Kia EV9: The Electric Giant

Some mountains aren’t just made of rock, they’re made of myth. The Bilstein, tucked deep in the Sauerland hills, is one such place. Narrow roads curl like ribbons across dense forests, while long straight climbs test every gram and kilowatt under your wheels. It’s here that I met Kia’s new electric colossus: the EV9 GT-Line AWD, a vehicle so large and visually assertive that even the fir trees seemed to step aside.

But this wasn’t just about muscle. The Kia EV9 promised to be more than a rolling powerbank, it claimed to be clever, efficient, and surprisingly agile. And after a day carving up the forest routes and sweeping roads of the Bilstein, I’ve got a story to tell. One that starts with battery brains and ends with silent confidence.

Kia EV9: High-Level Battery Technology

First impressions are electric. Literally.

What hits you first about the EV9 isn’t its size (though it towers like a bunker on wheels), but the sense of sophistication under its skin. This isn’t just a slab of battery with wheels. It’s a flagship, purpose-built on Hyundai-Kia’s brilliant E-GMP 800-volt architecture, like the EV6, Ioniq 5, and Ioniq 6, only beefier.

The 99.8 kWh battery is no lightweight, tipping the scale at over 500 kg, but it delivers what it promises. On the Bilstein’s long climbs and sudden descents, the regenerative braking system played beautifully with the terrain. With the paddles behind the steering wheel, I could modulate regen in real time, going from coasting silently through a sweeping descent to full-on deceleration on tight downhill bends.

What really stunned me, though, was the charging performance. At an Ionity fast charger just off the A44, I clocked a peak of 211.5 kW,just like lab test, pulling in over 320 km of range in just 20 minutes. While sipping coffee under the autumn gold of Sauerland’s leaves, I realized: this is what road-trip EV life should feel like.

Kia EV9: Around 500 km Range in the Test

Kia claims 505 km for the all-wheel-drive EV9 GT-Line, and I scoffed. On the Bilstein, with its constant elevation changes, tight turns, and frequent stops for photos, I expected far less.

But here’s the truth: the EV9 absolutely delivered.

By the end of a full day of aggressive driving, backtracking for drone shots, and running the cabin heater in chilly 6°C forest air, the car had burned 22.4 kWh/100 km. That translated into a real-world range of 495 kilometers, a number that felt not just plausible, but trustworthy. On flatter routes or with a lighter foot, 520–530 km would be easily in reach.

It’s rare to find an EV that meets its WLTP figure in the real world. The EV9 didn’t just meet it, it did so on mountain roads. Quietly, confidently, and without fuss.

Prepared for Bidirectional Charging

This isn’t just a car, it’s a power station on wheels.

I’d parked at a remote trailhead around dusk to catch the last light on a drone flyby. With no outlets in sight, I flipped open the charge port and plugged in a small induction cooktop and electric kettle I’d packed for a hot cup of tea. The EV9 didn’t flinch.

With V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) output rated at 3.6 kW, it powered my tiny camp kitchen with ease. This wasn’t just a gimmick, it was utility. Real, practical, off-grid utility.

Though full V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) and V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) aren’t active in Germany yet, the hardware is ready. Kia’s vision of mobile energy hubs isn’t science fiction anymore. In the EV9, it’s already here.

Surprisingly Light-Footed on the Road

Two-point-seven tonnes. Two meters wide. Nearly as long as a short bus.

You’d think the EV9 would drive like a cargo ship. But on the Bilstein’s undulating B-roads, the GT-Line AWD proved otherwise.

Acceleration from 0–100 km/h in 5.3 seconds? Feels every bit as quick. But it’s the mid-range punch that impresses more. 60–100 km/h in 2.9 seconds. 80–120 km/h in 3.4. When I needed to overtake tractors on short straights, the car lunged forward with silent urgency, pressing me into the vegan-leather seats.

Yet what stood out most was composure. The suspension was firm but never jarring. Third-row passengers felt steady through tight corners, thanks to dampers that filter out lateral sway without killing comfort. The steering is numb, but predictable. And that matters in a vehicle this large.

The EV9 is not athletic, but it is remarkably refined. It’s not built for canyon carving, but for cruising through landscapes with quiet power. And there, it shines.

EV9: An SUV as a Family Van?

Climbing into the EV9’s cabin feels like entering a high-tech lounge. Ours was the six-seater GT-Line variant with second-row captain’s chairs, and those chairs are something else.

They swivel. They recline. They offer heating, ventilation, and an armrest that feels like it belongs in a business-class flight. With the seats turned rearward, the second row becomes a conference room. Add a pop-up camping table, and it’s the perfect mobile office or family picnic station.

The space inside is vast. Adults up to 1.95 meters can sit comfortably in all three rows. Even I,at 1.88 meters, had legroom to spare in the third row. And if you’re hauling gear, the flexibility is unbeatable. With all seats folded flat, you get up to 2,250 liters of cargo space. That’s nearly a moving van.

The EV9 isn’t just a family SUV, it’s a digital-era minivan in SUV clothes. And that’s a compliment.

Kia EV9: Visible Mass

Kia didn’t design this car to blend in.

From the front, it’s a slab of angles and squared LED DRLs, like something drawn from the pages of a sci-fi concept book. From the side, it’s long and low-slung, tapering slightly above the C-pillar, giving it a stretched but purposeful silhouette.

And the rear, with its constellation-style taillights, Is distinctive in a sea of generic electric SUVs. There’s a quiet arrogance in its stance. A confidence that doesn’t scream but speaks.

At every stop on the Bilstein, passersby turned heads. Some took photos. Kids pointed. The EV9 is magnetic without being vulgar. That’s rare in a world where oversized SUVs often look either bloated or boring.

The Giant Has Its Price

Quality isn’t cheap. And neither is ambition.

The EV9 GT-Line AWD I tested? €83,370. That’s not small change. But when you consider the tech, the space, the capabilities, and the refinement, it’s not overpriced either. You’re paying for a genuine flagship experience, not just badges or badges with backlighting.

Even the base model, at €72,490, comes with solid kit. But the GT-Line AWD brings all the good stuff, adaptive suspension, AWD, advanced assist systems, rotating seats, and a properly upscale interior.

This is Kia flexing. And I’m okay with that.

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Technical Specifications                                  

We use Kia’s official website to get all technical details quickly and accurately.

Conclusion

The Kia EV9 doesn’t just move the brand forward, it kicks the door in. It’s a car that merges sustainability with space, power with silence, and practicality with boldness. On the Bilstein, it proved that a nearly three-ton SUV can feel agile, efficient, and genuinely enjoyable to drive.

Is it perfect? No. The steering could be better. The interior could use a bit more flair. And the price tag will raise eyebrows. But taken as a whole, the EV9 is a quiet revolution.

It’s the future, in six or seven seats.