It is a Kia. It costs $130,00
It does 0-10
0km/h in 4.
5 seconds. It seats seven. And yet it occupies such a tiny slice of reality that you might question why it exists. But drive one? It is a terrific machine. Just maybe not for anyone with a normal salary.
The context of cash
Let us put the GT grade in perspective. The Tesla Model Y Long Range exists. It is $55
000 cheaper. The Mercedes EQB is out there if you need three rows. You could look at the Hyundai Ioniq
9 or the VW ID. Buzz. Or you could wait twelve months. Maybe eighteen. China is coming with electrified seven-seaters. The market is going to get crowded.
The Kia EV9
0range sits high on the shelf. The GT is the peak. Below it are the Earth and the GT-Line variants. But here we are. Staring at the most expensive Kia in Australia.
Inside the green-tinted cabin
I have driven these things. The interior just… works. It feels thought-out.
The GT version adds lime-green highlights. Stitching on the seats. Green on the steering wheel. Tacky? No. It feels special. Sporty.
The seats? Exceptional. They are not soft lounge chairs. They support you. Like, really support you. Electric adjustments everywhere. Side bolsters. Lumbar support. And yes. Massage function. Lumbar, pelvic, full back. Long drives are handled well.
A GT button lives on the steering wheel. Press it. The car sharpens.
Eco. Normal. Sport. My Drive. You can tweak it all. Then there are the terrain modes. Snow. Mud. Sand. Be honest. You will not use them. I won’t.
The steering wheel buttons make sense mostly. One kills lane-keeping assist because the wheel tugging is annoying. Another mutes the speed limit chime.
We know why that second button is a savior.
The column gear selector is a twist. Forward for drive. Back for reverse. You will miss-gear at least once in the first week. Accept this.
Materials are soft-touch everywhere you reach. The 12.3-inch screen does wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. That is what matters. Under the hood of the software is deep configurability. Energy stats. Connected services. A performance timer? In a family hauler. Why not.
Climate controls sit beside the screen. Hidden slightly. Storage is vast. Under-console voids. Wireless charger. Cupholders that adjust their bases. USB-C ports on every surface. The sun visors actually work for side glare. Small victories.
Space in the back is immense. I am 18
2cm. Legroom is a joke behind my driving seat. Second-row captains chairs heat. Ventilate. Massage. They slide. They recline.
Third row? Usable. For adults. Seriously. Move the middle row forward. Even tall people fit. Legroom. Headroom. Proper seatbacks.
Boot space is 3
33L with all rows up. That is decent. Fold them down and it jumps to 828L. Under-floor storage. Power point. Shopping bag hooks. No spare wheel though. Just a repair kit. Good luck.
There is a frunk too. 52L. Handier than expected. Store charging cables. Keys. Things.
What happens when you stomp
Power output is 37
4kW. Torque is 7
40Nm. The GT-Line is 9
1kW and 40Nm behind it. Kia claims 4.
5 seconds to 10
0km/h. The GT-Line is 0.8 seconds slower.
Efficiency is high. 2
1.7kWh/1
00km on paper. In reality? I saw 2
4.1kWh
/100
km. Across freeways. Cities. Country roads. Spirited bits.
Thirsty? Yes. Derr. If range anxiety is your baseline, look elsewhere.
The driving impression
Absurdly quick.
How does a 2.6-tonne box move that fast? Physics laughs. Instant torque at four wheels launches this thing out of corners. It feels hilarious. Occasionally terrifying.
Squeeze the pedal. You fly. 4.
18 seconds to 1
00 in my unscientific test. A car five meters long. Weighing a tank. Yet it moves.
Handling is sharper than expected. Body roll is kept in check. AWD puts the power down without smoke. Brakes are impressive too. Often EV brakes feel weird. Regeneration blending with friction. Here it is linear. Immediate. You trust the pedal.
Regen levels adjust via paddles. Coast like a ICE car. Or one-pedal drive if you must.
GT mode firms everything up. Suspension. Steering. It tightens the suit. Maybe too much on the wheel. Heavy. Customise the settings if needed. Mix and match.
Calm it down to Normal mode. Steering lightens. More natural for the city.
Ride quality is firm. Firmer than the base models. Rough Australian roads are handled well though. Some surface chatter from the 2
1-inch wheels. Occasional wobble. But generally compliant.
Turns? The circle is 1
2.4 meters. This thing feels big in carparks. Tight spots become multi-point maneuvers. Plan accordingly.
Digital side mirrors.
I do not care for them.
Parking feels unnatural. Depth perception lags. You look at screens instead of glass. Some people love them. You might not.
Refinement is solid. Quiet cabin. Little wind noise. Some tire roar on bad pavement. Otherwise premium. The throttle is smooth. Not jerky. You can drive it gently despite the muscle.
Safety and Specs
Five stars from ANCAP in 2
- The safety kit is deep.
Autonomous emergency braking covers cars. Pedestrians. Cyclists. Lane change assist works. Highway Drive Assist handles the boring bits. Driver attention monitoring blinks if you nod off.
Equipment scales with the trim.
The Air RWD starts modest. 76
.1kWh battery. 1
60kW rear motor. 44
3km range.
The Earth AWD brings 99
.8kWh. 2
83kW combined. 51
2km range. Terrain modes. Blind spot cameras.
The GT-Line adds 2
1-inch wheels. Digital side mirrors. Meridian sound. Relaxation seats with leg rests. Dual sunroof. Remote parking assist.
And the GT.
Top dog. 5
10km claimed range. 3
74kW power. Neon green brake calipers. Electronic Controlled Suspension. E-LSD for traction. Six seats. Captains chairs. Remote third-row fold. Digital grille lighting.
It is a lot.
The Kia EV
9 GT is a strange animal. A Kia that costs as much as a Porsche Panamera. Fast as a sports car. Comfortable as a airliner.
Do you buy it?
Maybe you are not looking.
Maybe you just like seeing how big an electric car can get before it stops making sense.
Or maybe you found that gap. And now it is yours.
Just watch your budget.
