2024 Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD Review

Sitting at the top of the Kia lineup, the EV9 is the company’s technical showpiece of its EV know-how in a massive, practical SUV body that is overflowing with creature comforts and safety tech.

The EV9 remains one of the only three-row, seven-seat SUVs powered by electricity, positioning it nicely for families looking to make the switch to EV technology and cut down on their fuel bills.

With three EV9 variants on offer in 2024, we got behind the wheel of the range-topping GT-Line AWD to see if it’s worth the stretch, or if another variant offers the same well-equipped, family-friendly EV selling points- at a lesser price.

Kia EV9 Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

The range-topping Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD is priced at $121,000 before on-road costs.

For reference, the entry-level EV9 Air RWD receives a sticker price of $97,000, while the mid-spec EV9 Earth AWD is priced at $106,500 before on-road costs are applied.

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Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD Specifications

What Features Does the Kia EV9 GT-Line Have?

In flagship GT-Line trim, the EV9 does not disappoint when it comes to a jam-packed features list and an absolutely massive 99.8kWh battery pack over the smaller 76.1kWh back fitted to the base model.

Features unique to the EV9 GT-Line include a set of 21-inch alloys, projector LED headlights with adaptive high beams, a dual sunroof, and two-tone leatherette upholstery with an artificial suede headliner.

The driver picks up an augmented reality head-up display, as well as a set of digital rear-view mirror and digital side mirrors, heated, ventilated and massaging front ‘relaxation’ seats, heated and ventilated second-row and a vehicle-to-load (V2L) exterior outlet.

There’s also a surround-view monitor with an adjustable 360-degree view of the vehicle, parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and a tonne of safety equipment we’ll cover later in this review.

The GT-Line also picks up features from lesser EV9 variants like a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 5.0-inch climate control panel, LED tail lights & daytime running lamps, roof rails, LED interior lighting with adjustable ambient lighting, a powered boot lift, a heated steering wheel and a wireless smartphone charger.

Connectivity & Infotainment Features

The EV9 GT-Line receives a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display sitting atop the dash that is paired seamlessly with the 5.0-inch climate control panel and another 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The infotainment system receives Kia’s latest operating system with crisp, high-definition graphics and a fast processor that is responsive to inputs and when switching between menus.

Kia’s menu design is user-friendly, with haptic buttons for the home screen, media and settings sitting below the screen to help you navigate through the menus.

The range-topping EV9 GT-Line also picks up a fabulous 14-speaker sound system courtesy of Meridian that proves a great companion to combat the EV9’s near-silent driving nature and really thumps when you turn it up to eleven.

Does the Kia EV9 Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Potential buyers will be pleased to know that all members of the Kia EV9 range, from the base model Air to the range-topping GT-Line have an infotainment system packed with tech, including wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity.

The process of connecting your smartphone wirelessly to the EV9 is simple via the settings menu, with no drop-outs in the connection in our time with the vehicle.

The Kia EV9’s wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto support combined with the wireless charging pad hiding beneath the armrest means you can simply step inside, hit the start button and access your music, navigation and communication apps from your iPhone or Android device while it’s charging away, out of sight.

Is the Kia EV9 GT-Line Comfortable to Drive?

Quite simply, the EV9 is wonderful on the road, handling town duties and country roads with a surprising amount of finesse for its size.

The GT-Line, along with the lesser-priced EV9 Earth pick up a dual electric motor powertrain that pushes out a hefty 283kW of power and monstrous 700Nm of torque.

This means that while it weighs more than 2.6 tonnes, acceleration off the line is immediate and unrelenting until you hit the 80km/h mark - a marvel of engineering considering its heft.

While instantaneous acceleration is good for show-off value, the EV9 is far more versatile than a simple sprint to highway speeds, with its suspension package and user-friendly steering weight making it more approachable as a daily driver than you might anticipate.

There’s no escaping its size, which means you’ll be pulling frequent three-point turns to squeeze into car parks, though Kia has done a great job in making it accessible around town.

The process of navigating tight-quarters is made a more simple task thanks an adjustable surround-view monitor with a clever overhead view that means you can be certain of where the kerb or parking markers are.

With its sharp steering, the EV9 feels light on its feet while driving around town, while the adjustable regenerative braking system offers one-pedal driving - a must for EV drivers that makes stop-start traffic far less tedious.

Pick up the pace and, thanks to a local suspension tuning program, the Kia EV9 feels great on country roads and rougher surfaces, even on the massive 21-inch alloys.

Bolstered by tonnes of stability from the all-wheel drive system, the EV9 handles far better than its size and weight should probably allow thanks to some seriously impressive engineering.

The suspension package offers a healthy blend of support in the corners and accommodation to potholes and bumps on the road, with the end result feeling more than up to the task of an Aussie road trip.

Hit the highway and the EV9 is immensely comfortable on a long drive, with tonnes of sound insulation and what feels like endless power making it an effortless and refined highway cruiser.

As a complete package, then, the EV9 impressed us with its smooth nature and versatility on country roads thanks to Kia giving it a local tune for Aussie roads, representing a mighty confident and comfortable all-rounder.

How Far Can the Kia EV9 GT-Line Drive on a Single Charge?

The Kia EV9 GT-Line, as well as the mid-range EV9 Earth comes packaged with the company’s largest battery pack, a monster of a 99.8kWh lithium-ion battery.

The pack, combined with the GT-Line’s energy efficiency figures of 22.8kWh per 100km offers a claimed driving range of 505km, slightly less than the EV9 Earth’s 512km range figures.

In our time with the EV9 GT-Line, we matched Kia’s efficiency figures in the ‘eco’ mode and a more conservative driving style, which is nice to know that a vehicle of this size can be reasonably kind to its battery.

We did, however, become hooked on the monumental acceleration off the line which resulted in some less-than-optimal efficiency figures.

• EV9 Air RWD Driving Range: 443km

• EV9 Earth AWD Driving Range: 512km

• EV9 GT-Line AWD Driving Range: 505km

• EV9 Air RWD Energy Efficiency: 19.5kWh per 100km

• EV9 Earth AWD Energy Efficiency: 22.3kWh per 100km

• EV9 GT-Line AWD Energy Efficiency: 22.8kWh per 100km

How Fast Can the Kia EV9 GT-Line Charge its Battery?

Underneath, the Kia EV9 receives 800-volt architecture that offers very healthy fast charging figures to help keep you on the road, rather than waiting around at a charging station.

With access to the fastest DC charger, the EV9 can charge its 99.8kWh battery pack at speeds up to 350kW - the current benchmark for ultra-rapid charging while you’re on the move.

This means that with access to the right 350kW fast charger, the Kia EV9 can charge its massive 99.8kWh battery pack from 10 - 80 per cent in just 25 minutes.

With a 50kW charger, it takes around 2 hours to fully charge the EV9’s battery, increasing to 10 hours if you’re using an 11kW three-phase charger and north of 15 hours if you’re using a 7kW single-phase wall box at your home or workplace.

• EV9 Charging Time with 350kW DC Fast-Charger: 25 minutes

• EV9 Charging Time with 50kW Fast Charger: 2 hours

• EV9 Charging Time with 11kW Wall Box: 10 hours

• EV9 Charging Time with 7kW Wall Box: 15 hours 

Is the Kia EV9 GT-Line Practical and Spacious?

Step inside the EV9 and it’s clear to see this is truly a next-generation product from Kia and a perfect match more than up to the challenge of ferrying a large Aussie family.

The completely bespoke layout is unique to the EV9 and showcases what’s to come from Kia’s growing range of battery-electric SUVs - and we really like it.

Up front, there’s acres of headroom and a fully adjustable driving position for adults of all sizes, while the seats were incredibly supportive and comfortable and the mesh headrests proved one of our favourites of any vehicle.

The EV9’s cabin layout blends a high-tech nature with screens dominating the top of the dash with a super sleek and minimalist design that picks up a tonne of added storage options thanks to its EV architecture.

There are a few physical buttons for quick climate inputs while you’re on the move, with a large, clever storage area at the base of the centre console helping to keep bags away from your legs.

The centre console offers a large retractable storage area hiding cupholders that can be stowed away for extra real estate, as well as a hidden wireless charger and a small storage area at the rear of the console.

Notably, the EV9 GT-Line picks up a futuristic pair of digital side mirrors that look great in pictures but took some time to get used to on the road.

While fully functional, the resolution isn’t fantastic while you’re on the move, nor is the positioning of the driver’s side display which sits far closer to you than a traditional set of mirrors.

Pull up to a charging station and the GT-Line’s special relaxation seats provide a wonderful place to sit back and have a nap, with under-thigh support that deploys and lifts your legs off the ground for a quality kip.

It’s clear that Kia has paid a lot of attention to the EV9’s cabin ergonomics and, in particular, taking its comfort levels to the next-level.

This is a smart move because Kia knows that owners and their families are going to be spending long periods of time both on the road - and at a charging station - so it’s nice to see some special touches that keep you mighty comfortable while you’re topping up the ginormous battery.

Move to the second row and there’s acres of interior space for those seated in the second row, with heated & ventilated seats, USB-C charging ports, cup holders and a folding armrest on offer.

The second row is able to both recline and slide back and forth on rails, with easy access into the third row via a button that folds and slides the seat forward.

The EV9’s third row is capable of accommodating adults, which means you won’t hear any complaints from kids back here and makes it a fully-fledged seven-seat family package, with amenities like USB-C chargers, cup holders, air vents and reading lights on offer.

Finally, for the parents out there, the EV9 has a pair of ISOFIX anchors in both the second and third rows of the cabin, bringing its total to four ISOFIX anchors along with top tether mounts behind the middle seat.

How Big is the Kia EV9 GT-Line's Boot?

The Kia EV9 proves itself a mighty impressive family proposition thanks to its exceptional interior space and healthy boot figures that make it more than up to the task of transporting a family of seven.

With all the seats standing, the EV9 has a rear boot measuring 333L, with an additional 52L of cargo space on offer beneath the bonnet.

Fold down the third row and you’ll unlock a very healthy 828L of boot space while still accommodating five people.

When it’s time to lug around sports gear or bulky cargo, folding the EV9’s second and third rows means you’ve got a total of 2,318L of boot space inside the cabin, as well as the additional 52L underneath the bonnet.

• Seven-Seat Boot Space: 333L

• Five-Seat Boot Space: 828L

• Maximum Boot Space: 2,318L

• Under-bonnet storage: 52L

All things considered, Kia has managed to extract a tonne of space from the EV9’s cabin, with its unique electric design proving a great pairing for the needs of large Aussie families.

Is the Kia EV9 GT-Line Safe?

Sitting as the company’s technical showpiece, the Kia EV9 comes packaged with an extremely long list of active safety tech.

Behind the wheel, there’s no escaping just how comprehensive Kia’s safety system is, with frequent beeps and bongs alerting you to the fact you’re going a few km/h over the speed limit, or drifting slightly to the edge of the lane.

Buyers will not be feeling short-changed in terms of safety equipment, though, with the GT-Line picking up every feature under the sun.

The entire EV9 range receives autonomous emergency braking with cyclist & pedestrian detection, junction and lane change assist, as well as blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alerts and a highway drive assist system that combines the lane centring and adaptive cruise.

There’s also lane-keep assist, a surround-view monitor with front & rear parking sensors, parking collision avoidance and a blind-spot view monitor picked up from the EV9 Earth.

Safety features specific to the range-topping EV9 GT-Line include a forward and side parking collision avoidance system as well as Kia’s second-generation remote smart parking system.

All up, while some safety features are reserved for the flagship variant, the base EV9 comes jam-packed with all the essentials that buyers need to hit the ground running, though a surround-view monitor in the base model would be a nice addition - particularly while parking.

Does the Kia EV9 Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The Kia EV9 range has been given the five-star ANCAP safety tick after testing in 2023 saw it score the following marks.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 84%

• Child Occupant Protection: 87%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 76%

• Safety Assist: 85%

ANCAP’s five-star rating for the EV9 range includes all variants, including the entry-level EV9 Air and the range-topping EV9 GT-Line, with the five-star rating expiring in December 2029.

What Warranty Does the Kia EV9 GT-Line, Earth & Air Come With?

The EV9 range picks up Kia’s outstanding warranty coverage which applies to both the vehicle and the underlying battery and high-voltage components.

Buyers receive a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, while the battery, electric motors and high-voltage components are backed by a separate seven-year/150,000-kilometre warranty.

Kia offers pre-paid servicing packages for the EV9 range which are separated into three, five and seven years of coverage.

Three years of pre-paid servicing for the EV9 is priced at $706, increasing to $1,351 for five years of servicing and $1,997 for a seven-year pre-paid servicing package.

Service intervals for the Kia EV9 range stand at 12-months or 15,000-kilometres.

Our Verdict: Is the Kia EV9 GT-Line Worth it?

The Kia EV9 GT-Line makes a bold and brash statement but feels like a big softy behind the wheel.

The cabin is massive and filled with practical elements that make a world of difference for large families, while its immense acceleration is paired with a seriously smooth ride quality on a mix of Aussie roads.

Calling it an all-rounder would be an understatement - the EV9 just doesn’t drop the ball, no matter what you throw at it.

That said, there’s no escaping the GT-Line’s eye-watering price tag, meaning the EV9 Earth - which picks up the same battery pack and an AWD system - is a far more affordable pick of the EV9 bunch.

If you’re after the ultimate EV9 experience, you’ll love what’s on offer in the EV9 GT-Line which has endless show-off value, though the mid-range EV9 Earth is the one we’d throw our money at.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new car, reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find the best possible price on your next car.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Five-star ANCAP safety rating

3. 505km range from 99kWh battery pack

4. 333 - 828 - 2,318L boot space (plus 52L of storage under the bonnet)

5. Seven-year/150,000-kilometre warranty for battery