TopSpeed’s Best Electric SUV Of 2024: Kia EV9

Summary

• Kia EV9 is the first affordable electric SUV in the market, offering spaciousness and performance that other electric SUVs can’t match.
• The EV9 has rewritten the rule book for electric SUVs, outperforming its competitors in terms of space, capability, and price.
• The EV9 is expected to disrupt the segment and attract high demand, with the potential to become the best-selling midsize, three-row SUV in North America.

It’s official, the midsize SUV has replaced the minivan here in North America. It has become one of the hottest, most lucrative segments, with each carmaker – especially mainstream ones – now offering at least one model in their lineups. Now imagine if one of those carmakers was the first to offer this type of vehicle in electric form? Jackpot! Who would have thought Kia would be the first to the game with the EV9.

With tons of space, excellent capability, and stunning looks, it sits practically uncontested as of the time of this writing(thanks to a solid price point), and that makes it extremely hard to beat. Today, we announce that it’s our pick for the best electric SUV of 2024.

In order to determine the best vehicle in this category for 2024, our in-house experts have voted on a number of factors, including but not limited to value for the money, performance, and expected reliability and safety. The aggregate review score you see in the display card below is indicative of the average score (rated 1-10) between these factors and is based on real-world experience. Further information regarding our methodology of rating vehicles can be found on the TopSpeed’s methodology page.

Why The 2024 Kia EV9 Is The Best Electric SUV Of 2024

There are several electric SUVs currently on sale, but very few are able to seat 7 people. Except for the very expensive Tesla Model X and Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, you, the middle-class consumer, don’t have much to choose from when it comes to hauling a large family and burning no fuel at all. This is why we immediately ranked the EV9 as the winner, because it’s the first of its kind by a mainstream brand. The EV9 is a trendsetter that also happens to be a darn good people hauler.

The Kia EV9 (read an electric Telluride) follows in the footsteps of the Hyundai group’s solid lineup of competitive EVs. Based on the South-Korean giant’s E-GMP modular EV architecture – the same platform that underpins the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 6, Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60 – the Kia EV9 looks, feels and drives like a product that is two generations ahead of the competition.

In a world where GM is still relying on an antiquated 3.6-liter V-6 to power most of its midsize SUVs, Kia ditches the internal combustion engine altogether and replaces it with quick-off-the-line acceleration, decent range, available all-wheel drive and enough room to haul the kids, the grandparents, the dog and a generous order of groceries. Heck, some versions will even tow up to 5,000 pounds.

Performance Specifications

Powering the Kia EV9 is a choice of two battery capacities; 76.1 and 99.8 kWh. There’s then a wide range of different models to choose from, offered in rear or all-wheel drive configurations. Depending on the battery, drivetrain and wheel sizes you choose, range will vary anywhere between 230 and 304 miles, as per EPA evaluations. And just like all the vehicles that are based on this platform, the Kia EV9 can fast charge at a rate of 230 kW on a compatible fast charger. This, according to Kia, allows this big guy to recuperate 10 to 80% charge in under 25 minutes.

The Kia EV9 is spacious and immensely well put together. Its interior has a clean, modern look and feel to it and the overall fit and finish is impressive considering Kia’s humble origins. While quick off the line, the EV9 is not the EV rocket ship we expect from electric vehicles. Instead, it prioritizes comfort, smoothness and ease of operation. Its large size and blocky shape don’t necessarily equate to sports car handling. But then, that’s not why people buy midsize, three-row SUVs anyway. When I drove the 2024 Kia EV9, my immediate impression was that it felt like a product that has the potential of changing the game in its respective segment.

Best Features of the 2024 Kia EV9

• The first all-electric three-row SUV from a mainstream brand
• A wide range of available versions
• Impressive range figures
• Spacious, practical and comfortable
• Class-competitive towing rating

Because it essentially groups what most modern families want from an SUV, with the added bonus of being an attainable EV, the EV9 could seriously disturb the segment. Demand is high for this SUV, and dealer orders are through the roof. There’s a general desire from the North American middle class to get rid of their gas-guzzling SUVs.

The Runners Up

The funny thing about this winner is that it currently has no competitors. We could say that the Tesla Model X and the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV are its main rivals, but they are in a completely different class of vehicles and set at much higher price points. Other electric SUVs attracted our attention, like the BMW iX, the Rivian R1S and the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, but none of them offer the spaciousness, capability and, perhaps more important, the mainstream approach of the EV9.

Final Thoughts And Predictions For 2024

It’s fair to say that the competition will not let Kia be alone on its rock for long with the EV9. Ford has already teased an Explorer EV for the European market, and it’s almost certain that it’s coming our way. Kia’s sister brand, Hyundai, is apparently working on the IONIQ 7, essentially the EV9 wearing a different body. Other carmakers need to take the EV9 very seriously, because it has the potential of becoming the best-selling midsize, three-row SUV in North America.