Kia EV9 (2025)

Jonathan Elfalan from Edmunds highlights the 2026 Kia EV9 as a standout electric SUV that balances practicality, performance, and style with enthusiasm. Praised for its spacious interior—including a surprisingly comfortable third row—and abundant family-friendly features, the EV9 impresses with smooth handling, strong acceleration in higher trims, and one of the fastest charging capabilities in its class. The review notes the vehicle’s solid build quality, generous cargo space, and excellent warranty, reinforcing its value proposition. While the entry-level Light trim lacks power and the standard battery’s 230-mile range is modest compared to some luxury rivals, the EV9 still delivers more than enough range for most drivers and excels in real-world efficiency. Minor criticisms focus on some unintuitive cabin controls and slightly obstructed visibility due to design choices. Overall, the EV9 is celebrated for merging functionality with fun, making it a compelling choice for families seeking a spacious, tech-rich, and quick-charging three-row electric SUV.

Darren Cassey from Carwow highlights the Kia EV9 (2025) as a striking, spacious, and highly practical electric SUV that stands out with its bold, futuristic styling and family-friendly features. While the EV9 impresses with its roomy interior, flexible seating options, and advanced tech—such as large digital displays, ambient lighting, and clever safety aids—it faces stiff competition from the closely related Hyundai Ioniq 9, which offers a slightly longer range and a more airy cabin. The EV9’s driving experience is generally comfortable and composed, especially on motorways, though its size and weight make it less agile on twisty roads and city corners. Some interior quality issues, like cheaper plastics and a confusing climate control layout, temper the premium feel expected at its price point. Overall, the EV9 delivers strong value against pricier rivals like the Volvo EX90, combining style, space, and technology in a compelling package for families willing to invest in a large, distinctive electric SUV.

Billy Rehbock from MotorTrend highlights the 2025 Kia EV9 as a groundbreaking entry in the mass-market electric three-row SUV segment, combining futuristic design with a spacious, upscale interior and advanced technology. Praised for its smooth acceleration, strong braking, and ultra-fast charging capabilities, the EV9 offers compelling performance across multiple trims, including a notably quick GT-Line variant. While the third row remains cramped for adults and some features like the hidden start button and slow-folding second row draw mild criticism, these drawbacks are outweighed by the EV9’s competitive pricing and modern amenities. The review emphasizes the EV9’s solid safety ratings and thoughtful storage solutions, positioning it as a worthy alternative to traditional gas-powered SUVs like the Kia Telluride. Overall, the EV9 impresses as a well-rounded, innovative electric SUV that balances family-friendly practicality with cutting-edge EV technology.

Mark Takahashi from Car and Driver highlights the 2025 Kia EV9 as a compelling and well-rounded three-row electric SUV that builds on the success of the Telluride. Praising its edgy styling, spacious and refined interior, and competitive pricing, Takahashi emphasizes the EV9’s strong value proposition in a segment with few rivals. The review notes the EV9’s solid EPA range of 230 to 304 miles, rapid DC fast-charging capabilities, and impressive 0-60 mph acceleration, especially in all-wheel-drive trims. While the cabin features modern tech with dual 12.3-inch screens and premium materials, some interface quirks like climate controls behind the steering wheel are mentioned. Safety and driver-assistance features are robust, though hands-free driving is limited to higher trims. The review balances enthusiasm for the EV9’s performance, comfort, and warranty with practical advice on pricing and trim choices, ultimately positioning it as a standout, affordable electric SUV for families seeking style and utility.

Top Gear Team highlights the Kia EV9 (2025) as a compelling and well-rounded electric SUV that justifies its premium price with a spacious, quiet, and thoughtfully designed interior, strong performance, and an impressive range. Praising its extensive standard equipment and eco-conscious materials, the review emphasizes Kia’s success in delivering a practical seven-seater that challenges more expensive luxury rivals. However, the tone remains measured, noting the EV9’s large size, occasionally unsettled ride, and intrusive driver aids as drawbacks. The EV9 is positioned as a family-friendly, future-proof flagship that offers serious value and capability without the luxury badge premium. While not an off-roader, it impresses as a “muscle-bound” urban SUV with a commanding presence. The review concludes by questioning whether buyers truly need a more prestigious brand when the EV9 meets everyday needs so effectively, signaling cautious enthusiasm tempered by some reservations about tech integration and ride comfort.

Andrew Ganz from The Car Connection highlights the 2025 Kia EV9 as a striking, spacious, and innovative electric SUV that successfully modernizes the family-hauler segment. Praising its bold exterior design, roomy three-row cabin, and versatile seating configurations, Ganz emphasizes the EV9’s comfortable ride and quick acceleration—especially in dual-motor trims—while noting it drives like a large SUV rather than a sporty EV. The review appreciates the vehicle’s advanced safety features, fast charging capability, and generous warranty, though it points out the EV9’s relatively high price and interior finishes that don’t fully match its luxury aspirations. Handling is described as planted but heavy, reflecting its substantial weight. Unique insights include the EV9’s 800-volt architecture enabling rapid charging and its bidirectional charging feature for home backup power. Overall, Ganz rates the EV9 highly for its blend of style, tech, and family-friendly practicality, recommending the Wind trim as a balanced choice.

Cars.com Editors highlight the 2025 Kia EV9 as a competitively priced, all-electric three-row SUV that offers solid family-friendly features and safety credentials, including an IIHS Top Safety Pick rating. They emphasize its spacious interior with an adult-friendly third row and ample accommodation for child seats, making it a practical choice for families. The EV9’s range varies from 230 to 304 miles depending on the battery, with fast-charging capabilities that replenish the battery in about 20 to 24 minutes under optimal conditions. Standard and available features cover a broad spectrum of comfort, convenience, and advanced driver-assistance technologies. However, the review notes some limitations, such as interior tightness on longer trips when fully loaded and a significant range reduction when towing heavy trailers. Overall, the EV9 impresses in daily driving scenarios, balancing value and utility, though it may face challenges in more demanding use cases like extended family road trips or heavy towing.

Nathan Adlen from Autoblog highlights the 2025 Kia EV9 as a distinctive and capable three-row electric SUV that stands out in a sparse segment. He praises its bold, boxy styling that blends rugged SUV cues with family-friendly practicality, and its impressive performance, boasting 576 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time under five seconds despite its hefty weight. The EV9’s range is competitive, with up to 304 miles on the larger battery, and it offers a wealth of standard tech features including dual 12.3-inch screens, over-the-air updates, and advanced driver assistance. However, Adlen advises caution due to the somewhat uninspired interior design, which feels utilitarian compared to its futuristic exterior and sibling Hyundai IONIQ 9. He also flags the high price, which can approach $80,000 fully equipped, making it a significant investment amid growing competition from Tesla, GM, and others. Overall, the EV9 is a solid, stylish family hauler with notable strengths but some trade-offs to consider.

William Stopford from CarExpert highlights the 2025 Kia EV9 Air as a bold and compelling entry-level electric SUV option, especially notable for its size and three-row seating in a market with few direct competitors. While the Air model is the most affordable in the EV9 lineup, it still commands a premium price above $100,000, which may deter some buyers. Stopford praises the EV9’s refined ride, quiet cabin, and clever interior details like the flat floor and extensive USB-C outlets, though he notes the third-row space is somewhat cramped for adults. The Air’s performance is measured but efficient, with a respectable 0-100 km/h time and excellent energy consumption. Criticisms include the absence of a surround-view camera, limited third-row comfort, and some interior austerity compared to pricier trims. Overall, Stopford finds the EV9 Air a solid, well-rounded electric SUV that stands out with its distinctive design and practical features, making it a strong contender despite its high price and a few compromises.

John Velasco from Tom’s Guide highlights the Kia EV9 (2025) as a strikingly futuristic and tech-packed electric SUV that stands out in both design and driving experience. After a week-long test drive of the GT-Line AWD trim, he praises its eye-catching concept-like exterior, advanced safety features like automatic lane changing, and luxury touches such as a sharp heads-up display and an innovative ERGO motion seat that stretches the lower back. The customizable interior lighting and spacious 3-row seating add to its appeal, making it a unique offering in the EV SUV segment. However, Velasco notes some drawbacks, including the high starting price—especially for the GT-Line—and a shorter driving range (270 miles) compared to competitors like the Tesla Model X. He also mentions a learning curve with the digital rearview mirror. Overall, the EV9 impresses as a stylish, fun, and well-equipped electric SUV, though its premium cost may limit accessibility.