2026 Kia EV9

Is the 2026 Kia EV9 a Good SUV?

"The EV9 has taken this segment by storm, and understandably so — just look at it, and then look at how little it costs compared to other three-row EVs. Much like the gas-powered Telluride (though obviously more avant-garde), the EV9 manages to make a three-row family hauler look downright cool, which is not an easy feat. Drawbacks? Not many, but note that the Long Range RWD variant sacrifices a lot of power to get its range rating over 300 miles. We're talking 0-60 in close to 9 seconds if you go that route, which indicates that it's more of a marketing play — 'more than 300 miles of range!' — than the EV9's best foot forward. The dual-motor EV9 AWD is easily the pick of this litter, as it only costs $6k more and gives you up to 283 miles of range while massively improving the 0-60 time to 5.0 seconds. It even gives the base Rivian R1S Dual Standard a run for its money on both fronts while costing far less. Just keep in mind that the very similar Hyundai Ioniq 9 beats the EV9 handily in the range column for about the same price."—Ranked #5 out of 11 Large 3-Row Electric SUVs

Which 2026 Kia EV9 Should I Buy?

MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2026 Kia EV9 that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.

1. 2026 Kia EV9 Light Standard Range (RWD)

• Base Price: $54,900
• Range: 230 mi
• Battery Capacity: 76.1 kWh
• Peak Charge Rate: 235 kW
• Drive Type: Rear-wheel drive
• Engine: 1 electric motor
• Horsepower: 215 
• Torque: 258 lb⁠-⁠ft
• 0-60: 7.7 sec
• Weight: 5,106 lbs
• Length: 197.2 in
• Towing Capacity: 2,000 lbs

There's a lot to process with the Standard Range RWD EV9, or "Light RWD" in Kia's parlance. For one thing, it has seating for up to seven, whereas the Long Range RWD variant ("Light Long Range RWD") is capped at six. For another, it only has 230 miles of range, which is by far the worst of any EV9. But the range deficit is no surprise; what's surprising is that this entry-level model actually makes more power than the Long Range RWD. Typically, long-range models make more power from the same motor(s) because they're able to get more juice from their bigger batteries. But that's not the case here, so the rear-drive EV9 variants force you to make a hard choice: Do you want more power or more range?

2. 2026 Kia EV9 Light Long Range (RWD)

• Base Price: $57,900
• Range: 305 mi
• Battery Capacity: 99.8 kWh
• Peak Charge Rate: 210 kW
• Drive Type: Rear-wheel drive
• Engine: 1 electric motor
• Horsepower: 201 
• Torque: 258 lb⁠-⁠ft
• 0-60: 8.8 sec
• Weight: 5,326 lbs
• Length: 197.2 in
• Towing Capacity: 2,000 lbs

Usually we're quick to recommend the pairing of a bigger battery with a single motor, as it tends to yield the best range in the lineup while also unlocking more power from that motor. But the EV9 Long Range RWD (a.ka. "Light Long Range RWD") flips the script. It somehow makes 14 horsepower less than the entry-level EV9 Standard Range RWD (a.k.a. "Light RWD"), yet it weighs significantly more thanks to that upsized battery. It also costs a few grand more and has one fewer seat (accommodating six passengers versus seven). Of course, the Long Range RWD's saving grace is right there in its name: You get 305 miles of range in this rig, best in the EV9 lineup and 75 miles better than the Standard Range RWD. But you also get to 60 mph more than one second slower per Kia's own estimates, making the Long Range RWD scandalously slow by the standards of today's $60k SUVs. In short, this particular EV9 is a rather mixed bag.

3. 2026 Kia EV9 Wind Long Range (AWD)

• Base Price: $63,900
• Range: 283 mi
• Battery Capacity: 99.8 kWh
• Peak Charge Rate: 210 kW
• Drive Type: All-wheel drive
• Engine: 2 electric motors
• Horsepower: 379 
• Torque: 516 lb⁠-⁠ft
• 0-60: 5.0 sec
• Weight: 5,714 lbs
• Length: 197.2 in
• Towing Capacity: 5,000 lbs

Each variant of the EV9 gives us a lot to talk about. In this case, it's wild that a mere $6,000 upcharge takes you from the Long Range RWD (8.8 seconds to 60) to this Long Range AWD (5.0 seconds). Yes, welcome to the world of EVs, where opting for AWD typically means getting a big boost in acceleration — but not that big! We're also impressed that the range stays strong at 283 miles, or a mere 22 miles shy of the Long Range RWD, which is why AWD is easily our favorite EV9 specification. If you want the full seven-passenger seating, get the Wind trim, which is the one that starts at the price noted here; if you'd rather have six-passenger seating, the pricier Land and GT-Line trims come so equipped. If you want the full 5,000-pound towing capacity, get the Land or GT-Line, because the Wind is capped at 3,500 pounds. There are also multiple wheel sizes to be aware of, although Kia advises that there should be little if any impact on range no matter which wheels you choose, which is refreshing. The bottom line is that the Long Range AWD gives you almost as much range as the Long Range RWD while being essentially twice as quick to accelerate, and that's a one-two combo worth paying for. Oh, one final note: The maximum torque figure of 516 lb-ft is standard on GT-Line, but if you want to keep all 516 torques in your Wind or Land trim, Kia will make you pay for it. Don't think it's worth it? You'll be rolled back to 443 lb-ft, though your horsepower stays the same. Strange but true.