Flagship destroyer

The Kia EV9 is sized similar to any other 3-row flagship luxury SUV, but aggressive pricing and world-class features on a proven EVplatform make it a formidable contender

The EV9 is the third electric vehicle from Kia to be based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) of the Hyundai Motor Group, following up from the EV6 that is also present in India as well as the EV5 SUV that is being made in China and slated for exports globally. E-GMP also underpins Hyundai's Ioniq cars, the 5 and the 6 and in the future will also underpin the Ioniq 9 as well as the Kia EV3 and EV4.

The EV9 sits in a unique position for electric vehicles as it is one of the few nearly full-sized SUVs with three rows of seats, comes from a mass-market though upmarket vehicle manufacturer, has design and styling, safety and technology, convenience and assistance systems to match the most premium of vehicles. Its pricing in global markets starts just above where the EV6 stops and is well under similar-sized offerings from premium and luxury car manufacturers. For what one would get for a similar price in the EV SUV world, the Mercedes EQB comes to mind though they are vehicles from different segments.

It is a three-row SUV that at 5,015mm is just shorter than the Kia Carnival but has a wheelbase of 3,100mm that is longer than that of the Carnival, thereby having even more interior space than the Carnival could possibly have. Both its width and its height are similar to that of the Carnival, though of course its body shape is totally unlike that of the Carnival.

1. The 12.3in instrument display in true Kia fashion gets crisp and stylish graphics. Customers can also opt for a 12in HUD which beams all relevant information right into the driver's field of view.

2. The EV9's clever storage solutions is highlighted by the extendable 2nd-row centre console which can be used as a tray table or to store objects inside, and when not required can be conveniently pushed back into the centre console