Bold styling sets Kia EV9 Air apart

The 2024 Kia EV9 Air might be the entry point for the brand's new fully electric SUV range, but it still offers plenty of performance and capability. Powered by a single rear-mounted motor, it puts out 160kW of power and 350Nm of torque.

Those numbers are good for a sprint to 100km/h in 8.2 seconds, while its top speed is 190km/h. More importantly though, its 76.1kWh battery provides 443km of range. On the charging front, you’ll need to spend around 7.5-hours hooked to an 11kW phase3 charger at home.

If you're out and about, a 350kW DC fast charger and you could get from 10-80 per cent in as little as 15 minutes. Tipping the scales at 2312kg, it feels quite light in the front end when you hit the road, meaning it also feels quite floaty (not unlike your average internal combustion SUV).

It is hefty though and has a tendency to dip a little more in corners than you might expect. Comfortable in the city, or cruising up the freeway, the Kia EV9 Air features the same cruise control platform as its GT-Line sibling.

This means that it can not only measure the distance to the car in front, but can also watch those in other lanes, and change lanes on its own. When you pair that with the four drive modes it offers, including Eco, Normal, Sport and MyDrive, there’s plenty of options to find your driving groove.

The Air rides on 19-inch alloys, with what’s best described as adequate Nexen rubber. While the tyres do their job, it does take away from the driving experience a little. On the design front, the boxy EV9 is certainly unique.

Not everyone will love the look, which feels loud and aggressive, but it will certainly stand out from its competition. From the striking lightning bolt inspired daytime running lights to its sharp curves, and funky tail lights, it’s definitely different.

The interior is kept dark with two-tone grey and black leather, and similarly-coloured plastics. The seats feel well built and comfortable, with plenty of support, with the fronts offering both heating and ventilation. The 12.3-inch infotainment system features wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

You'll also find DAB+ digital radio and satellite navigation, and it's easy to use. The setup is paired to an 8-speaker sound system that lacks a little bass. The steering wheel is excellent, thick to hold and heated for those cold mornings.

There’s also plenty of buttons to control a hole range of functions, without diverting your eyes from the road. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster offers a range of information as well. A wireless charging bay in the centre console is big enough for even Pro-sized phones.

There’s USB-C ports, and a 12V power outlet for charging. A standard power point is stashed in the boot. Paddles behind the steering wheel control the level of KERS you can apply for regenerative braking, including the option to 1-pedal drive.

Boot space ranges from 333-litres with all seven seats up, to 2138-litres, with row two and three folded flat. There’s a decent 90-litre frunk space as well. It’s quite the roomy cabin in reality, with the middle row providing enough leg and head room for giants.

Row three is modest enough to even fit average sized adults. Both rear rows also offer the option for two child seats, should you have a larger family. On the safety front, there’s an excellent rear-view camera and parking sensors all round, as well as rear collision detection and blind spot monitoring.

In a cool touch, Kia has added a car wash mode to the vehicle’s functions that keeps the mirrors and door handles tucked away when you’re washing the EV9. It also forces the windows to stay shut. It has a 900kg braked towing capacity.

All-in-all, the 2024 Kia EV9 Air offers exceptional space, good ride comfort, and a decent amount of range. It’s backed by a 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty and priced at around $108,000 drive away, depending on where you are in Australia.

Its mid-range Earth and range-topping GT-Line siblings are both all-wheel drive, and come with a host of added features, but if you are happy to get into Kia’s EV SUV range at the bottom, the Air is well worth a look.

Available in Ocean Blue Matte, Aurora Black Pearl, Flare Red, Iceberg Green, Panthera Metal, Pebble Grey and Snow White Pearl, you can find out more by visiting the Kia Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership.

Our test vehicle was provided by Kia Australia for review purposes. This story first published on Exhaust Notes Australia.

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