I Paid Further for My Kia EV9’s 2nd-Row Leg Rests And Shortly Discovered They Are Nugatory To Me As You Can See From This Picture

Kia has completed one thing daring with the EV9, a full-size, all-electric, three-row SUV that dares to punch at Tesla, GM, and even Mercedes with a squared jaw and a well-lit face. It’s the sort of company gamble that might’ve made old-school Detroit nervous again within the tailfin days. And for essentially the most half, it’s labored.

The EV9 is a industrial win: Consumers are displaying up, cash in hand, able to swap their V6s for volts. However beneath all of the excessive reward and low emissions lies a string of questionable design decisions and dealership dilemmas that make you marvel: who precisely was this constructed for?

Unpacking the Controversial “Calf Relaxation” Characteristic

Let’s begin with the notorious second-row “calf relaxation”, a misnomer that seems like one thing supplied on a price range airline. Marketed as a luxurious contact, it is extra of a gimmick until you are the peak of a median hobbit. One baffled proprietor laid all of it out in a now-viral publish within the Kia EV9 Homeowners USA Fb group:

“2nd-row leg rests are nugatory to me. I’m 6’1. Take a look at this pic, and you may see the difficulty with the 2nd-row seat… In case you are over 4 ft tall, you possibly can’t use this all the best way reclined.

My ft and ankles do not magically poke by means of that seat in entrance of me! Am I lacking one thing, or do most of you might have the identical subject?”

The feedback? Pure web gold. “It’s a calf relaxation, not a footrest,” snapped one person, clearly clinging to no matter thread of logic they may discover. One other chimed in: “My youngsters are already 6’ tall, nope, not for my household.”

Whether or not it’s a case of person error or company oversight, it’s clear one thing’s off. It’s the sort of ergonomic mistake that feels much less like an oversight and extra like nobody within the design studio bothered to take a seat again there. Kia got down to impress with options, however this one feels prefer it got here from an idea sketch nobody anticipated to see in manufacturing.

Kia EV9 Specs Unveiled: Powertrain, Vary, and Household-Pleasant Particulars

• The Kia EV9 affords a number of powertrain configurations to cater to numerous driving preferences. The usual rear-wheel-drive (RWD) mannequin contains a single electrical motor producing 215 horsepower, paired with a 76.1 kWh battery, delivering an EPA-estimated vary of 230 miles. For prolonged vary, the RWD Lengthy Vary variant makes use of a bigger 99.8 kWh battery, attaining as much as 304 miles per cost. All-wheel-drive (AWD) variations incorporate twin electrical motors, producing a mixed 379 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, enabling brisk acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in roughly 5.7 seconds. These AWD fashions provide an EPA-estimated vary of 280 miles, balancing efficiency with effectivity. ​
• Designed to accommodate households and teams, the EV9 supplies three rows of seating with configurations for six or seven passengers. The seven-passenger setup features a second-row bench seat, whereas the six-passenger association options second-row captain’s chairs with one-touch fold and slide features. Increased trims provide second-row VIP rest chairs which are eight-way power-adjustable, full with headrests and a two-way power-adjustable legrest, enhancing passenger consolation throughout journeys. ​
• Outfitted with superior charging know-how, the EV9 helps ultra-fast DC quick charging, appropriate with each 400V and 800V infrastructures. Using a 350 kW DC quick charger, the car can cost from 10% to 80% in as little as 24 minutes, minimizing downtime throughout lengthy journeys. Moreover, beginning in Spring 2025, EV9 homeowners are anticipated to realize entry to over 16,500 North American Charging Normal (NACS) appropriate quick chargers, practically doubling the variety of accessible DC quick chargers to over 35,000 nationwide, enhancing the comfort of long-distance journey.

And but, regardless of the quirks, the EV9 isn’t any flop. In truth, it’s successful. It strikes with poise, rides quietly, and at last offers EV-curious households a legit various to Tesla’s tech cult. The vary is respectable, the tech is flashy, and the styling is something however nameless. It’s a car that calls for consideration, whether or not in suburban parking tons or stoplight conversations. Individuals prefer it. And they need to. It’s an bold automobile in a sea of cautious ones. However that ambition comes with rising pains.

Kia EV9 Service Woes: Seller Delays and Vital Components Challenges

Chief amongst them? The service expertise. The second one thing goes mistaken, say, a charging fault or a software program freeze, you’re instantly staring into the void of a seller community nonetheless caught in ICE-age considering. These are the identical techs who simply final yr had been troubleshooting energy steering pumps, now anticipated to know the intricacies of high-voltage structure. Spoiler alert: many don’t. One proprietor recalled a go to that took three hours as a result of the dealership needed to name company simply to reset the battery administration system. That’s not a luxurious expertise, it’s a studying curve.

After which there’s the components drawback. For those who want one thing past primary upkeep, chances are high it’s being shipped from South Korea. Wait occasions can stretch from weeks into months. It’s déjà vu for anybody who’s owned a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or a Genesis GV60. Kia and Hyundai have constructed nice automobiles, however their U.S. provide chains haven’t caught as much as their engineering ambition. You don’t discover it till your touchscreen blanks out or a charging port malfunctions. And you then’re stranded, ready for a element that’s floating someplace within the Pacific.

Praised Efficiency Amid Notable Design and Service Compromises

Nonetheless, for all of the gripes, there’s a camp of homeowners who love this factor. They reward the quiet journey, the third-row house, and the understated luxurious. Some even say it’s extra comfy than their outdated BMW X5s or Audi Q7s. It’s the primary time a Korean producer has made a big electrical SUV that doesn’t really feel like an imitation however an announcement. And perhaps that’s sufficient for most individuals. In any case, automobiles have all the time been compromises. The EV9 simply occurs to spotlight its personal compromises with flashing ambient lighting and awkward foot positioning.

Finally, the EV9 is a rolling contradiction, a triumph of ambition with moments of baffling execution. It’s the sort of automobile that shall be remembered not only for what it bought proper however for a way boldly it bought a number of issues hilariously mistaken. Just like the second-row calf relaxation that doesn’t work for precise calves. Or a seller tech who has to telephone a pal each time an error code pops up. It’s half sensible, half beta check. 

Picture Sources: Kia Pressroom, and from Barton Younger’s Fb publish referenced above.

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist primarily based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys masking the newest information within the automotive trade and conducting critiques on the newest automobiles. He has been within the automotive trade since 15 years outdated and has been featured in outstanding automotive information websites. You’ll be able to attain him on X and LinkedIn for suggestions and to observe his automotive protection.