Kia EV9

[Mr Hoops]

As a current Sorento and Niro EV owner, this does appeal. Both have been good cars and price vs spec was always competitive. Interesting to see where the final price lands in the UK. Provided the Gov maintains the tax breaks on EVs this could do well.

[Murph7355]

TheDeuce said:

Assuming you do get a test drive and like it, and find it comparable to the Volvo overall..

That's going to make Volvo's pricing of the EX90 look a bit silly isn't it... Which I do think, it is. It's the (missing) interior in the Volvo that I don't get. I understand it's a trend that Tesla started and some people like the extreme minimalist layout - but in a £100k SUV I want to be surrounded by amazing materials and have usefully positioned buttons for most functions. Volvo recognise new competition and have said they're moving more upmarket which is sensible, but to me the latest car interiors look to have gone in the opposite direction.

The 100k car bit just makes me feel old. For a Volvo FFS. That was the preserve of Ferraris etc 5mins ago

The reviews I've seen of the EX90 are good. A lot of makers are now going the "eco" route in not using leather, and there are some interesting touches inside the Volvo that will be good to see (backlit wood etc).

Who knows.

[TheDeuce]

Murph7355 said:

TheDeuce said:

Assuming you do get a test drive and like it, and find it comparable to the Volvo overall..

That's going to make Volvo's pricing of the EX90 look a bit silly isn't it... Which I do think, it is. It's the (missing) interior in the Volvo that I don't get. I understand it's a trend that Tesla started and some people like the extreme minimalist layout - but in a £100k SUV I want to be surrounded by amazing materials and have usefully positioned buttons for most functions. Volvo recognise new competition and have said they're moving more upmarket which is sensible, but to me the latest car interiors look to have gone in the opposite direction.

The 100k car bit just makes me feel old. For a Volvo FFS. That was the preserve of Ferraris etc 5mins ago

The reviews I've seen of the EX90 are good. A lot of makers are now going the "eco" route in not using leather, and there are some interesting touches inside the Volvo that will be good to see (backlit wood etc).

Who knows.

Maybe the interior just doesn't look that special in images... although they normally make sure promotional images of their own cars look as good as real life if not better..

I just had another look at both websites and the Kia seems more flexible in it's seating, also a bit quicker - it's a bit mean of Volvo to not uprate the 409hp drivetrain they use in lesser cars in the range. It feels like everything about the car is a little restrained (rear illuminated wood aside..), except the price!

[chinnyman]

David87 said:

I've three children and so my wife's current Model Y is a bit stopgap until something bigger was available. We've had an 'order' in for the updated Model X for what feels like ten years - still with no end in sight. If I can convince her to drive a Kia , I think this could be a great car for us.

Same I've got three kids a mnd was going to get a Y and then was thinking second hand X.

Now thinking this!!

[fatjon]

I quite liked the concept car with the suicide doors but the production version, meh.

[Murph7355]

A few reviews driving the car in S.Korea (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uUJyjckSMk).

Seems like the quality of it might be there...

[Zcd1]

US-based "Car and Driver" review of the EV9 GT-Line:

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a45685055/202...

[NFT]

fatjon said:

I quite liked the concept car with the suicide doors but the production version, meh.

Same, Concept Yes, production, neigh.

[Murph7355]

Saw my first one out in the wild today - a black one.

Looked fab.

OH now definitely has it on the radar as a replacement for our XC90....will give the local dealer a call to see when we can get a decent test drive arranged.

[Adam1980]

I’m driving one on Wednesday this week- looking forward to it. Had a sit in it at the weekend- it’s BIG

[riskyj]

Saw my first one in the flesh in Iceland (the country, not the shop car park) last weekend. Looked mega and much needed in the market for those of us with 3+ kids.

Currently my no.1 contender to replace my Caravelle when my existing salary sacrifice on the e-tron runs out.

[Mikebentley]

I’m sure I saw one briefly on the M5 a few weeks ago. I think the reg was KIA 9.

[Murph7355]

Adam1980 said:

I’m driving one on Wednesday this week- looking forward to it. Had a sit in it at the weekend- it’s BIG

How did you get on?

I had a go in one today.

Looks great in the flesh, especially in the grey colour. Only one interior option but the mix of black and cream fabrics was good. Not so keen on the glossy mid-grey plastics on the doors and various other control surfaces.

Centre console bin and things like door pockets felt a little cheap. Not deal breakingly so, but you'd think a small touch more thought would improve things a lot.

Doors felt on the tinny side and a few bits and pieces on a brand new car not quite as well fitting as I would hope - rear centre arm rest wasn't catching reliably, door handles not extending smoothly etc. Lots of little things granted, but it's a 76k car....and it's being compared to a 7yr old, 110k mile XC90 that's had loads of abuse here.

Loads of space. I'm 6'4" and could feasibly use the third row for shorter journeys. Buckets of room in the front and middle rows. Seats broadly very comfortable, but would need more time in one to adjust fully and get it properly right. The steering wheel doesn't extend far enough. Recline on all three seat rows was good

Middle row is only a 60:40 split, which isn't ideal.

Not sure whether the ventilation function was all that, but maybe in summer it would be more noticeable. Massage driver's seat felt like someone was trying to escape being sewn into the chair. Not an especially enjoyable thing, but then I'm not someone who relishes a massage.

Didn't really have time to play with the infotainment/tech. At first glance it looks unnecessarily complex, with small fonts/buttons and lots of them. I'm sure it would all make sense after a while, but wasn't inviting to use. Screen also didn't seem as responsive as it could have been. Driver display was decent and I do like how your blind spot pops up in a circle on the dash when indicating in Kias. Quite a lot of screen real estate cut out by the wheel and little knobbly bits like the driver attention "monitor". Again, would need time to see how comfy I could get. (OH didn't seem to mind at all...maybe it's designed for much shorter people than me).

It drove nicely and didn't feel its size/weight especially. Rode OK but haven't tried it on the usual roads I use yet. Regen levels were interesting. Level 1 was more ICE like and able to make smoother progress without adapting the way you drive in an ICE car. Regen really steps up from Level 2 onwards. Didn't try "max" (one pedal driving). Higher regen needs driving style modifying to avoid making everyone feel sick.

Plenty of speed, especially in 'sport' mode.

Annoying bings and bongs around speed etc, which I believe all cars are to have due to legislation?

Perhaps the biggest surprise was wind noise. There was a reasonable amount, and the worst of it was like a window was slightly open, giving that thrumming pressure type feel, which was not great...and would be more a show stopper for me.

Availability is currently late March/April.

I think I wanted to like it more than I did. It's not a straight "no", especially as the OH liked it a lot...but it wasn't an immediate "yes". The two XC90s we have fit straight in to family mode and never lost that in all the time we owned them. I have a nagging feeling that this wouldn't quite work in the same way and we'd be looking to move on after a much shorter amount of time.

Would want to have another test drive on the roads we use most, and to see if the wind noise thing was just this car or some other fixable issue before contemplating an order.

[s2racer]

Saw the EV9 while I was considering the EV6

It is nice

It will depreciate like a fking stone imo. There is no market for a brand like Kia at that price, as their other cars prove.

EV6 GT LINE S is like rocking horse st

Wait a year, it will be high 40s at best used.

[MrHappy]

I saw one for the first time today, on the M6. Not as boxy as I’d expected but it is big - I watched it pass a 69 plate Range Rover and, to the eye, it looked bigger than that.
We’re very happy with my wife’s EV6 though I’d prefer to remove the fuse for the reversing bongs but MrsH likes them. Fully charged summer range is indicated c.330 miles (GT Line S RWD) and an indicated c.235 miles is the lowest I’ve seen over winter.

[Murph7355]

s2racer said:

Saw the EV9 while I was considering the EV6

It is nice

It will depreciate like a fking stone imo. There is no market for a brand like Kia at that price, as their other cars prove.

EV6 GT LINE S is like rocking horse st

Wait a year, it will be high 40s at best used.

Depreciation isn't critical as we'll keep whatever we buy for 6yrs/100k miles ++.....but I do suspect you're right.

There's one on Autotrader that's already 4k off with just 50miles on it. And I think first deliveries were Jan....

Depreciation on any 7 seater will be fierce I suspect. The other options we're looking at are all over 65k and up used (XC90 T8, Defender 130 etc).

[Adam1980]

I really like the car- the test drive was good.

It’s a comfortable ride, plenty of space inside (I’m 6’10) and even leg room behind me.

I agree the finish isn’t always Grade A- it isn’t a Range Rover etc- still when our work scheme opens it’s a very strong contender.

I also like the Polestar 3, which feels a size class smaller- but my concerns there are P3 isn’t yet shipping and the company seems a bit of a mess currently.

Still- in all it was above what I expected from a Kia

[Mikebentley]

Adam1980 said:

I really like the car- the test drive was good.

It’s a comfortable ride, plenty of space inside (I’m 6’10) and even leg room behind me.

I agree the finish isn’t always Grade A- it isn’t a Range Rover etc- still when our work scheme opens it’s a very strong contender.

I also like the Polestar 3, which feels a size class smaller- but my concerns there are P3 isn’t yet shipping and the company seems a bit of a mess currently.

Still- in all it was above what I expected from a Kia

Looked at an EV9 today but didn’t get inside. I’ve got a new Defender 110 and thought it seemed marginally smaller possibly due to the height being lower to the ground. Nice looking car in GT Line spec and the blue as per above images. The wheels were 21 inch and looked massive.

Adam1980 6’10” ! You’re not a size 18 shoe by any chance as I have a free pair of brand new Adidas Superstars looking for a home.

[C70R]

I didn't realise these were available to lease already. Having just had a play around with a few lease deals, it's only working out £200 more than a Tesla M3. It might even be practical enough to replace the Discovery with too.

This is relevant to my interests.

[Supersam83]

Looks like it was designed to transport Stormtroopers.