Kia’s entry into the world of family-oriented three-row electric SUVs seems to be shaping up nicely. Sure, there are several three-row electric SUVs out there. You have the Tesla Model X and Model Y, Mercedes-EQB and EQS, and the Rivian R1S, but none of them match the EV9 in pricing and value. The EV9 is a proper full-sized electric SUV packaged in the traditional two-box design, with no intentions of making you go bankrupt—although it's not all that affordable either.
Despite the zeitgeist of “EV slowdown,” America's reception to the EV9 hasn’t been that bad so far. Kia sold more EV9s in January 2024 than it did the EV6. And that speaks for America’s big appetite for large family-oriented SUVs. With deliveries having begun a few months ago now, ownership reviews have started surfacing online, and 2024 could be the EV9’s year, that is, if you can look past some of its annoyances that our pal Kyle Conner from Out of Spec reviews has pointed out.