10 Things You Should Know About The Kia EV9 GT

Kia’s three-row EV9 SUV has received significant responses from the US consumer market. In its 2024 year-to-date sales report released earlier this year, Kia revealed that the Kia EV9 SUV had garnered 7,766 sales.

Joining the 2025 EV9 lineup is Kia’s new GT offshoot of the striking all-electric SUV, which has finally been unveiled. Compared to the standard model, the EV9 GT has a sportier appearance, a revised powertrain configuration, more power, and much more.

10 Dual Motor Drivetrain

Dual electric motor configurations in the 2025 Kia EV9 range are nothing new, with higher-ranking derivatives possessing all-wheel-drive configurations. However, in the previous model year, the dual-motor Kia EV9 GT-Line was the most powerful model in the EV9 range, possessing 379 hp. The Boost mode offers a slight increase in power and quicker acceleration.

The 2025 Kia EV9 GT retains the dual electric motor configuration. The pairing of the two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors delivers a combined estimated total output of 501 hp. The increase in power has resulted in a significant performance improvement. The electric motors that underpin the performance-focused Kia EV9 offshoot offer the SUV model impressive capabilities, like towing a load of up to 5,000 lbs.

9 Range-Topping Performance

The 2024 model Kia EV9 GT-Line has commendable performance, considering its curb weight of 7,099 lb is compensated by the 516 lb-ft of torque produced by the model’s electric motors. A 0-60 mph sprint in 5 seconds is 0.7 seconds faster than the Land AWD model positioned directly beneath the GT-Line. Kia says internal testing is still underway for the new Kia EV9 GT. However, Kia has an estimated target of 4.3 seconds for its new full-fledged performance-focused EV9 GT.

If its sprint estimations were realized, the Kia EV9 GT would be almost within a second of the much lighter and higher-powered 2024 variant of the Kia EV6 GT. An output of just over 500 hp would make the 2025 Kia EV9 GT the most powerful three-row SUV Kia has ever produced. It would make it the most powerful Kia ever, even beating the Stinger. Stopping power for the power-laden SUV has been improved compared to the non-GT stablemates and is derived from upgraded brakes distinguished by their model-exclusive GT-badged front calipers.

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8 Electronically Controlled Suspension

A new aspect of the Kia EV9 GT is the Korean automaker’s suspension system. For the first time in one of Kia’s three-row SUVs, the electronically controlled suspension system can be adjusted across various driving modes. It will change depending on the desired driving style. In its sports mode, the suspension, specifically the shock damping, is set to its stiffest setting.

This electronically controlled suspension system has already been used in models like the Kia EV6 GT, which employs it on the front and rear axles. In that configuration, the system utilizes vehicle sensors to maximize the driving experience, leveraging factors like speed, road surface, stopping requirements, and acceleration.

7 GT Model Exterior

Aside from powertrain changes, the GT model wears its increased performance on its sleeve, presented as a sporty exterior design with subtle changes applied to echo its sporty nature. 21-inch alloy wheels, wrapped in 285/45R-21 Continental tires, are notable aspects of the GT’s exterior and shrouding neon green brake calipers.

The front fascia of the Kia EV9 GT is characterized by the firm’s “ENERGETIC” lighting pattern seemingly flowing from the vertical headlights into the upper portion of the front end, accentuated by model-exclusive patterns on the Active Air Flaps positioned on the front fascia. Aside from that, the Kia EV9 GT retains the same body style, accentuated by its muscular wheel arches and standoffish fave underscored by a distinctive lower front fascia. The rear of the EV9 GT has the same design as the preceding model year, featuring vertical taillights and a contoured tailgate. Another interesting point about the Kia EV9 GT is its ground clearance, rated at 7.9 inches.

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6 Integrated NACS Charging Port

NACS stands for North American Charging Standard, a charging connector interface standard developed by Tesla Inc. for electric vehicles. Two types of charging interfaces exist: the CCS (Combined Charging System) interface and the NACS interface. Both support AC and DC charging, but the main difference is that CCS, as the name suggests, combines Type 1 and Type 2 connectors and is typically larger ports because of their combination. NACS interfaces are smaller because they utilize the same connector pins for AC and DC charging stations.

The standard EV9 range is equipped with the Combined Charging System port on the right-hand side of the SUV, allowing fast charging with a total charging capacity of up to 210 kW. Telsa’s NACS configuration is used in most fast chargers in the United States. From the first half of 2025, all Kia EV9 models, including the EV9 GT, will feature this NACS interface, allowing access to roughly 35,000 DC fast chargers across the United States.

5 Bespoke Interior Design

Most of Kia’s revisions to the design of the Kia EV9 GT were made to the interior rather than the exterior. The bright green color scheme is not exclusive to the brake calipers; it is also present in the interior, notably the bespoke steering wheel, the seats, and the center console. The seats of the E V9 GT are another notable and bespoke aspect of this performance-focused three-row SUV, which are deep-bolstered sport seats accentuated by Alcántara suede inserts and punctuated by the GT logo.

The steering wheel is also exclusive to the EV9 GT model and complemented by bespoke dashboard trim. The interior is finished in Dark Gray and Black faux leather with neon accents. The 12.30-inch infotainment screen features model-exclusive graphics, complemented by an ambient lighting scheme that leverages over-the-air technology to introduce new lighting patterns in the future.

4 Virtual Gear Shift

A notable feature of the Kia EV9 GT is the firm’s Virtual Gear Shift system, which is purposed to mimic the sensation of a conventional step-shift automatic transmission. During operation, this system provides simulated shifts under acceleration and, interestingly, reduces acceleration when the “rev limit” is reached. It’s one of the coolest features that debuted with the Ioniq 5 N.

Paddle shifters are attached behind the steering wheel, allowing the driver to manually shift through the GT’s gears, which Kia intends to enhance the driving experience. Furthering the driving experience is the electric Active Sound Design system, which works with the VGS system to mimic the sound of gear shifts while the Kia EV9 GT accelerates.

3 An Array Of ADAS Features

The Kia EV9 GT is laden with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. Some of these systems include Parking Collision Avoidance Assist along the SUV’s front, flank, and rear. Other systems include Forward Collision-Avodiance Assist 2, Cyclist and Pedestrian Detection with Evasive Steering Assist, Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control-Curver – which applies the brake to maintain the predetermined speed through a corner when – Rear Cross-Traffic Collisions Avoidance Assist, Park Distance Warning, Bling-Spot View Monitor, Surround View Monity, and Remote Smart Parking Assist, are a few of the features included in its list of ADAS features.

2 Charging Capability

Although the Kia EV9 GT has outstanding performance, especially compared to the models it shares a nameplate with, it still relies on an 800-volt fast charging architecture that is standard throughout the range.

When paired with a DC fast charger, which the new NACS charging port makes easier, the SUV can fill its battery capacity to 80% from 10 in less than 25 minutes, similar to the rest of the EV9 range. EPA estimates for the 2024 Kia EV9 are set at 304 miles; however, the EPA range for the EV9 GT is not available yet.

1 Estimated Time OF Arrival

The new GT model is assembled in Kia’s South Korea plant and will be available in the US sometime in the second half of 2025. This model will serve as another performance-focused derivative in Kia’s lineup and a follow-up act to the EV6 GT model, distinguished by its offering more cargo space. Pricing for the new Kia EV9 GT will only be made available close to its on-sale date. The 2024 Kia GT-Line e-AWD had a starting price of $75,395, with the expectation of the Kia EV9 GT model’s starting price within the region of $80,000.

Sources:
Kia