2025 Kia EV9 Earth Review

The EV9 also plays a key role in expanding Kia’s footing in the battery-electric segment, with the EV9 Earth aiming to make things more accessible within Kia’s flagship electric SUV lineup.

Kia’s EV9 range is split into three main variants, an entry-level ‘Air’ version, the range-topping ‘GT-Line’ flagship and this, the mid-range EV9 Earth, which may well prove itself as the goldilocks variant of the range. 

The EV9 Earth AWD picks up some added equipment over the base model but most notably comes powered by a pair of electric motors offering all-wheel-drive stability and a much larger battery pack underneath. 

These hardware improvements come accompanied by $15,000 worth of savings over the range-topping GT-Line AWD. The question remains, however, just how well does Kia’s futuristic family-mover stack up in the automotive landscape. 

To find out, we got behind the wheel of the Kia EV9 Earth AWD to find out how realistic of an option it is for Australian families looking to make the switch to a seven-seater, battery-electric SUV. 

Kia EV9 Earth Competition

How Much Does the Kia EV9 Earth Cost?

The MY24 Kia EV9 Earth AWD sits smack-bang in the middle of the EV9 range and comes wearing a price tag of $106,500 before on-road costs. 

For reference, the entry-level EV9 Air RWD is priced at $97,000 while the range-topping EV9 GT-Line AWD is priced at $121,000 before on-road costs. 

• Kia EV9 Air RWD: $97,000

• Kia EV9 Earth AWD: $106,500 (tested)

• Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD: 121,000

If you’re interested in hearing how the flagship EV9 GT-Line holds up, put it through its paces in a previous review.

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Kia EV9 EARTH Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Kia EV9 Earth AWD Have?

The biggest upgrades for the EV9 Earth are lurking beneath, with the addition of a larger 99.8kWh battery (up from 76.1kWh in the EV9 Air) as well as a dual-motor powertrain. 

This increases power and torque figures from 160kW/350Nm in the EV9 Air RWD up to 283kW/700Nm and adds the confidence of an all-wheel drive system. 

Features specific to the EV9 Earth include a gloss black finish for the wheel arches and side sills, adjustable ambient lighting, upgraded leatherette upholstery with striped stitching and steering wheel logo illumination. 

Buyers also pick up features packed into the entry-level EV9 Air, which means you’ll receive 19-inch alloys, LED head, tail and running lights, vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging, roof rails, heated and ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel. 

There’s also a powered boot lift, a wireless smartphone charger, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster sitting beside a 5.0-inch climate control panel, USB-C chargers across all three rows, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and LED interior lighting. 

Kia EV9 Earth Connectivity & Infotainment Features 

There’s no shortage of technology on offer inside the EV9’s cabin. 

It remains one of the most contemporary Kia vehicles, packing the latest and greatest infotainment tech which is headlined by a trio of screens that are paired together seamlessly on the dashboard. 

There’s a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system sitting beside a 5.0-inch climate control panel and another 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver. 

Kia has done well to make the displays look like a single unit that spans across the dash, while the quality of the displays and useability of Kia’s menu layout are both top-notch. 

The EV9’s infotainment system offers DAB+ radio as well as satellite navigation, AM/FM radio and is paired with an eight-speaker sound system that sounds great. 

Buyers also pick up a five-year subscription to the Kia Connect online suite which includes over-the-air updates, vehicle location tracking, live weather and traffic navigation, diagnostics and charging options. 

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

Sitting as one of Kia’s latest-generation vehicles, it should come as no surprise that the EV9 offers wireless smartphone mirroring for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ecosystems. 

The process of setting up Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with the EV9 is quick and simple. 

Better yet, Kia’s infotainment system is quick to pick up your phone when you step inside, continuing to play your media exactly where you left off. 

Combine that with the EV9’s wireless charging pad and you can just climb aboard, place your phone down and have access to your phone contacts, media and navigation apps via the wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. 

Is the Kia EV9 Earth Comfortable to Drive?

It’s fantastic. 

The EV9 Earth offers a driving experience that well and truly matches the futuristic styling package - feeling like a family spaceship on wheels. 

The biggest upgrade for those ticking the box on the EV9 Earth is the larger battery and two electric motors lurking under the floor, the latter of which completely transforms how the EV9 drives.

While the entry-level EV9 Air RWD feels smooth, the EV9 Earth AWD takes things to another level.

 With no less than 283kW of power and a massive 700Nm of torque at your disposal, the EV9 Earth is a beast when you flatten your right foot. 

Even while burdened with a battery weighing 566kg, the EV9 Earth rockets off the line with an urgency that throws you back in your seat - the acceleration is barely believable for a vehicle of this size. 

When tasked with more mundane everyday driving, the EV9 Earth is even better. 

Rather than a point-and-shoot rocketship, the EV9 is much better suited to laps around town where it absolutely excels as an urban cruiser. 

With instant acceleration, an extremely smooth power curve and a lightweight steering rack, the EV9 provides a great town driving experience. 

Once you’re acquainted with its substantial footprint, the EV9 is relatively easy to park and navigate traffic thanks to its featherweight steering rack. 

It doesn’t offer a whole heap of tangible feedback as you pick up the pace, though the trade-off makes it an accessible, user-friendly daily driver. 

Kia’s regenerative braking system offers four levels of adjustment, including one-pedal driving in the most aggressive setting which makes driving through town a simple task. 

Likewise, a set of driving modes, including Eco, Sport, Normal and a customisable ‘My Drive’ mode each changes the throttle response and steering weight to give it a more unique nature, depending on your mood. 

Leave the city streets in the rear-view and the EV9 remains confident on rougher, twisty country roads.

Underneath, Kia has put the EV9 through its paces on Australian roads ahead of its launch which was a very worthwhile investment. 

The suspension irons out smaller imperfections with an incredibly solid, beefy feel, making it incredibly versatile for an SUV of its size and weight.

When really pushing it, there’s a pretty clear sign of what the EV9 Earth is comfortable with and when you’re pushing the limit a bit too far - after all, it’s not easy lugging around 2,552kg of mass. 

That said, the EV9 is a large family car, and you shouldn’t be pushing it too much in the corners, especially considering its ability to slingshot you out of a bend at lightning pace. 

All up, Kia has done a great job with the EV9, offering a silky-smooth, user-friendly package for a mix of Australian conditions with outlandish acceleration that gives it some serious character behind the wheel. 

How Far Can the Kia EV9 Earth Drive on a Single Charge? 

One of the major upgrades for buyers ticking the box on the mid-range EV9 Earth is the larger battery pack. 

While the entry-level EV9 Air is packaged with a 76.1kWh battery pack, the Earth and range-topping GT-Line pick up a massive 99.8kWh battery pack. 

Combined with a pretty decent claimed energy consumption figure of 22.3kWh per 100km, this gives the EV9 Earth the largest driving range figures on a single charge, standing at 512km on the WLTP test cycle. 

For reference, the entry-level EV9 Air offers up to 443km of range per charge on the WLTP test cycle, while the flagship GT-Line taps out after a claimed 505km. 

Our time behind the wheel of the EV9 saw us tackle 743km while consuming 20.7kWh per 100km, meaning we were able to better Kia’s official figures with a feather weighted right foot. 

• EV9 Air Range: 443km

• EV9 Earth Range: 512km (tested)

• EV9 GT-Line Range: 505km 

• EV9 Air Efficiency: 19.5kWh per 100km

• EV9 Earth Efficiency: 22.3kWh per 100km (claimed)

• EV9 Earth Efficiency: 20.7kWh per 100km (tested)

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

How Fast Can You Charge the EV9 Earth? 

The Kia EV9 Earth, like its siblings, come packing the company’s latest and greatest 800-volt DC fast-charging capabilities. 

This means that you can bring the battery from 10 - 80 per cent in a claimed 24 minutes, with access to a 350kW DC fast-charger, though finding a charging station capable of producing the full 350kW certainly proves difficult.  

Using a more widely accessible 50kW fast charger brings it to a full charge in just under two hours. 

• EV9 (10 - 80%) Time with 350kW DC Fast-Charger: 25 minutes

• EV9 Full-Charge with 50kW Fast Charger: 2 hours

• EV9 Full-Charge with 11kW Wall Box: 10 hours

• EV9 Full-Charge with 7kW Wall Box: 15 hours 

Is the Kia EV9 Earth Practical and Spacious?

There is so much acreage inside the EV9 Earth you could probably get away with subdividing. 

Thanks to its bespoke battery-electric platform, Kia’s team of engineers and designers have been able to get creative and incredibly smart about the EV9 Earth’s interior packaging. 

Step inside and you’re greeted with a mix of high-tech futurism in a simple, interesting layout dominated by the trio of displays that sit in, rather than atop, the dashboard. 

Kia’s centre console also offers a sizable gap between the console itself and the dash which helps to make the forward part of the cabin feel open, accessible and more spacious thanks to its bespoke EV design. 

There’s power adjustment for the heated and ventilated seats, manual adjustment for the chunky steering wheel and an overall clean design that doesn’t overcomplicate things. 

Headroom is outstanding for even the tallest of drivers and front passengers, with solid forward and side visibility and some of the best mesh headrests we’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing in a car. 

The tall roofline also adds to the amount of light entering the cabin thanks to the large windows, while the ambient lighting system will surely provide some fun for the kids at night. 

In terms of luxurious elements, the EV9 Earth doesn’t pick up the full list of premium touches reserved for the range-topping GT-Line, though the EV9 Earth’s cabin materials are still pretty top-notch. 

The leatherette upholstery is by far the most premium we’ve touched and will likely fool nine people out of ten if you tell them it’s leather. 

It’s also more practical for families and resists spills and staining more than real leather, made better by the fact you’re constantly finding new storage options.

The large centre console sits in a slightly raised position, housing a retractable storage area with pop-out cupholders flanked by a wireless charging pad and a compact storage area under the folding armrest. 

Beneath the console lies a massive cubby measuring around 40cm which was capable of holding our camera bag and is perfect for handbags, purses and loose, bulkier items that you don’t want rolling around the cabin. 

There are also the more usual staples like a large glovebox, door bins and even some large gaps on the armrest in the door sills. 

Move to the second row and legroom is exceptional thanks to the ability to slide the rear bench back and forth, depending on how big your third-row passengers are. 

Those in the second row are treated to the same excellent headroom and visibility from the large windows as well as a tonne of storage in their own section beneath the centre console capable of holding a small bag.

The second row also picks up USB-C chargers in the driver and passenger seatbacks, a folding armrest with inbuilt cupholders and access to a pair of cupholders on the back of the centre console. 

For the parents out there, Kia offers the EV9 with two pairs of ISOFIX anchors as well as three top tether mounts on the seatback, while accessing the third row is simple via a button that lifts the second row and slides it forward on rails. 

Accommodation in the third row is too tight for adults with the second-row bench slid back, though with so much acreage on offer, it’s easy to give up some space and make the third row accessible to taller rear passengers. 

For kids, it’s a perfect place to sit comfortably, with added amenities like cupholders and even USB-C charging ports so there are no in-family fights. 

How Big is the Kia EV9 Earth’s Boot?

Thanks to its large footprint, the EV9 Earth provides a huge amount of boot space, bolstered by some added real estate in the front boot. 

Deploying a seven-seat mode in the EV9 means you’ve got 333L of space for cargo, which is actually damn good for acreage behind three rows of seats. 

Fold the third row down in a five-seat layout and you’ve got a massive 828L worth of space for bags and bulkier items. 

Folding both rows down in a two-seat format means you’ve got 2,318L of cargo space when you need to lug around bulky items or sports gear. 

At the front, there’s a compact storage area measuring 52L which provides enough space for a backpack or a safe place to leave your charging cables. 

• Kia EV9 Seven-seat Boot Space: 333L

• Kia EV9 Five-seat Boot Space: 828L

• Kia EV9 Two-seat Boot Space: 2,318L

• Kia EV9 Under Bonnet Storage: 52L

Is the Kia EV9 Earth Safe?

It sure is - though Kia’s active safety suite can be a little bit intrusive at times. 

That said, there’s tonnes of safety equipment on offer, with the mid-range EV9 Earth picking up a few welcome features that make it more user-friendly while driving - and parking - in town. 

As standard, the EV9 range boasts autonomous emergency braking with junction and lane-oncoming assist as well as pedestrian and cyclist detection. 

There’s also adaptive cruise control with lane centring as part of Kia’s Highway Drive Assist system, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alerts, speed limit assist, front and rear parking sensors and a tyre mobility kit. 

Upgrading to the EV9 Earth adds a much-needed surround-view camera over the Air’s rear-view camera, as well as a blind-spot view monitor that pops up on the digital instrument cluster when indicating and a reverse parking collision avoidance system. 

That’s a long list of safety gear that will leave no buyers needing more, though the execution has been a little bit overzealous. 

Hitting the road for the first time will likely result in a series of chimes and bongs from the attention monitoring system and alerting you to changing speed limits, while the speed limit assist has zero tolerance for exceeding the limit by a single KPH. 

That said, the fact that Kia is bundling in so much safety kit means that buyers won’t be feeling short-changed and certainly helps to keep the EV9 competitive in the landscape, especially with its lofty price tag attached. 

Does the Kia EV9 Earth Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The Kia EV9 Earth does indeed have an ANCAP safety rating, securing a five-star tick from ANCAP 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% 

What Warranty Does the Kia EV9 Earth Come With?

Kia packages the EV9 Earth with its excellent seven-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty. 

It also picks up a seven-year/150,000-kilometre warranty for the electric motors and the high-voltage battery that ensures it doesn’t fall below 70% capacity over the course of seven years.

Kia also offers pre-paid servicing packages for the EV9 range, which are available in three, five and seven-year intervals. 

Pre-paid servicing plans for three, five and seven years worth of coverage are priced at $706, $1,351 and $1,997, respectively. 

Service intervals for the Kia EV9 stand at 12 months or 15,000km, whichever elapses first.  

Our Verdict: Is the Kia EV9 Earth Worth it?

The Kia EV9 Earth is a superb family car that picks up some significant hardware upgrades that make it a completely different beast over the base model. 

The more powerful AWD powertrain makes it a serious performer on the road, while the larger battery gives it the most generous driving range figures of the entire EV9 lineup. 

The Earth variant is a bit of a sleeper within the EV9 lineup, offering a not-insignificant discount over the range-topping GT-Line which receives the same battery and powertrain. 

While some may scoff at a six-figure Kia, compare it to direct battery-electric rivals and the EV9 Earth is priced pretty competitively, while the quality of the interior and stacks of equipment makes it feel in line with pricing. 

It might be the odd duck at this price point in name, but it’s not on substance. 

Get behind the wheel and it’s immediate that this isn’t your typical Kia - it’s a sign of what’s to come - a very promising one, at that. 

If you’re in the market for a family-friendly SUV, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying specialists who can help take the stress out of the buying process and find you the best possible price. 

Five Kia EV9 Earth Specs You Need to Know

• Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

• 22.3kWh/100km claimed energy efficiency rating

• 512km range from 99.8kWh lithium-ion battery

• 333 - 828 - 2,318L boot space (plus 52L front boot)

• Seven-year/150,000-kilometre battery warranty