Kia EV9 Review: Sandy and Sue’s Expert Verdict

The Kia EV9 has sparked significant interest across the electric vehicle (EV) landscape, blending SUV utility with bold design and luxury-tier features. In a recent detailed breakdown, Munro & Associates’ Sandy Munro and Sue shared their expert impressions of the Kia EV9. This expert review offers valuable insights into the vehicle’s engineering, comfort, and usability — perfect for automotive engineers, EV enthusiasts, and investors looking to understand how Kia stacks up in the maturing EV market.

Styling and Exterior Impressions

Right from the start, Sandy and Sue acknowledged the EV9’s aggressive exterior styling — a hallmark of recent Kia and Hyundai models. The design features sharp lines and bold panel gaps that reflect careful attention to manufacturing tolerances. Sandy appreciated the visual appeal, noting that while neither he nor Sue favored blue, the finish paired well with the piano black trim. The long roofline suggests a van-like silhouette, especially when viewed from the side, though Kia markets the EV9 squarely as an SUV.

Despite the styling, the vehicle’s identity feels hybrid — part SUV, part minivan. With its massive rear doors and upright profile, it offers both practical ingress and a visually assertive stance. Sandy emphasized how the visual character suits Kia’s evolving design language, although he joked it might look better in red or white for greater presence.

Interior Comfort and Layout Challenges

One of the most telling parts of the review focused on cabin experience. Sandy found the seats comfortable, but Sue — due to her shorter seated height — struggled with visibility, especially with the heads-up display. The car’s ergonomics seem to lean toward taller drivers, highlighting a lack of adjustability that could alienate some users.

The cabin features a sweeping dashboard with a long, lean digital display that’s aesthetically pleasing but, according to Sue, hard to read from certain angles. The drive mode selector and start button placement received strong criticism. Both hosts found the gear selector poorly positioned and the start-stop button hidden behind the steering wheel — a design decision that left Sandy questioning why modern EVs still mimic outdated ICE controls.

Their critique was sharp: legacy components and redundant controls add complexity and cost without adding functionality. Sandy estimated the cost of these “good old days” features to be nearly $1,000 — money that could be saved by simplifying controls or replacing physical buttons with on-screen functions. For Munro, this complexity contradicts the lean design philosophy that defines best-in-class EV engineering.

Tech Features and Driving Modes

Despite their issues with layout, Sandy and Sue praised several of the EV9’s technical features. Chief among them was the heads-up display. Unlike many competitors’ HUDs, Kia’s version stood out for clarity and integration, earning Sandy’s full approval.

Drive modes also added a dynamic layer to the driving experience. With Eco, Normal, Sport, and Snow settings, the EV9 offers versatile performance tuning. Sandy and Sue experimented with the modes and found Eco to deliver meaningful range improvements — albeit at the expense of responsiveness. In contrast, Sport mode produced a tangible boost in torque and engagement, providing a more exciting drive. Sue noted subtle seat adjustments across modes, which she found unnecessary, preferring a consistent seating position.

The steering wheel, while large in diameter, felt solid and responsive. Small touches like ambient mood lighting and customizable screens added to the high-end feel. The HVAC system was also praised for its quiet operation and effective climate control, enhancing the premium in-cabin experience.

Rear Seating and Passenger Experience

The EV9 isn’t just about the driver. Rear passengers enjoy thoughtful touches that reflect Kia’s family-oriented intent. The second-row seats fold effortlessly with a button, although Sandy pointed out that the same button is poorly positioned for egress — leading to awkward exits. It’s a rare oversight in an otherwise user-friendly second row.

Storage compartments, cup holders, rear screens, and climate controls make the EV9 a true contender in the long-distance family travel segment. Sue likened the experience to a minivan — practical and comfortable. The cabin feels open and roomy, easily accommodating six adults (not seven, as Kia marketing occasionally claims).

Despite this spaciousness, Sandy noted the frunk’s limited utility — only large enough for a wallet or charging cable. The third-row seats eat into rear cargo space, though the auto-folding mechanisms for the seats were described as “sweet” and ergonomically smooth.

Engineering Insight: Tooling Choices and Cost Efficiency

Sandy, ever the teardown analyst, raised an important point about tooling reuse. He suggested that many of the EV9’s outdated controls — especially the drive stalk and start button — likely exist to repurpose legacy components and save tooling costs. While economically reasonable from a manufacturing standpoint, this compromises the design purity expected in modern EVs.

He cautioned that such decisions often result in carrying unnecessary cost and complexity forward, locking in outdated interfaces that could be easily eliminated. Sandy advocated for more radical simplification — drawing on Tesla’s approach, where turn signals are integrated into thumb-operated steering wheel controls and there are no stalks at all.

A Conservative Yet Competitive EV

In summary, Sandy and Sue saw the Kia EV9 as a strong, if conservative, entry into the electric SUV market. The styling is bold. The features are rich. The comfort and ride quality are impressive. But the interface and control philosophy remain rooted in ICE-era habits that may confuse modern EV drivers.

For first-time EV owners, however, this very familiarity could be a selling point. As Sue noted, for someone transitioning from a gas-powered vehicle, the EV9 offers an accessible bridge — full of creature comforts and easy-to-understand features. It’s a transitional EV rather than a revolutionary one.

Meanwhile, experienced EV users, especially those accustomed to the streamlined UX of Tesla or Rivian, may find Kia’s approach cluttered and overengineered.

Kia EV9 Expert Review Takeaways

• Design Philosophy: Kia leans conservative with legacy features — missed opportunity for lean simplification.

• User Interface: Poor button placement and control ergonomics undermine an otherwise sleek interior.

• Performance Modes: Multiple drive settings offer meaningful range and feel variation — Sport mode stands out.

• Passenger Experience: Roomy, well-equipped second and third rows make this ideal for family use.

• Value Analysis: At $75,000+, the EV9 must compete against more minimalist, software-forward rivals.

Final Thoughts

The Kia EV9 is a commendable entry into the competitive EV SUV segment. While not groundbreaking in its approach, it offers a comfortable, stylish, and well-featured option for families and new EV adopters. Engineers and industry observers should note the blend of innovation and legacy thinking that defines this vehicle. Kia is clearly capable. But whether they’ll push harder into lean design territory remains to be seen.

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