suggested retail price.

• ELIGIBILITY for the Clean Vehicle federal tax Credit per Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 amendment, ended September 30, 2025, (though purchase rebates are available on a state by state basis).

WHAT'S MISSING: Lighter weight; Physical infotainment switches; power folding 3rd row; anti-pinch power sliding 2nd Row seats

ANY COMPETITION: Hyundai Ioniq 9: sibling with Range Rover looks; Cadillac Vistiq: spacious 3rd Row, elegant trappings; Lucid Gravity: charging & range champ, tailgating frunk; Rivian R1S: powerful, off road beast