Kia is gearing up to launch the 2024 EV9, marking its foray into the realm of practical yet sporty electric vehicles. Set to hit the market in late 2023, this midsize three-row crossover will take the mantle as Kia’s flagship electric offering. Building on the success of its predecessor, the EV6, Kia has ambitious plans, with two more models, a midsize crossover and a sport sedan (anticipated as numbers 7 and 8 in the lineup), set to follow the EV9.

While the market is filled with three-row SUVs and crossovers sporting traditional internal combustion engines, the EV9 stands out as an electric contender in a more exclusive segment. Its rivals, including the Rivian R1S, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Tesla Model X, and the upcoming VinFast VF9, generally come with significantly higher price tags compared to the expected pricing of the EV9. While VinFast and Rivian may have base trims that could compete in terms of pricing with the upper-tier EV9 models, VinFast faces the challenge of addressing poor reviews for its initial North American model, the VF8 two-row crossover.

The EV9 is Kia’s response to the growing demand for larger electric vehicles in the U.S. market. This formidable crossover stretches nearly 16.5 feet in length, placing it in the same size category as conventional gasoline-powered three-row SUVs like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade.

In the near future, the EV9 is expected to face competition from the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 7, the smaller Mercedes-Benz EQB, and the three-row version of the Tesla Model Y Long Range.

As part of Kia’s commitment to electrification, the 2024 EV9 will play a pivotal role in their plan to introduce 14 battery-electric models, targeting 1.2 million sales, which would comprise 30% of their global sales volume by 2030. The U.S. market can anticipate deliveries of the 2024 EV9 to commence in late 2023, with production set to begin in North America at Kia’s state-of-the-art facility in West Point, Georgia, in 2024.