Kia EV9 ‘Air’ | The 7-Seat eSUV just became £11,000 cheaper

In December last year, I flew up to the Highlands of Scotland to partake in the launch of the Kia EV9. I stated in my review that the EV9 is likely to be a car that will be remembered for decades as a turning point for the Kia brand and its customer base. The vehicle in question, the EV9, boasts several accolades and firsts, including being the first-ever 7-seat EV SUV to hit the market.

As is typical with launch editions, the first model of the EV9 was an all-singing, all-dancing variant. The EV9 GT Line S I enjoyed in Scotland was packed with tech, gadgets and luxury features as standard. Due to the features, the price tag was £76,025.00, making it comparable to the Land Rover Discovery and Volvo XC90 (with equivalent options added).

But now, a new variant of the Kia EV9 includes many of the features likely to disrupt generations of Land Rover and Volvo brand loyalty - but at a far more competitive price. It's called the EV9 Air and is a significant £11,000 cheaper than the GT Line S. I went to a UK launch event for the EV9 Air to see how it compared to the launch edition on a drive around Oxfordshire.

Kia is marketing the EV9 Air as the entry-level model in the range. However, I think it stands out as the one to pick. The Air is powered by a 99.8kWh battery and a 318kW motor, as found in the GT Line S. Except instead of having two motors driving all four wheels, it has one motor that powers the two rear wheels only. The loss of a motor does, of course, reduce performance; however, it's still no slouch, and crucially, what it loses in power, it makes up for in range. The Air boasts a claimed driving range of up to 480 miles of city driving, and even the claimed combined range (a mix of urban and long-distance) is a very impressive 349 miles - (For reference: the duel motor GT Line S is 415 miles urban and 313 miles combined, respectively.)

In terms of performance, the single-motor Air has a peak power of 200bhp and 350Nm of torque. This results in the ability to accelerate from 0-62mph in 9.4 seconds and to top out at an ample 114mph. The single motor has another benefit in terms of weight, with a saving of 163kg compared to the more expensive GT Line S.

On my drive, I didn't feel at any point that the Air was underpowered. Acceleration from 0-30 is comfortably on par with a modern 2.0 turbo-diesel SUV, and the reduced weight was positively noticeable in corners and braking. The driving position and interior quality are just as convenient, compliant and luxurious as the GT Line S, with nothing noticeably removed as a result of the lower price tag.

The essential stuff, though, is the car itself and the comprehensive list of technology and practical features that come as standard. There is no difference in dimensions (internal or external) compared to the more expensive model, and thanks to the equally spectacular interior design, the headroom and legroom are ample in all three rows.

The seats are just as comfortable as in the GT Line but miss out on some luxury features, such as a massage function for the driver, which is limited only to the top-of-the-range models.

Elsewhere, technology such as wireless phone connectivity, navigation-based cruise control, a heat pump, 360-degree cameras, blind spot assist, collision avoidance tech, intelligent speed limit assist, lane assist, self-levelling air suspension, remote parking assist, and more additional driving, braking and collision avoidance assists than my word count will permit come as standard making the EV9 Air the ideal choice for drivers with convenience, space and safety as top priorities.

Charging times are likely to appease most, with a typical home wall box system granting 10-100% in 9 hours and 5 mins. With a 50kW fast charger, 10-80% is achieved in 1 hour 23 mins, and a 350kW charger will reward 10-80% in just 24 mins.

The EV9 already has a jam-packed trophy cabinet, having won awards for design, innovation, and class, despite only being a few months old, and the now more competitively priced Air is likely to bolster that collection even more.

words: John Marcar
pictures: Henry Faulkner-Smith