The three-row midsize 2026 Kia EV9 electric SUV is getting a shot of adrenaline in the form of the sporty new GT trim. With standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and over 500 horsepower, this three-row electric SUV can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in approximately 4.6 seconds. That makes it one of the quickest electric SUVs, with performance to match luxury-badged rivals like the Mercedes-Benz EQS, BMW iX, and Rivian R1S.
2026 Kia EV9 Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Kia EV9
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Kia EV9
The GT is a new high-performance addition to the EV9 lineup. Introduced for the 2024 model year, the EV9 is roughly the same size as Kia's popular mid-size gasoline-powered SUV, the Telluride. The new GT trim comes standard with AWD and two electric motors.
Design
The EV9 GT doesn’t exactly shout its sporting pretensions. Visual updates from the regular EV9 range are fairly subtle and consist of green-painted brake calipers peeking out from behind trim-specific 21-inch alloy wheels. At each corner are 285/45R Continental tires. The GT also has what Kia calls its “Energetic” front lighting design and GT-specific patterns on the front active air flaps.
Powertrain
Perched at the top of the EV9 lineup, the GT model boasts a dual-motor drivetrain that produces 501 horsepower. According to Kia’s stopwatch, this is enough to scoot the EV9 from zero to 100 km/h in only 4.6 seconds. Due to this added power, the EV9 GT has a range of 418 kilometres, as opposed to the 455 kilometres available on the Land AWD trim and the 491 kilometres on the Wind trim with rear-wheel drive (RWD).
Helping get that power to the road is a driver-selectable electronically controlled suspension aided by an electronic limited-slip differential. Drive modes consist of Normal, Eco, Sport, and My Drive. The EV9 GT also gets what Kia calls Virtual Gear Shift. This is engineered to mimic the shift patterns of a traditional automatic gearbox. It's complemented by shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel. Like the rest of the EV9 range, the GT model has 19.8 centimetres of ground clearance and a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds).
Interior
The EV9 GT has more heavily bolstered front seats than its non-GT counterparts, with Alcantara inserts that are embellished with GT logos. Unique to the GT model is a dark grey and black colour combination with neon accents. The design of the steering wheel and dashboard trim is also exclusive to the GT. Yet, for the most part, the cabin is similar to that of other EV9 models. This includes handy features like six USB ports, wireless device charging, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen.
The Kia EV9 can seat six or seven, depending on the second-row configuration. In Canada, the GT comes equipped with a second-row bench seat to create seating for up to seven occupants.
Technology
In addition to its generous onboard technology offerings, the EV9 GT has 800-volt DC fast-charge capability. This allows a battery recharge from 10 to 80 percent in less than 25 minutes, according to Kia. The 2026 Kia EV9 also comes fitted with a North American Charging Standard (NACS) outlet, which allows it access to roughly 35,000 public fast-charging stations across the continent.
