Kia EV9 will debut in 2023; how different will it be from Malaysia-bound EV6?

KUALA LUMPUR: Last month, Kia unveiled its plan of rolling out 14 purely electric vehicles by 2027 with a target of selling 1.2 million electric cars by the end of the decade. Among the upcoming zero-emission vehicles is the EV9, a highly-stylized, all-electric, 7-seater SUV that Kia previewed as a concept last year.

Until now, we have been speculating on the release date for the EV9 as the South Korean automaker has recently confirmed its debut in the European market next year. So, now that the EV9 is set to enter production, let's know how different will it be from the Malaysia-bound EV6.

Dimensions

Specifications	Kia EV6	Kia EV9
Length	4,695 mm	4,930 mm
Width	1,890 mm	2,055 mm
Height	1,545 mm	1,790 mm
Wheelbase	2,900 mm	3,100 mm

From the above table, it is pretty clear that the Kia EV9 is larger, wider and taller than the EV6.

Drivetrain, range and charging

As the Kia EV9 and EV6 are based on the same E-GMP platform, they are likely to share many of their electronic components as well. Kia has confirmed that the EV9 will offer a driving range of 540 km, and it will run from nought to 100 kmph in just five seconds. As for charging speed, it will support a 350-kW charger that will charge 10% to 80% battery in just 20 to 30 minutes.

The Kia EV6, on the other hand, comes with two battery packs - a 77.4-kWh long-range and a 58-kWh with both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive options in the global market. The long-range version runs for 510 km on a single charge and finishes the 0-100 kmph acceleration task in 5.1 seconds. It also supports 350-KW charging.

Design 

In terms of design, both electric cars are away apart. The Kia EV9 features a traditional SUV shape with a twist of modern art that sets a contrasting tone. It has a block-like body with squared-off front-end and upright proportions combined with technical-looking headlights and tail lights, geometric shapes, and stylish three-spoke wheels. In contrast, the EV6 incorporates a sporty design with a coupe-like profile, jazzy LED headlamps, a high rear deck and tons of curvy bits. Not to forget, the EV6 has the 2022 European Car of the Year title under its belt.

Features

Inside, the Concept EV9 will have a transformative interior space equipped with an interactive 27-inch ultra-wide display and three innovative interior modes - Active, Pause, and Enjoy. This signifies the EV9 will be more hi-tech than the EV6, which comes with a 12.3-inch infotainment unit and a 12.3-inch touchscreen instrument panel. Reports also suggest that the upcoming EV9 will have a long list of OTA updates, features on-demand services, and debut the brand's AutoMode autonomous driving feature.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming Kia EV9? Let us know in the comments.

Also read: Locally-assembled 2022 Kia Carnival to launch soon, CBU units sold out