Kia EV9.

The Gavler Review.

Kia EV9 Review: The Electric Family Flagship, Explained

The Kia EV9 sits at number two on our Best Electric 3-Row SUVs list with an 8.7, and it's the three-row electric SUV to beat for families who don't want to pay luxury prices for real space: adult-sized seating in all three rows, genuinely fast charging, and a 10-year battery warranty. Skip the base Light trim — it's slow, and its 230-mile range is the clear weak point in an otherwise strong lineup. Step up to the long-range battery and it's hard to do meaningfully better for the money.

What it actually is

The EV9 has spent two consecutive years as one of Edmunds' favorite electric SUVs — an honor judged against every EV on sale regardless of size or price, not just other three-row vehicles — and it won the outlet's Top Rated Best of the Best award for 2024. Car and Driver has independently named it to its 10Best Trucks and SUVs list. Both endorsements rest on the same underlying claim: this is a three-row EV where the third row is actually usable by adults, not the token afterthought most three-row crossovers treat it as.

That distinction matters more than it sounds. Most three-row electric SUVs, especially at this price point, compromise heavily on the back two rows to protect battery packaging and range. The EV9's design prioritizes genuine passenger space in all three rows, which is precisely why Edmunds keeps returning to it as a benchmark rather than just another entrant in a crowded field.

In use

Edmunds' testing found the third row "shames most rivals in the class" — strong language for a publication that tests dozens of three-row SUVs a year — and the optional second-row captain's chairs recline, swivel, heat, and ventilate, which is a genuinely premium touch at a non-luxury price. Edmunds' overall verdict is direct: "The 2026 Kia EV9 is both an excellent three-row SUV and an incredible electric vehicle."

The charging numbers back up the "incredible electric vehicle" half of that claim. The 800-volt architecture recharges 10-to-80% in about 24 minutes, and Edmunds independently measured roughly 543 miles of range added per charging hour — a figure that puts the EV9 among the quickest-charging SUVs sold today, electric or otherwise. Edmunds' own framing: "That makes the EV9 one of the quickest-charging SUVs you can buy." A dual-motor GT-Line trim hits 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and tows up to 5,000 pounds, a genuinely rare capability in the EV segment where towing usually guts range dramatically.

Where it shines

• A third row adults can actually sit in. This is the single biggest differentiator in a segment where "three rows" often means two usable rows and a bench for children. Edmunds' testing is unambiguous on this point.
• 24-minute fast charging with real-world numbers to match. 543 miles of range added per charging hour isn't a marketing claim — it's an independently measured figure from Edmunds' own test process, and it includes native NACS Supercharger access.
• 5,000-pound towing capacity. Most EVs sacrifice towing almost entirely to protect range; the EV9 doesn't, even though Edmunds correctly notes that towing will eat into that range faster than it would in a gas SUV.

The trade-offs — who should skip it

Edmunds' critique is specific rather than vague: "The EV9's controls could use some improvement" — a few cabin controls sit awkwardly for the driver, a small but real everyday friction point in a vehicle otherwise built around comfort.

• You're considering the base Light trim to save money. Don't. It's meaningfully slower than the rest of the lineup, and its 230-mile range is well short of the 304-mile figure the long-range battery delivers — the gap is large enough to change how usable the car feels day to day.
• You need luxury-badge cabin materials. The EV9 competes on space and value, not on the finish-level of a Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV or a Cadillac Escalade IQ. If badge and materials matter more than dollar-for-dollar space, look higher up the price ladder.
• You tow regularly and need maximum range while doing it. The 5,000-pound capacity is real, but Edmunds is clear that range drops considerably under load — plan charging stops accordingly rather than assuming EPA numbers hold with a trailer attached.

How it compares

At the top of this list sits the Rivian R1S, which leans harder into off-road capability and a more premium, tech-forward interior at a correspondingly higher price. The EV9's case against it is straightforward: comparable third-row usability and charging speed at a meaningfully lower cost, which is exactly the value argument that's earned it two years of Edmunds accolades. Further down the same list, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and Hyundai Ioniq 9 both compete for the same family-hauler role — the EQS SUV trades on luxury positioning the EV9 doesn't chase, while the Ioniq 9, sharing Hyundai/Kia's E-GMP platform lineage, is the closest direct sibling in both mission and pricing.

The Gavler verdict

An 8.7, backed by two consecutive years of Edmunds naming it a favorite EV regardless of price bracket and a Car and Driver 10Best nod on top. The EV9 succeeds by refusing to compromise on the one thing that actually defines a three-row SUV's usefulness — genuine adult space in the third row — while still delivering 24-minute charging and 5,000-pound towing that most EVs in any price bracket can't match. Buy the long-range battery, skip the Light trim, and this is the easiest recommendation in the electric three-row segment for buyers who don't want to pay Rivian or Mercedes money to get real family-hauling capability.

Common Questions

Is the Kia EV9 worth it in 2026?

For families who don't want to pay luxury prices for real three-row space, yes. It ranks second on Gavler's Best Electric 3-Row SUVs list with an 8.7, Edmunds has named it a favorite electric SUV two years running regardless of price or size, and Car and Driver put it on its 10Best Trucks and SUVs list. Adults genuinely fit in the third row — a claim few EVs in any price bracket can make honestly.

Which Kia EV9 trim should I buy?

Skip the base Light trim. It's the slowest configuration and its standard battery is rated at just 230 miles, well short of the 304-mile long-range figure other trims offer. Stepping up to the long-range battery is where the EV9's case for itself — space, charging speed, and a 10-year battery warranty — actually holds together.

How fast does the Kia EV9 charge?

The 800-volt architecture recharges 10-to-80% in about 24 minutes, and Edmunds independently measured roughly 543 miles of range added per charging hour — among the quickest of any SUV, electric or otherwise. It also has native NACS access to Tesla's Supercharger network.

Can the Kia EV9 tow?

Yes — up to 5,000 pounds, which is unusually high for an EV. Edmunds notes that real-world range drops considerably with a trailer attached, so plan charging stops more conservatively if you're towing regularly.