2024 Kia EV9 Air Review

Kia’s rise to automotive sales fame in recent years continue to gain momentum thanks to just how much it’s reached out in its lineup and created a number of new products like the EV6 mid-sized EV, the three-row Sorento, the popular Sportage SUV and even a ute on the horizon. Therefore, it should be no surprise that Kia has released a large three-row electric SUV and remarkably, it’s the first sub-luxury seven-seat electric SUV on the market. We recently tested the top-spec EV9 GT-Line and came off impressed, so how about the entry-level 2024 Kia EV9 Air? Read on to find out.

Other than the large Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and the small EQB SUV there aren’t any other three-row seven-seater electric vehicles sold in Australia, which means that the Kia EV9 is largely unrivalled. There is not many instances where this is the case but Kia has managed to create a new market which we imagine will only grow in popularity.

How much does the 2024 Kia EV9 cost to buy?

In Kia EV speak, the ‘Air’ designation is used for entry-level models. There is the EV6 Air and then the car we have here: the 2024 Kia EV9 Air. It’s priced from $97,000 plus on-road costs – or around $109,000 drive away, depending on location – which is not cheap on paper. But thankfully, even for an entry-level model, the EV9 Air does feature a lot of standard equipment.

EV9 Air standard equipment:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Dusk-sensing automatic LED exterior lighting
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Roof rails
• Keyless entry with push button start and remote start
• Auto-retracting door handles
• Heated and auto-folding exterior mirrors
• Noise-suppressing windscreen and side glass
• Artificial leather steering wheel and seat upholstery
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• 10-way electrically adjustable front seats
• Tri-zone climate control with roof-mounted rear air vents
• 12.3-inch digital driver’s display
• 5.0-inch climate control screen
• 12.3-inch touchscreen
• AM/FM/digital radio
• Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation with live traffic
• Live services and over-the-air updates
• Eight-speaker sound system
• 6x USB-C and 2x 12V charging ports
• 240V socket in the boot
• Wireless phone charger
• Recycled fabric headliner

EV9 Air safety equipment:

• Nine airbags (including a front centre unit and rear side units)
• Auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian, cyclist and intersection assist
• Lane keep assist with lane departure warning
• Adaptive lane guidance for highway driving
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (with braking)
• Speed sign recognition
• Driver attention monitoring
• Adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist
• Auto high beam
• Safe exit warning
• Intelligent speed limit assist
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Alarm
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Auto-dimming rear mirror

The EV9 range achieved a five-star ANCAP safety rating this year with scores of 84 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 76 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 85 per cent for safety assistance.

EV9 Air colour range:

• Flare Red: $0
• Iceberg Green: $990
• Aurora Black: $990
• Panthera Metal: $990
• Pebble Grey: $990
• Snow White Pearl: $990 (fitted to our test car)

The long equipment list may entice buyers into the 2024 Kia EV9 Air as it seemingly has everything you would need for a large SUV. Electric front seats, all the safety kit to keep the kids safe, a large touchscreen and even the lovely heated and cooled front seats. It is worth noting that the EV9 Earth (the model above the Air) is priced $9,500 more than the Air and gains a dual-motor drivetrain with a larger battery, gloss black exterior trims, interior ambient lighting, illuminated Kia logo on the steering wheel, 360-degree surround view camera, blind-spot cameras, different 19-inch wheels and automatic low speed reverse braking. Something to consider, in our opinion.

How far can the 2024 Kia EV9 Air travel on a charge?

The 2024 Kia EV9 Air features a 76.1kWh lithium ion battery which provides up to 443km of range on the WLTP cycle. That battery feeds a single motor on the rear axle making 160kW of power and 350Nm of torque. As for charging, the EV9 can accommodate DC fast charging at up to 350kW for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in as little as 20 minutes, while AC charging can be performed at up to 10.5kW for a full charge in as little as seven hours. Kia claims a WLTP-rated consumption figure of 19.5kWh/100km and we achieved 18.8kWh/100km in our [mostly urban] testing, which we think is impressive for a 2,312kg (tare) SUV.

There is no doubting that the 2024 Kia EV9 feels solid to drive. It is also no slouch and gets up to speed briskly with no hesitation from the batteries. We will admit the EV9 GT-Line did feel significantly faster to drive, but the Air is more than enough for most families making the school run. The claimed 0-100km/h time for the EV9 Air is 8.2 seconds, which is more than fast enough for most buyers. We also quite like Kia’s multi-level regenerative braking, which is adjusted through the paddle shifters on the steering wheel – the driver can choose anything from off to subtle to strong to even one-pedal driving.

What is the 2024 Kia EV9 like to drive?

Based on the same ‘eGMP’ platform as other Hyundai-Kia EVs, the 2024 Kia EV9 Air rides very well. Thanks to its relatively small (for this size of vehicle) 19-inch wheels, the Kia EV9’s ride is supple and accommodating. Thanks to Kia Australia’s local ride tuning, the EV9 handles our roads very well. It’s not too soft that you bounce after going over bumps and its not too firm that it is uncomfortable for daily duties – it’s also more comfortable than the top-spec EV9 GT-Line and its larger 21-inch wheels. The platform also helps the EV9 Air’s handling, which is nicely tight and while the steering is light, it’s quick.

The active safety tech in the 2024 Kia EV9 is mostly quite good and does not interrupt the driving experience. The traffic sign recognition and speed assistance system that Kia (and Hyundai) has installed in its new cars over the past year or so, which reads speed signs and informs you if you’re speeding, can be intrusive. The issue we have with it is that often it incorrectly reads signs and alerts you because thinks you’re speeding by beeping constantly. Kia has improved the system a bit with the EV9 as it’s now reportedly 3dB quieter – which means you can drown it out with reasonably quiet music – but it’s still not able to be permanently deactivated.

How practical is the 2024 Kia EV9?

As we found out in our recent review of the top-spec EV9 GT-Line, the interior design of the 2024 Kia EV9 Air is very modern. You can tell the minute you step into the cabin that it is an all new model and that it has an eco theme throughout thanks to the materials on offer, like the recycled PET carpets. The dashboard layout is minimalist and focuses heavily on the dual 12.3-inch screens with a 5.0-inch climate touchscreen in the middle, which can be a bit obscured for the driver by the steering wheel.

As for quality, it’s mostly pretty good but there are some materials – such as the top of the dashboard – that could be better. Kia, like a lot of other EV makers, has gone hard on the sustainable aspect of the interior to reduce the impact of its cars on the planet and while we really admire that, the reality is that some of the materials and a few buttons like the window controls just don’t feel like they’re from a $100,000 car.

The 12.3-inch touchscreen uses Kia’s latest infotainment software and is generally a quite responsive system and intuitive system to use. The screen quality is great, the colours used are good as well and it’s well featured with wired and – recently thanks to an over-the-air update for all EV9s – wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, live services through the Kia Connect app, inbuilt navigation with live traffic, digital radio and even features like a weather app and car wash mode. The standard eight-speaker sound system is quite good for an entry level model and Kia’s non-branded audio has definitely improved.

The second row of the EV9 Air is excellent – it’s spacious and offers a good amount of features. The seats themselves are comfortable and there’s a lot of space on offer, even for three adults. Plus, there is a lot of equipment on offer too: a separate climate zone, vents in the roof, two USB-C ports, reasonable door pockets, four cup holders and a big storage space underneath the centre console. The seats slide and recline in a 60:40 split, while pressing the fold button on top of the seat electronically lifts and slides the seat forward for third row access. For child seats, there are three top-tether points and two ISOFIX points as well.

As you may be able to tell with its huge exterior size, the third row of seating in the EV9 offers a good amount of space for even adults. It’s not as large as a people mover like the Carnival, and only features two seats to its three seats, but the space on offer for adults is reasonable. There are also air vents, USB-C charging ports and cup holders. Plus, the view out is good thanks to large windows and it can accomodate two child seats as well thanks to two top-tether points and two ISOFIX points too.

Open up the power tailgate of the EV9 Air and behind the third row of seating you’ll find 333-litres of space, with under-floor storage included in that figure. Fold the third row down and there’s a massive 828L of space on offer, which opens up to a massive 2,318L when the second row folded as well. It’s a pretty huge space with all the seats folded and while an MPV – like Kia’s own Carnival – is able to carry even more, considering that the EV9 has a large battery underneath the floor and is spacious for seven adults, it’s impressive. Unfortunately there is no spare wheel – a tyre inflation kit is standard – but at the front, a big 40-litre frunk sits in the nose.

What warranty covers the 2024 Kia EV9?

As with other new Kia products, the 2024 Kia EV9 Air is covered by a seven-year/unlimited km warranty with up to eight years of roadside assistance if serviced through a Kia dealership. The battery is covered by an eight-year/160,000km warranty as well.

Kia offers three-, five- and seven-year service plans from purchase for the EV9, with servicing required once-yearly or every 15,000km. A three-year/45,000km plan costs $706, a five-year/75,000km plan costs $1,351 and a seven-year/105,000km plan costs $1,997.

Should I buy a 2024 Kia EV9 Air?

While the futuristic-looking 2024 Kia EV9 Air is a car that stands out in a crowd of regular looking SUVs – we haven’t ever had as many bystanders looking at a test car as we have in the EV9 – it’s also a very practical and safe family hauler that does little wrong. It looks cool, it’s good quality, it’s fast to charge, well equipped, drives quite nicely and did we mention that it looks cool? Plus, as we mentioned, those wanting to transport seven in comfort for around this amount of money have plenty of options, but if they want it with electric power, this is the only option.

Would we consider the EV9 Air if we had a family to move and wanted to go green? Absolutely. The Air, being an entry-level model, does miss out on some of the fancy toys like massaging memory seating and a 360-degree camera, but we think for an entry level car it has more than enough equipment. But is it enough to justify its price? Well the only other option around this size with seven-seats is the $194,900 (+orc) Mercedes-Benz EQS 450, so compared to that, the Kia EV9 Air is a bargain and it’s just such a well engineered product that it’s easy to be impressed by it.