Kia EV9 Three-Row Electric SUV Starts At Less Than $55,000

Pricing has finally been revealed for one of the year's most highly anticipated electric vehicles, the 2024 Kia EV9.

After announcing the trim levels and 300-mile range, Kia has confirmed that the EV9 Light RWD will start at $54,900 (not including destination). No pricing information was provided for the Light Long Range, Wind, Land, or GT-Line trim levels.

The base model ships with a single rear motor producing 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, powered by a 76.1 kWh battery. Oddly, the larger 99.8 kWh pack in the Light Long Range dials the output to 201 hp to achieve that 300-mile range. The dual-motor variant will produce 379 hp and hit 60 mph in less than five seconds.

Upper trim levels will likely approach or even exceed the $70,000 mark, but it's hard to deny that even the base EV9 comes with plenty of standard equipment.

Even the cheapest Light RWD trim gets SynTex leather seats, 19-inch alloy wheels, and an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat with heating and ventilation. A standard 800-volt architecture enables 236 kW charging speeds, fast enough to charge the EV9 from 10% to 80% battery in around 25 minutes.

Kia will initially produce the EV9 in South Korea before moving production to its US plant in West Point, Georgia, in 2024. Expect full pricing information to be revealed closer to that date.

"We knew we had to get the EV9 pricing right, and we believe today's announcement will be a wake-up call to the industry," said Steven Center, EVP & COO of Kia America. "A well-equipped three-row SUV EV doesn't have to be prohibitively expensive. It should offer the perfect balance of standard features, the ability to fast charge, and be equipped with the technology-savvy EV buyers are looking for. The EV9 provides all of this, and we can't wait for it to go on sale later this year."

As of this writing, the Tesla Model Y is the cheapest EV with a third row, priced at $52,990 with that option. It is worth pointing out that the Model Y's third row is tiny compared to the EV9. The Mercedes EQB is technically cheaper than the EV9, but its third row is small, like the Tesla's, and is only available as a $1,250 option that brings the price to $55,150.

Tesla might win on a technicality, but the Kia EV9 is now the most affordable "true seven-seat" electric vehicle.