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

Kia has performed 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 form of company gamble that will’ve made old-school Detroit nervous again within the tailfin days. And for essentially the most half, it’s labored.

The EV9 is a business win: Patrons are exhibiting 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 selections and dealership dilemmas that make you marvel: who precisely was this constructed for?

Unpacking the Controversial “Calf Relaxation” Function

Let’s begin with the notorious second-row “calf relaxation”, a misnomer that seems like one thing supplied on a finances 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 put up within the Kia EV9 House owners USA Fb group:

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

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

The feedback? Pure web gold. “It’s a calf relaxation, not a footrest,” snapped one consumer, 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 consumer error or company oversight, it’s clear one thing’s off. It’s the form 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 gives a number of powertrain configurations to cater to numerous driving preferences. The usual rear-wheel-drive (RWD) mannequin incorporates 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, reaching 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 capabilities. Larger trims provide second-row VIP leisure chairs which might be eight-way power-adjustable, full with headrests and a two-way power-adjustable legrest, enhancing passenger consolation throughout journeys. ​
• Geared up with superior charging know-how, the EV9 helps ultra-fast DC quick charging, suitable with each 400V and 800V infrastructures. Using a 350 kW DC quick charger, the automobile can cost from 10% to 80% in as little as 24 minutes, minimizing downtime throughout lengthy journeys. Moreover, beginning in Spring 2025, EV9 house owners are anticipated to realize entry to over 16,500 North American Charging Customary (NACS) suitable 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. Actually, it’s a success. It strikes with poise, rides quietly, and at last provides EV-curious households a reliable different to Tesla’s tech cult. The vary is respectable, the tech is flashy, and the styling is something however nameless. It’s a automobile that calls for consideration, whether or not in suburban parking heaps or stoplight conversations. Individuals prefer it. And they need to. It’s an formidable automotive 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 fallacious, say, a charging fault or a software program freeze, you’re out of the blue staring into the void of a vendor community nonetheless caught in ICE-age pondering. These are the identical techs who simply final yr have been troubleshooting energy steering pumps, now anticipated to grasp 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 downside. When you want one thing past primary upkeep, likelihood is it’s being shipped from South Korea. Wait instances 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 vehicles, 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 householders who love this factor. They reward the quiet trip, the third-row area, 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 a press release. And perhaps that’s sufficient for most individuals. In any case, vehicles have at all times been compromises. The EV9 simply occurs to focus on its personal compromises with flashing ambient lighting and awkward foot positioning.

In the end, the EV9 is a rolling contradiction, a triumph of ambition with moments of baffling execution. It’s the form of automotive that can be remembered not only for what it acquired proper however for the way boldly it acquired a couple of issues hilariously fallacious. Just like the second-row calf relaxation that doesn’t work for precise calves. Or a vendor tech who has to telephone a pal each time an error code pops up. It’s half sensible, half beta take a look at. 

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

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based mostly in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys overlaying the newest information within the automotive business and conducting opinions on the newest vehicles. He has been within the automotive business since 15 years outdated and has been featured in outstanding automotive information websites. You may attain him on X and LinkedIn for ideas and to comply with his automotive protection.