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Meet Kia's electric Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol rival! 2024 Kia EV9 SUV finally revealed!

Kia's all-electric full-size SUV has finally been revealed and should land in Australia before the end of 2023.

The Kia EV9 has finally been revealed, with the Korean brand's all-electric answer to a Toyota LandCruiser or Nissan Patrol breaking cover overnight.

And in kudos to Kia, the EV9 hasn't strayed too far from its concept images, with the full-size SUV looking sleek and smooth, despite its considerable size.

But the brand is promising substance to the style, with Kia's first three-row SUV featuring a flat E-GMP skateboard-style architecture, which it says has allowed it to maximise cabin space in every row.

"The Kia EV9 breaks new ground, aiming to redefine standards for design, connectivity, usability and environmental responsibility," says Karim Habib, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design Center.

"The Kia EV9 offers customers an exceptionally high-quality proposition and a fresh EV perspective in the family SUV sector.

"This new vehicle typology provides instinctive experiences and excellent comfort for not just the driver, but all occupants, through innovative use of space, technology and design."

The EV9 hasn't strayed too far from its concept images.

This is just the unveiling of the looks of the vehicle, though, with Kia still keeping some cards close to its chest. We don't officially know yet what will be powering it, how big its battery will be, or how long it will take to charge.

We can make some educated guesses, however. We know, for example, that the concept version of the EV9 is 4930mm long, 2055mm wide and 1790mm tall, which is about the same as Toyota's 300 Series.

And we have a good idea of what will be powering it, too. US outlet Car & Driver seemingly got its hands on a pre-launch survey on the EV9, which detailed several motor and battery combinations (though how many we'll get in Australia remains to be seen).

The EV9 features a ‘Digital Pattern Lighting Grille’ and vertical headlights.

According to the reports, the entry-level option will be a rear-drive setup, with a single rear motor producing around 150kW and 340Nm, and a driving range of around 350km.

Next, there's a bigger battery rear-drive option, lifting range to around 467km and towing capacity to 907kg. Finally, there are the twin-motor options, which start with a 300kW and 515Nm setup, and a towing capacity of 1588kg.

Finally, there's the flagship model, which uses the twin-motor powertrain to deliver 298kW, 650Nm, and a towing capacity of just over two tonnes. Range for that model is around 390kms.

Upfront of the EV9, twin 12.3-inch touch screens can be expected.

These images reveal a clean, powerful front end that includes a ‘Digital Pattern Lighting Grille’ and vertical headlights. The EV9 also debuts ‘Star Map LED daytime running lights', which will feature on future EVs, too.

Inside, there's tech for days, and six- or seven-seat configurations for the cabin. Both first and second-row passengers can fully recline their seats to get comfy when charging, and the second row chairs can pivot a full 180-degrees to face the third row, too.

Expect twin 12.3-inch touch screens, and all your charging and cup-holding needs to be met.

Inside the EV9, the second row chairs can pivot a full 180-degrees to face the third row.

The EV9 will be detailed in full towards the end of March, and it's expected to launch in Australia before the end of the year. We expect the model to start at, or even below, $100k in Australia.

"As an entry point, we’re confident it can be a five-figure car," Kia Australia's General Manager for Product Planning, Roland Rivero, previously told CarsGuide.

"Potential global pricing indicates that we might be able to bring it in just below six figures.”

Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold. But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul. And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard. When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House. But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others. More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.
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