FIRST DRIVE Single-motor entry-level version of seven-seater is our pick of the range
Alex Ingram Alex_Ingram@autovia.co.uk@AxleIngram
THIS is the Kia EV9 Air – the latest and least expensive model in the Korean brand’s seven-seat electric SUV line-up.
The last model we tested (a flashy, dual-motor GT Line S) came to £75,995 – a car which, incidentally, is £750 cheaper now than it was in December. This new Air model drops things even further (£64,245) – not far off what you’ll pay for a basic Land Rover Discovery D300 mild-hybrid diesel.
And even though this is the cheapest EV9 you can buy, it’s absolutely packed with kit. Air comes with 19-inch wheels, twin 12.3-inch screens, wireless Apple and Android connectivity, keyless entry, a 360-degree camera, heated and ventilated seats, plus level-two autonomous driving tech, which enables the Kia to steer itself within its lane for limited periods of time.
Elsewhere, you benefit from the same strong points as found on the rest of the EV9 range. The cabin is smart – a step up from other Kia models in terms of perceived quality, if not quite on par with a Discovery – and there’s loads of space inside. Slide the middle row forward (it’s still roomy in its most advanced position) and a pair of adults can quite happily sit in the third row.
What that low price sacrifices is power. Instead of the dual-motor set-up we’ve sampled previously, the Air has a single rear motor instead. This drops overall power from 378bhp down to 200bhp. Torque is halved from 700Nm down to 350Nm, too. On the plus side, no front motor means a larger front boot; frunk volume increases from 52 litres to 90 litres.
Predictably, performance takes a hit. The 0-62mph time drops from 5.3 seconds to 9.4 seconds, or roughly the same as the seven-seat diesel Kia Sorento. That deficit can certainly be felt, although it shouldn’t be an issue; the fact that so many EVs can now dip below five or six seconds to 62mph has skewed the perception of performance standards across the board. But the Air still delivers more than enough pace for a seven-seat SUV. That does come with the caveat that we haven’t sampled the car loaded with seven people, though.
The brakes feel up to the task of bringing that significant mass to a halt, and the paddles behind the wheel allow the driver to adjust the level of regenerative braking on the fly. This is a brilliant feature that we wish every electric car came with.
Kia has really got its priorities right w
