2023 Kia EV9 seven-seat electric SUV revealed

Kia has revealed its electric future.

The brand has taken the covers off its new seven-seat EV9 SUV, an electric alternative to the popular Kia Sorento.

The EV9 is the brand’s new flagship vehicle and is likely to be its most expensive model surpassing the recently released EV6 GT, which is priced from about $110,000 drive-away.

It features chunky styling with broad shoulders and a boxy silhouette. As with other electric vehicles, it has no front grille and maintains Kia signature design elements such as vertical headlights and “Tiger Nose” front end.

Karim Habib, head of Kia’s global design centre, says the EV9 targets families with an innovative use of space, technology and design.

“The Kia EV9 offers customers an exceptionally high-quality proposition and a fresh EV perspective in the family SUV sector,” says Habib.

The EV9 is built on the brand’s modular electric car platform that also spawned the sell out EV6 electric hatch.

This platform brings a number of benefits including a long wheelbase, low window line and a completely flat floor, which translates into an airy, light filled cavernous cabin.

Instead of seven seats, buyers will be able to choose a six-seat layout with individual second-row seats.

The first and second rows can recline to allow passengers to rest when recharging and the second-row seats can swivel 180 degrees to face the third row.

Kia hasn’t revealed many details yet, but the EV9 will have a streamlined dash with two 12.3-inch displays and minimal physical buttons or dials.

One screen will contain the infotainment and the other the driver’s instruments. Kia says the infotainment screen will contain a five-inch segment dedicated to vehicle controls, making up for the lack of buttons and knobs.

Its boxy cabin will also have plenty of storage space in the doors and centre console area.

Kia will reveal full global details of the EV9 later this month.

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