Peter Lyon
May 4, 2024
The EV9 has landed. Kia’s all-new EV9 has just been introduced in Malaysia by Dinamikjaya Motors, Kia’s official distributor. The all-electric SUV is fully imported from South Korea and comes in two versions, with prices starting at RM369,668.
For interested buyers, the EV9 GT-Line 7-Seater starts at RM369,668, while the EV9 GT-Line 6-Seater begins at RM374,668.
Having won the 2024 World Car of the Year and 2024 World Electric Vehicle awards, the Kia EV9 is starting to pick up multiple awards for design and its advanced EV credentials. Sitting on the Korean carmaker’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the fully electric SUV measures 5,015 mm long, 1,980 mm wide, and 1,780 mm tall, and is underpinned by a 3,100 mm wheelbase.
At the front, the EV9 wears what the brand calls its “Digital Tiger Face” and “Digital Pattern Lightning Grille,” giving it a rather futuristic look to match its EV identity. Speaking of futuristic, the EV9 also comes with a pair of digital side-view cameras that enhance safety and drivability.
In Malaysia, the EV9 is powered by a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system producing a gutsy 380 horsepower and 700 Nm. With a claimed range of 505 km (WLTP)—expect more like 450km in the real world, the SUV is powered by a 99.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The EV9 can be charged at a maximum rate of 350 kW using DC charging and takes 24 minutes to charge from 10-80%. Additionally, AC charging is possible at a maximum rate of 11 kW and takes 10.5 hours to juice up from 0-100%.
The EV9 GT-Line 7-Seater variation has seven seats in a 2-3-2 arrangement, while the more expensive 6-Seater variant has six seats set out in a 2-2-2 layout with two separate “premium relaxation” seats in the second row. Both versions have identical equipment lists that include leatherette seats, a twin 12.3-inch display setup, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, and a 14-speaker Meridian sound system.
The EV9 in Malaysia comes with a number of active safety measures for added security. Among the features are remote smart parking assist (RSPA), front collision-avoidance assist (FCA), rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist (RCCA), and smart cruise control (SCC) with stop-and-go capabilities.
In summary, the new EV9 was introduced in Malaysia with a starting price of RM369,668 (OTR, insurance not included). A 5-year/150,000-kilometer manufacturer’s warranty and an 8-year/160,000-kilometer battery warranty are included in the purchase price.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
The EV9’s exterior benefits from the brand’s industry-leading stylists, while on the road, this Kia SUV boasts great dynamics, comfort, luxury, power, and competitive range—all for a reasonable price. We can expect this model to help Kia lead the electric SUV genre with one of the best-packaged, most award-winning crossovers on the market.
