Kia EV9 - NZ release pricing and spec.

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Scott3

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#309257 3-Oct-2023 01:14

Spotted a handful of Kia EV9's on the Auckland wharf while biking home from work today.

I was quite surprised to see them, as pricing was only announced a couple of weeks back.

I think there were three pre-production cars that toured the country after that. I would guess that this shipment are the first production car's, and will become dealer demo's, rather than be delivered to customers.

-------------------------------

NZ pricing is:

Light

RWD single motor

$105,990 +ORC

Earth

AWD dual motor

$115,990 +ORC

GT-Line

AWD dual motor

$134,990 +ORC

Specs here:

https://kia.co.nz/vehicles/ev9/range-and-specifications/

Brochure here

https://kia.co.nz/assets/Uploads/KI0058-EV9-Brochure-AUG23-Portrait-FA.pdf

Summary:

It's Big. For the lower two specs, 5010mm long x 1980mm wide, on a 3100mm wheelbase. (for comparison a Landcruiser 300 is 4980 x 1980, on a 2850mm wheelbase).
7 seats (we don't get the 2nd row captain chairs setup that is offered overseas).
Light RWD has a 76.1kWh (nominal) battery, and 160kW RWD. 0-100km/h in 8.2sec
Both AWD trims have 99.8kWh (nominal), and 282.6kW AWD. 0-100 in 6.0sec. (overseas markets are advertising an online software upgrade to the AWD, which drops this time to 5.3sec)
All batteries Lithium-ion Polymer chemistry.
800V fast charging (around 240kW max). 10% - 80% charge time is 20mins for the standard range & 24mins for the Long range.
Very well appointed:
- Electro chromatic center & side mirrors (except GT-Line which gets camera's instead)
- Solar control glass
- Laminated front & rear windows
- Power front seats (GT-Line also has memory for driver)
- Drivers Aircell type powered lumber support
- Heated Frount seats (all trims, unlike the EV6), GT-Line gets 2nd row outer seats also
- Trippe Zone A/C
- Variable speed window motors
- LED lit vanity mirrors
- Power tailgate
- Heatpump with waste heat recycling. (all trims, again unlike the EV6)
- Frunk: 90L on RWD, 52L on AWD
- Big Suite of safety stuff
- Isofix & top tethers anchor points in both second and third row (Both are rare in the third row, especially isofix)
- Powered child safety lock
- Ventilated front seats (GT line gets ventilated 2nd row too)
- Remote folding second row
- Heated steering wheel
- 8 speaker audio (except GT-line which gets a branded 14 speaker setup)
- Apple carplay & android auto
- V2L
- Surround view monitor on AWD trims
Some specs are yet to be finalized for the NZ market:
- Range - 541km WLTP is mentioned a lot, but this is for the Long Range, 150kW (yes less power than the Standard range) RWD version that kia has opted not to offer here. I'm picking around 400km for the standard range RWD, and just shy of 500km for the AWD cars.
- Tare (overseas sources have 2625kg for the AWD)
- Payload (overseas sources have 640kg for the AWD)
- Tow rating (overseas sources have the AWD model at 2500kg braked, 750kg unbraked, 125kg max vertical load)
- Max Roof Load (overseas sources have 100kg)

Interesting to see the battery weight on the spec sheet. 463.3 kg for the standard range & 556.5 kg for the long range.

On trims, the Earth AWD will likely be the sweet spot for most buyers. Less than 10% higher price over the base model, and you get about 25% more range, AWD, heaps more power (282.6kW vs 160kW), and a few more features: - Wider tires & 20" rims, Reverse parking avoidance assist, Blind spot monitor, side parking sensors, 360 degree camera, painted bumper & door garnish, assume higher tow rating etc.

Quite different to the EV6 where the Air RWD Long range is the sweet spot.

Interesting that Kia have chosen not to offer the long range RWD here. If I had to guess I would say the $10k price gap from the SR RWD to the AWD LR was deemed too small to fit anouter model in. And a combination of being able to market a lower starting price with the Standard Range RWD, and the long range RWD being really slow for this pricepoint (9.4 seconds 0-100), lead them to drop this model for the small NZ market.

On Price, Yes this is an expensive car.

But it is in the price ballpark of the closest match ICE:

Scott3

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#3153089 28-Oct-2023 15:17

Gaps in the Spec sheet have been filled:

Great news that the NZ version is getting a 2500kg tow rating on the AWD.

Bit of a surprise that the GT line gets a longer rated range than the Earth trim, given it is both heavier and running bigger rims and wider, taller tires (275/50R20 vs 285/45R21)

Given this is the opposite way around under the USA EPA rating system, it could well be an error (or perhaps the Continental tires fitted to the 21 inch rims do really great on the WLTP test).

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RunningMan

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#3153092 28-Oct-2023 15:50

Scott3:

[snip] Bit of a surprise that the GT line gets a longer rated range than the Earth trim, given it is both heavier and running bigger rims and wider, taller tires

Not really, it's got a 30% higher capacity battery. 76.1 vs 99.8 kWh.

networkn

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#3153170 28-Oct-2023 19:02

Why are EV makers unable to make attractive cars? These are awful.

Scott3

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#3153180 28-Oct-2023 19:46

RunningMan:

Scott3:

[snip] Bit of a surprise that the GT line gets a longer rated range than the Earth trim, given it is both heavier and running bigger rims and wider, taller tires

Not really, it's got a 30% higher capacity battery. 76.1 vs 99.8 kWh.

Both the AWD trims get the big battery. Only the RWD light gets the smaller battery.

In other markets there is a big battery RWD, with 541km of rated range, but Kia NZ has chosen not to offer it here. I think this was the right call. It's less powerful (160kW vs 150kW) than the small battery RWD, and much heavier, making for a 9.4s 0-100 time, which is pritty slow for a vehicle that would need to be priced around $111k. Personally I think most buyers would pay the extra $5k to go to the AWD version with 283kjW of power & a higher tow rating, giving up a bit of range and accepting a smaller frunk as a result... and given NZ is not massive, most buyers are likely ok with around 500km or rated range.

Scott3

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#3153204 28-Oct-2023 23:00

networkn:

Why are EV makers unable to make attractive cars? These are awful.

Note the photos in the initial post are have protective plastic on.

Featuring EV9

I find the wheels a bit Naff, but otherwise have am fine with the appearance.

Of course looks are subjective, and I did buy a BMW i3...

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#3153206 28-Oct-2023 23:13

To be fair I hate the Tesla looks except maybe the Telsla Model S, and it's better with the plastic off, but these are still horrific :) From the back it's better but that isn't saying much. I actually like the i3, and also the i4 BMW but I can't really fathom getting an extra 0.0002% of range and having those awful wheels either. Give me regular Audi or BMW 19" wheels and let's GO.

Scott3

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#3153280 29-Oct-2023 11:19

On styling, there was an interesting interview with the designer:

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g45156011/kia-ev9-tom-kearns-interview/

Concept car shown in below image:

And after that feedback they select the following wheels:...?

NZ market:

* GT line only.

USA Market:

It's true that wheels with less open area have less areo drag, which means more range on any EV, but feel too much effort goes into this, while ignoring the efficiency impact of the Giant rims that are often specified on higher trim EV's...

From a slightly old press release from the USA, AWD EV9: Wind (19" standard), Land (20" standard), GT-Line (21" standard)

Note the substantial range hit from changing wheel size.

Should note that the tires get wider too, so all this efficiency hit is not from the rim diameter (this one is from the NZ spec sheet):

Personally think this trend of ever larger rims need to die... Basically, it has got to a point where it is driven by aesthetics (but they are missing the mark on that in my eyes), at the expense of pretty much everything else (in a non performance setting). More areo drag, more rotational inertia, more weight, harsher ride, more expensive rims, more expensive tires (somewhat illogical give a bigger rim means less sidewall, so less material, but this is how it is), worse off road, more prone to damage (especially important when not carrying a spare, and given weather events seem to make bad pot holes more common these days)...

Given this is a SUV, I would be plenty happy happy to see it running 17" rims like the ranger & 150 raptor. (with a street focused tire given the soft nature of the EV9). That is assuming they fit over the breaks.

The small diameter, combined with some fake bead locks will give both a tough appearance, and low open area.

I also quite like what tesla have done with their entry model 3 & Y. Ok looking wheel under areo hubcaps. Will get a good range ratign with the hub caps in place, and If the buyer donsn't like the areo look, they can pull the hub caps for day to day use. And can slap them back on for occasional long trips where areo is more important than looks.