The 501-Horsepower Kia EV9 GT Is The First Mainstream Three-Row High Performance Crossover, Which Is A Real Thing I Didn’t Make Up

More than 20 years ago, Porsche unveiled the Cayenne to great controversy. A performance SUV from a sports car brand? Who would buy that over a BMW M5? Well, history has since vindicated that product planning decision. Performance SUVs are everywhere, but yet there still isn’t one for every niche. For instance, what if you want to go quickly and emit no tailpipe emissions, but you need to transport more than five people including yourself on a regular basis? Previously, you’d have needed to buy a Tesla Model X, or pony up for the quick versions of the Rivian R1S or Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, but not anymore. The Kia EV9 GT is here to be the first mainstream performance electric three-row crossover, and we’re certainly intrigued.

The overarching theme of the EV9 GT’s exterior is certainly understatement. Sure, the accent color of choice for Kia’s GT models is a cornea-searing shade of lime green, but it’s kept to the brake calipers, upholstery stitching, and the odd understated highlight. Most people out on the street would never know how quick the EV9 GT is, but some of them would know they’re looking at something special. That’s because in addition to a tweaked front valence, the EV9 GT features big four-spoke 21-inch wheels wrapped in Continental tires, a setup slightly brasher than you’d get even on a GT-Line trim.

Mind you, the big aesthetic changes for the EV9 GT are on the inside. Not only do the front seats gain some serious bolsters and sueded inserts, lime green accents are everywhere, from striping to stitching. Add in a three-spoke steering wheel with a lime green noon marker, and the cockpit of the EV9 GT looks like it’s ready to get down to business.

So, what sort of business are we talking about here? Well, Kia claims a 122-horsepower increase over the 379-horsepower EV9 GT-Line to 501 horsepower. That’s not quite as high as the 601 horsepower in the updated EV6 GT but still enough to haul the mail. Kia claims that the bump in output is good enough to shrink the zero-to-60 mph time down from five seconds in the GT-Line to 4.3 seconds in the EV9 GT, which is properly quick.

However, the Kia EV9 GT isn’t just about straight-line speed. In fact, you can make it slower if you want, thanks to a virtual gearbox, very much like you get on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Yes, this means fake paddle shifters and simulated engine noises, but you know what? I’m here for it. While few customers will likely ever use it, the same sort of feature added engagement on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, and engagement is exactly what we need in an age of heavily refined everything.

Now, powertrain talk is great, but what about the other important things a car has to do — turning and stopping? Well, the Kia EV9 GT features adaptive dampers that firm up in sportier drive modes, bigger front brakes with monoblock brake calipers, and an actual limited-slip differential in the rear drive unit so it can properly put its power down, as well as rotate out of corners. It all adds up to a reasonably comprehensive arsenal for those looking to indulge a bit while still needing to tote around their large family.

Admittedly, knowing what’s in Kia’s parts bin, the brand could’ve gone further on a performance SUV than the EV9 GT, but there’s likely a good reason it didn’t. Not only does the hi-po GT trim keep the same 7.8 inches of ground clearance found in the regular EV9, it can also still tow 5,000 pounds. If you already like the regular EV9, going for the fast one won’t bring in a whole bunch of serious compromises that affect the bulk of its utility as a family hauler. Mind you, there is one unknown at this point — range.

As it sits, we don’t have an estimate of how far the Kia EV9 GT will go on a charge, and performance EVs typically compromise on range to deliver a more exhilarating experience. You still get an 800-volt architecture for fast recharging and you now get a NACS port in the side of the crossover for Tesla Supercharger compatibility, but how far you can actually go on a charge remains a question.

Price also remains a question, but it’s safe to assume that the Kia EV9 GT won’t be cheap. After all, GT is the top trim, and the next-highest trim currently demands $75,395 including freight. Given the substantial performance gains, we’d have a hard time seeing the EV9 GT starting at any less than $80,000, which is an enormous amount of money for a Kia. Still, how many brands offer performance-focused three-row electric crossovers? The EV9 GT certainly knows its niche, now it’s just about seeing how big the audience is.

(Photo credits: Kia, Griffin Riley)

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