2026 Kia EV9 GT-Line Review

This week we are looking at a real beauty in the Kia EV lineup, the all-electric Kia EV9, a large 3-row SUV that has continued to win many awards since it came out a couple of years ago.  I had the EV9 when it first came out a couple of years ago, but there have been quite a few updates since then.  The 2024 I reviewed was produced in Gwangmyeong, Korea and thanks to tariffs, it is now assembled in the good old U.S.A.

The EV9 lineup for 2026 starts with Light, followed by Light Long Range, Wind, Land, Land Nightfall Edition, GT-Line-which is what I have-and finally the lineup is topped by the high-performance EV9 GT.

Performance  

Powering this SUV is a 99.8 kWh Lithium Ion High-Voltage battery that powers one motor in the back, and another one in the front.  This is the long range battery that Kia offers, and with dual motors, it becomes an all-wheel drive version.  You can get a single motor as well, and it is rear-wheel drive only in that case.

Specs on this EV are impressive.  It has 379-horses and is rated at 516 pound-feet of torque.  As you find with all electrics, the acceleration is very good, even for an almost 6,000 pound SUV.  0-to-60 time is just under 5 seconds, so the big 3-row will move.  It has a single-speed transmission.

Exterior    

I find the exterior to be attractive and I love this Wolf Gray color with an optional black roof, black 21” wheels, with more black along the bottom of the vehicles between the front and rear tires and over the wheels. 

A large black rear spoiler looks terrific, and it has the rear wiper tucked nicely underneath like it should be.  Overall, the EV9 has a bold, squared-off design with a wide stance, and crisp LED lighting that gives it a distinctly modern, upscale presence without trying to look like a traditional SUV.

Interior  

When you open the door, you see very attractive dark gray and off-white Syn-Tex seats that are comfortable and highly adjustable. You’ll find soft touch contrasting materials that run across the dash. Both front seats are power, and both are heated and cooled.

There are two 12.3” touchscreens that display the driver info system that is configurable and will give you the battery range left in miles as well as what percentage you’ve used.  There is speed recognition for you to see, and all the pertinent info is large and clear. 

In what appears to be the second half of the screen, is the infotainment system that displays the navigation system, the Meridian Premium sound with 14-speakers, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, Wi-Fi, and more.  Everything is simple to operate, and there are some shortcuts to all the functions built across the dash.  A large head-up display is easy to see and will show you when there are any vehicles in your blind spot.  Rounding out the super-sporty driver compartment are large aluminum pedals and a really big dead pedal for your left foot.

The center console is wide and large, and very soft to the touch.  A sliding door opens to adjustable cup holders, and there are buttons on it for Auto Hold, hill descent, rear cameras, and self-parking technology.  There is also a wireless charger for cell phones.

For the driver and front passenger, there is a comfort setting that will recline the seats and raise a footrest.  That seems odd for the driver’s seat but if you are sitting at an EV charging station, you might want to take a nap!  It will not operate when the vehicle is moving. 

Moving to the second-row captain chairs that are heated and cooled, there are USB ports, air conditioning vents, a slide-out center console, USB and USB-C ports. The second row captain’s chairs also recline, and they have armrests and they also have the power foot rests like your very own recliner in the EV9.  Buttons on the front passenger seat will allow back seat passengers to slide the seat forward limo-style or to create more legroom.  Air conditioning controls are mounted on the headliner and are digital. There are also side window shades you can raise.  A button on top of the second row seats slides the seats forward for easy 3^rd-row access.

Third-row passengers can expect adult-friendly accommodations with good headroom and legroom for this class, supportive seating, dedicated air vents, cupholders, and USB ports, making the EV9’s third row usable for more than just short trips. In this configuration, it is a six-passenger SUV, but every passenger has a ton of room.   

The third row seats fold down manually from the large cargo area and they fold flat and are not cumbersome to operate at all. Cargo space measures approximately 20 cubic feet behind the third row, expands to about 43 cubic feet with the third row folded, and tops out around 81 cubic feet with both rear rows down, providing flexibility for everything from groceries to road-trip gear. There is also a frunk, a front trunk, that will hold one nice-sized overnight bag.     

Standard Equipment

Standard features on my tester include 21-inch alloy wheels, GT-Line exterior styling with blacked-out trim, LED headlights and taillights, a power hands-free liftgate, flush door handles, dual panoramic sunroofs, a curved dual 12.3-inch digital display setup with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Meridian premium audio system, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, ambient interior lighting, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a heated GT-Line power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, tri-zone automatic climate control, smart key with push-button start, wireless phone charging, multiple USB-C ports throughout all three rows, and power-folding second- and third-row seats.

Safety   

On the safety front, the 2026 Kia EV9 has forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction detection, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, lane keeping and lane following assist, smart cruise control with stop-and-go, highway driving assist 2, safe exit warning, surround-view monitor, blind-spot view monitor, front and rear parking sensors, and remote smart parking assist. Something I love is cameras in both side mirrors are activated if there is a car in your blind spot or if you engage your blinkers. The picture of what is happening on either side appears in the center of the driver’s display.

Options

Options include the $895 paint, the $2,000 second-row relaxation package which is designed to turn the captain’s chairs into lounge-style seats for adult passengers.

It’s less about family utility and more about comfort on longer drives or while fast-charging, $225 for carpeted floor mats and $165 for the carpeted rear cargo mat.

Ride and Drive 

The EV9 drives great, the ride is smooth and in spite of its heavy, bulky looks, lean is minimal in curves and turns. The SUV is incredibly quiet inside and Kia went to great lengths to make sure of that with more insulation and thicker glass.

As I’ve said, I love one-pedal driving in EVs, and you can adjust the drag from paddles on the steering wheel, and the resistance helps to recharge the battery.

Range and Charging

Range is rated at 280-miles and over a week’s time, it exceeded that range twice, not trying. The MPGe rating is 72-highway, 92-city, and 82 combined.  One huge change since the 2024 I had is the EV9 comes standard with an NACS charging port, aligning it with Tesla-style connectors giving charging access to Tesla Superchargers. That means EV9 owners have official access to over 21,500 Tesla Superchargers.

Charging time using a DC fast charger, the EV9 can recharge from about 10 to 80 percent in roughly 24 minutes, while a Level 2 home charger typically restores a full charge in about 9 to 10 hours, and a standard 110-volt household outlet can take several days for a complete recharge and is best suited only for maintaining charge.  As I always say, get a home charger if you are going to drive an EV.

Pricing 

Total MSRP on this ultra-loaded EV9 is $76,676 before discounts and factory incentives.  I went back and looked, this price is over $2000 less than a similar review vehicle I had in 2024, but of course, the $7,500 Federal rebate is gone. 

Verdict 

There aren’t a lot of choices in larger, 3-row roomy all-electric SUVs and I will say this one would be an excellent choice.