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

Kia has completed 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 type of company gamble that may’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 displaying 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 surprise: 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 appears like one thing supplied on a funds 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 publish 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 difficulty with the 2nd-row seat… If you’re over 4 toes tall, you may’t use this all the best way reclined.

My toes and ankles do not magically poke by way of that seat in entrance of me! Am I lacking one thing, or do most of you’ve the identical concern?”

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 type of ergonomic mistake that feels much less like an oversight and extra like nobody within the design studio bothered to sit down 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 various driving preferences. The usual rear-wheel-drive (RWD) mannequin encompasses 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 supply 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. Increased trims supply 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. ​
• Outfitted with superior charging expertise, the EV9 helps ultra-fast DC quick charging, appropriate 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 homeowners are anticipated to realize entry to over 16,500 North American Charging Commonplace (NACS) appropriate quick chargers, almost 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 is not any flop. In actual fact, it’s successful. It strikes with poise, rides quietly, and eventually offers 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 tons or stoplight conversations. Individuals prefer it. And they need to. It’s an formidable automobile in a sea of cautious ones. However that ambition comes with rising pains.

Kia EV9 Service Woes: Supplier Delays and Important Elements Challenges

Chief amongst them? The service expertise. The second one thing goes flawed, say, a charging fault or a software program freeze, you’re immediately staring into the void of a vendor community nonetheless caught in ICE-age pondering. These are the identical techs who simply final 12 months had been troubleshooting energy steering pumps, now anticipated to know 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 fundamental upkeep, chances are high it’s being shipped from South Korea. Wait occasions 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 then you definately’re stranded, ready for a part 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 homeowners 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 possibly that’s sufficient for most individuals. In any case, vehicles have all the time been compromises. The EV9 simply occurs to spotlight 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 type of automobile that might be remembered not only for what it bought proper however for a way boldly it bought a number of issues hilariously flawed. Just like the second-row calf relaxation that doesn’t work for precise calves. Or a vendor tech who has to telephone a buddy each time an error code pops up. It’s half sensible, half beta check. 

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

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based mostly in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys masking the most recent information within the automotive business and conducting critiques on the most recent vehicles. He has been within the automotive business since 15 years outdated and has been featured in distinguished automotive information websites. You possibly can attain him on X and LinkedIn for suggestions and to observe his automotive protection.