A TESLA Model Y driver sped alongside my test car on the highway, flashing a sticky smile and an enthusiastic thumbs-up to my giant EV—but I wasn’t driving the headline-grabbing Cybertruck.
It was an electric Kia.
6
6
I test drove the Kia EV9 for eight days. It’s a modern electric SUV for six or seven passengers with stunning looks, exceptional technology and excellent driving dynamics.
The drivers around me noticed.
On the first day of the race, I parked near my house and someone stopped me on the street and asked to take the car for a ride.
- This story is part of a series of tests carried out by Ben Shimkus, engine reporter for The US Sun.
Later, I took the car to a store parking lot. A passerby gaped and pointed at the EV9, even though it was next to a much more expensive top-of-the-range Land Rover Defender.
Then, the aforementioned Tesla driver on the highway cut through traffic to get a closer look at the SUV.
Honestly, I agree with their sentiment. The EV9’s appearance is one of its best assets. It’s beautiful.
The EV9’s aesthetics are just part of the vehicle’s brilliance. It performed exceptionally well in almost all road conditions.
SPEED, BUT AGILE
In the supermarket parking lot, the large SUV quickly entered tight spaces.
When the EV recognized that I was maneuvering to park, several cameras mounted around the car’s sleek body filmed nearby vehicles and shopping carts.
The EV9 also comes with a Remote Smart Park Assist button on the key fob.
This allows drivers to move the vehicle forward or backward from outside the car, helping to avoid denting nearby vehicles when opening the door in tight parking spaces.
The powertrain also shines on the highway.
Like most EVs, power delivery is immediate – top-of-the-line EV9 models sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
The SUV reaches highway speeds in the blink of an eye.
HIGH-TECH INTERIOR
Active safety features are often useful on the highway, especially given the car’s width.
The lane keeping assist is quite strong and actively pulls you towards the center when engaged.
The cameras also monitor the car’s blind spots when changing lanes. When the D-pad is activated, small bubbles with a live video feed from the nearby lane appear on the gauge cluster.
The car’s technology is impressive, but it also leads to my big complaint – it wasn’t always accurate during my driving.
An overpass near my house has a speed limit of 55 mph. The access road to the lower deck has a speed limit of 40 km/h and supposedly a speed camera.
Kia EV9 review
Ben Shimkus, automotive journalist for The US Sun, tested the Kia EV9 Land. Here are his thoughts:
The Kia EV9 comes full of expectations. It was definitely delivered.
Here are my favorite and least favorite parts of my trip:
Pros:
- Appearance – The car is beautiful inside and out. But beware of the attention that comes when the company continues to increase production. Pedestrians like this car.
- Drivability – Despite its size, the EV9 is fast and agile. It has a longer wheelbase than its gas-powered Telluride sibling, but it definitely doesn’t feel huge.
- Technology – Innovations are everywhere. A fingerprint monitor will allow drivers to select various seat configurations. Cameras help guide the car in parking lots and on highways.
- Storage – The EV9 has cargo space everywhere. The area between the driver and front passenger has a bug compartment and a flat floor for luggage. The rear seat has a removable table with storage. Although small compared to its competitors, the frunk still added storage for smelly shoes.
- Efficiency – The battery consistently exceeded its range, even with alternating current.
Cons (honestly, I’m fighting for this):
- Technical issues – The car was not always very accurate with location warnings. This will improve with over-the-air updates.
- High Price for a Kia – A base price of $59,000 is a lot for a Kia. I still think it’s worth it.
While I was maintaining an appropriate speed on the road, the Kia’s alarms went off as the car warned me about a speed trap.
He beeped several times, predicting that I would receive a ticket for aggravated speeding, when in fact he incorrectly identified my route.
Kia offers over-the-air updates for its EVs, which will constantly refine this technology.
Navigation and location accuracy will continue to improve as the car ages.
EFFICIENT AND EASY TO USE BATTERY
The EV9’s battery life is also highly efficient.
On a two-hour trip, I put six people in the EV9 and turned on the air conditioning in all three rows.
The car has an estimated range of 280 miles on a full charge, according to the EPA.
But I was getting an estimated 300 miles on a fully charged battery, even with the cooling systems on.
6
6
6
Kia Batteries shares technology with its sister company, Hyundai. The powertrains are efficient and easy to use, especially for novice electric vehicle drivers.
The EV9 is equipped with Kia’s i-Pedal drive. This mode allows the driver to operate the car with one pedal, which makes acceleration and braking easier and more efficient.
When a driver releases the throttle, the car’s brakes automatically apply, potentially bringing it to a complete stop.
i-Pedal mode is accessible via the SUV’s steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
It sends the energy captured in the friction between the brake pad and the wheels back to the battery, optimizing the efficiency of the transmission system.
However, if the system isn’t a first-time EV driver’s cup of tea, they can switch between four other levels that reduce the feel of regenerative braking.
WITHIN THE PRICE
Kia has historically offered simple, low-cost vehicles to American consumers.
This car is, in some ways, a departure from the Korean manufacturer’s cost-cutting trend.
The EV9’s price is higher than what drivers might expect from Kia. Base models start at $54,900.
Our tester, the third of four trim levels with extended battery and all-wheel drive, has a sticker price of $74,230.
The other three-row EVs on the market — the Rivian R1S and Tesla Model X — have starting MSRPs of around $70,000.
It’s a high cost, but the Kia’s price could drop next year.
Kia and Hyundai have built an EV Metaplant in Georgia, which should make the EV9 eligible for a $7,500 tax credit.
However, potential EV consumers should pay attention to federal policy changes from the White House. Presidential candidate Donald Trump has consistently criticized EVs and threatened to take away tax credits for buyers.
The EV9 is perfect for consumers who want to purchase a large, futuristic SUV with a comfortable interior and good road manners.
Plus, drivers get a lot of positive attention without driving a pickup truck full of fingerprints.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
