Kia's new EV9 is a family-friendly SUV with no shortage of techy thrills

I don't require a lot of space when I hit the road, but if you do, the Kia EV9 GT-Line S will more than fit the bill. It's a three-row, seven-seat SUV that's perfect for anyone with multiple family members and pets to drive around. Equally, it works if you just like having a lot of room to yourself and aren't bothered about the snob appeal of rivals like the Audi Q8 e-tron and BMW iX.

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The all-wheel drive EV9 offers 5,511 lb of towing capacity too, which means that it's ideal for anyone who likes to head for the great outdoors with bikes, boats and accommodation hitched up at the back. This is an EV that can go anywhere that's paved thanks to its high riding chassis and impressive range. However, the EV9 isn't built for off-road activities, despite the fact that it looks reasonably unstoppable.

Kia EV9 GT-Line S

Journeys will be quick and easy too, with hefty performance and lots of grip coming from this four-wheel drive model. The charging architecture is 800 volts, so stops along the way should be fast and efficient. Add on lots of towing capacity and storage inside, plus seven seats, and it’s therefore ideally suited to larger families. Only the cost of the premium-level model like this one might send folks heading for German brands instead.

Pros

• Plenty of power on tap
• Lots of features and functionality
• Quality interior and comfy too

Cons

• Efficiency struggles when pushed
• A handful in confined spaces
• Not really up to off-roading

Price and availability

The price of the Kia EV9 GT-Line is $73,900. The S-line model I tested costs £76,025 in the UK, which is just over $95,000. The six-seater variant is priced at £77,025 (about $97,000). It's possible to buy a rear-wheel-drive only, base-level EV9 Light model for $54,900 though, which seems like good value to me — especially considering Kia still packs in plenty of features and functionality to compliment the bold styling.

Design and build, look and features

Striking and unique exterior lines

The Korean car industry should be commended for the progress it has made over the last few years. Both Kia and parent company Hyundai