The Most Affordable Electric SUV To Offer A Third-Row As Standard

There are a ton of electric crossover SUVs in the market right now, but what you’d be surprised by is that most of them don’t come with the provision for third-row seating. You do have a couple like the Rivian R1S and Tesla Model X, but if you wanted something from the mainstream brands, you’re practically left with nothing. Or are you?

Kia probably has an answer to your need for a three-row electric crossover SUV, and that’s with the new EV9 that officially went on sale in December 2023. However, you might be wondering about the Mercedes EQB. Well, with a base price of $52,750, the third-row is still an optional extra for $1,250, so it automatically does not fit with the “standard third row” criteria. Its total cost, however, is slightly less than the most affordable EV9, which starts at $54,900 versus $54,000 for the EQB with an optional third row. Nevertheless, this article’s goal is to determine if America’s most affordable electric crossover with standard three-row seating is going to be good enough.

You Get A Three-Row EV With Plenty Of Style

Kia as a brand is on a roll when it comes to styling, and even the base EV9 is no exception. With a base price of $54,900, what you’ll be getting for your money is the EV9 in Light RWD trim, which comes with plenty of standard equipment. It may not be the most luxurious way to own a Kia EV9, but it has all that you need in a modern EV.

Distinct Exterior

Even if the base EV9 is all that you can afford, the Light RWD variant isn’t short on style. The distinct angular shape of the EV9 is still ever present, and so are its nifty design details. This begins with its Digital Tiger Face front end styling, which is characterized by its vertical LED headlights with distinct “Star Map” LED daytime running lights. The 19-inch wheels with a triangular design pattern are the smallest you could get on the EV9, but admittedly, they still look very interesting. On the upside, the thicker tire sidewall should mean that ride quality is going to be pretty good.

As for the rest of the EV9 Light RWD’s design, the rear end has an interesting vertical LED taillight arrangement that mimics the LED daytime running lights, while the flushed door handles are there to help in eking out more range out of this big boy of an electric crossover SUV. A powered tailgate that can open on its own if you stand next to it for three seconds is also fitted as standard.

A Living Room On Wheels

The 2024 Kia EV9’s interior has been well-received for its clever features and lounge-like atmosphere. The question now is, do the same adjectives apply if you can only afford the base EV9 Light RWD? The answer is yes (for the most part), because this is a Kia we’re talking about, which means most of what you see in brochures and ads is standard equipment.

This begins with the interior design, which is distinct and airy and takes advantage of the E-GMP skateboard EV architecture. The dashboard is finished with soft-touch plastics and is shaped in a way that it doesn’t occupy a lot of space, but the centerpiece of the dash is the two 12.3-inch screens and an additional five-inch segment display for quickly accessing the climate controls.

You’d also be glad to know that power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, three-zone climate control, and a Wi-Fi hotspot are fitted as standard. Those at the back, meanwhile, are treated to a plethora of USB ports and a 110V outlet in the cargo area. Lastly, the interior is upholstered primarily in SynTex synthetic leather upholstery, which should please customers who prefer their interior to be free from dead animal skin.

The Base Trim Isn’t The Most Powerful Or Efficient One

Unfortunately, unlike in a three-row SUV with an internal combustion engine (ICE), spending on the base variant also means a bigger sacrifice when it comes to performance and/or range. That’s because in a base ICE three-row SUV, where it will probably travel just as far as the range-topping version due to having similar fuel tank sizes across the board, a lower-priced EV means less range due to the smaller battery. Batteries are expensive, which is why most automakers offer different battery sizes as a way to balance people’s potential driving range needs out of an EV whilst trying to meet a price point.

Low Price Means Low Power

And we really do mean low, because the Kia EV9 Light RWD only produces 215 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. While the EV9 Light RWD’s torque is not too far off from Kia’s equivalently-sized Telluride, whose 3.8-liter naturally-aspirated V-6 makes 262 pound-feet, its horsepower is measly at 215 horses versus the 291 horses that the gas-fed V-6 produces. That’s good for a 7.7-second 0-60 mph time, which is at least helped by the fact that it’s rich in torque. On the upside, this will probably feel faster than the numbers suggest due to the instantaneous torque that an EV is capable of.

Range Isn’t The Best, Either

But perhaps the biggest sacrifice for splurging on the EV9 Light RWD is its range, because with only 230 miles of EPA-estimated range, the EV9 will never be considered good enough for families who need a three-row crossover SUV that can do it all. This means no family road trips across two states and charging stops will be even more frequent.

Kia EV9 Specs

(Specs sourced from Kia)

On the upside, the Kia EV9 Light RWD also benefits from the E-GMP platform’s 800-volt architecture, which means that it can accept up to 350 kW of DC fast charging. This is good enough for a 10 to 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes, so charging stops–as frequent as they probably will be, won’t take as long as you were probably anticipating. Plan your route wisely and your total travel time might not be too different from an EV with more range but slower charging times.

The Base Kia EV9 Offers A Lot Of Value, But With One Potential Deal-breaker

Nevertheless, the 2024 Kia EV9 in Light RWD base trim does offer plenty of value. There are boatloads of standard features, and it still manages to stand out when it comes to design and vehicle usability. The problem is, most buyers looking for a three-row SUV are also looking for a vehicle that can do it all. Unfortunately, the EV9 Light RWD’s appeal is limited due to its limited range.

The EV9 In General Will Be A Secondary Car At Best

When purchasing a three-row SUV, you already expect it to be a vehicle that can do it all. It’s one of those types of vehicles that’s already so versatile, you don’t really think or worry about anything whether you take it out on a short grocery store trip or a long-distance drive to the mountains. In the EV9 Light RWD, however, with only 230 miles of range, you can’t just go on a long road trip on a whim because careful planning on where and when to charge will be crucial to how fast you arrive at your destination.

Oh, and remember, the 230-mile EPA-estimated range was probably achieved without any payload or passengers. Expect that range to drop significantly if you fill the EV9 up with six additional passengers and their cargo. We previously discussed how electric three-row SUVs will have a difficult time being a primary car for families solely because of the range degradation that can and will occur when an EV is fully loaded and used as intended by a large family, and this EV9 Light RWD is no exception to this.

If you do want the EV9 with the longest range, then you might want to step up one trim higher to the Light Long Range RWD, which now gives you 304 miles of EPA-estimated range, but power is down to just 201 horses, so it’ll take an even more leisurely time to 60 mph than it already is.

But There’s A Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Not all is doom and gloom for the Kia EV9 Light RWD, though. As a second car, and that’s what most EVs have been relegated to by early adopters, the EV9 is going to be an extremely versatile one. The large and flexible interior will make for a great vehicle for hauling heavy purchases at your local Home Depot or Walmart.

Moreover, that $54,900 base MSRP could eventually drop because the EV9, while it’s currently being sourced from South Korea, will eventually be produced in the United States. Assuming it’s also able to meet other criteria when it comes to battery and material sourcing, the EV9 could eventually be eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit provided by the Inflation Reduction Act.