Would the Kia EV9 be too expensive in Australia at this price? Highly-anticipated large seven-seat electric SUV gets official dollar-figure overseas

Kia’s long-awaited electric large SUV, the EV9, has finally scored a price-tag outside of its Korean home market.

In Europe, the big seven-seater has been revealed in its initial two ‘Launch Edition’ grades, starting from €74,990 for the entry-point rear-wheel drive, or €83,890 for the top-spec GT-Line all-wheel drive version.

These translate to Australian dollar prices of $123,129 for the RWD, or $137,743 for the GT-Line all-wheel drive. Although prices rarely translate like-for-like, these initial export-market prices offer a ballpark figure of what Aussies can expect when the large SUV finally arrives for a 2024 model year.

Over $130,000 for the top-spec model is above original estimates that the SUV would top out around that number. This pricing, if replicated even remotely similarly in Australia would pit the EV9 against popular combustion large SUVs like the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series ($92,681 - $141,481), but also places it close to the realm of premium electric alternatives like the BMW iX (from $135,900).

The European-market Launch Editions only come with one battery option, a 99.8kWh unit granting 541km of driving range for the 150kW/350Nm RWD version, or 465km of range for the 283kW/700Nm AWD.

The EV9 is estimated to wear a $130,000 price tag for the top-spec model.

Interestingly, the European-market specs for the EV9 show a 552-volt architecture as opposed to the 800v system in the smaller EV6, bringing maximum fast DC charging speed down from 350kW to 240kW. This still allows a 10-80 per cent charge in just 24 minutes on a compatible unit. It also maintains the V2L functionality of its EV6 and Niro siblings.

If $123,000 is too rich for you, fear not, more affordable versions of the EV9 are a possibility, with a smaller battery size, and lower-specification grades available globally. Kia Australia’s general manager of product planning, Roland Rivero, told CarsGuide earlier this year that the brand was “confident it can be a five-figure car”. For reference, this may refer to the base model ‘Air’ available in the Korean market, which, when converted amounts to $90,357 Australian dollars offering a quoted 501km driving range.

Upfront of the EV9 are dual expansive screens for the digital instrument cluster and multimedia unit.

The EV9 can be equipped with either a seven-seat or six-seat internal layout, and is definitely in the large SUV realm, with dimensions of 5010mm long, 1980mm wide and 1755mm high, making it a similar size to the Hyundai Palisade, but with a longer wheelbase. Its e-GMP platform shared with the EV6 allows for a flat floor, and theoretically an expansive cabin compared to a similarly-sized combustion vehicle.

Expect a high level of standard equipment, from LED lights to dual expansive screens for the digital instrument cluster and multimedia unit, as well as other innovations like digital wing mirrors, and a second-row which can swivel to face the rear seats in a ‘lounge’ arrangement for six-seat versions.

Stay tuned for local Australian pricing some time in the second half of 2023 as we barrel towards the big electric SUV’s local launch.