First Sight: Kia EV9 heralds Karim Habib’s new design strategy

Kia’s new flagship EV9 production model broke cover late on Tuesday 14th March 2023 (21:00 GMT) but in advance of that reveal Car Design News attended an earlier preview of the full-electric large SUV in South Korea and had a deep-dive with its design team.

The stylish electric-blue SUV concept of the same name that first unveiled at the Automobility LA show in November 2021 gave us a good steer on what to expect, and when the covers came off at the secret Seoul photography space in mid-February 2023, the production model did not disappoint. Featuring similarly triangular-shaped and deeply-flared wings, plus a chunky wraparound windscreen courtesy of blacked-out A-pillars, the exterior look is topped off with animated digital light patterns inbound of the slim LED headlights, three-prong ‘star map’ lights at the rear and a pleasing X-shaped wheel design.

Despite the first images now in the public domain, Kia still won’t reveal exact dimensions before its wider global unveil on March 29th, but the EV9 is tipped to be just over five metres in length, under two metres wide, circa 1.76m high and with a 3.2-metre wheelbase. And we do know it uses the same electric car architecture as the Ioniq 5 and 6 and the Kia EV6 (the E-GMP platform).

Having viewed both concept and production cars up close, the latter showroom EV9 with its smaller 21-inch wheels definitely looks lower, giving an almost ‘mini-slammed’ effect.

Senior design VP Karim Habib cited “aerodynamic reasons” as part of the decision to have less ground clearance on the production EV9 and the bonnet is also more curved than the concept’s for similar aero benefit, but he also highlighted other dimensional changes between the two.

“The [production] car’s bonnet is shorter, the cabin longer and the beltline definitely lower than on the concept,” he told Car Design News. “In its glass-to-body proportion, it’s a bit less-classical SUV, but that was all part of the message of this ‘living space’ architecture.”

The EV9 is an important car for Habib. He only joined the brand in October 2019 – and was too late to affect anything on the EV6 – so the EV9 is the first Kia fully-formed under his direction and its bodywork is clearly more geometric and less soft-surfaced than the EV6.

“The concept was pulled out of the process of the production car,” confirmed Habib, “the designs were by the same Turkish designer, Berk Erner from our Californian studio, and he continued both the concept and production car. The interior was done in Korea, led by Jochen Paesen.”

That interior features some of the production car’s show-stopping elements. VP of Kia interior design, Paesen said the overall aesthetic aim was about “concentrating on the negative space and shadow and to be an antithesis of the over-busy interior design approach of other SUVs”.

Accordingly, the instrument panel, door grab handles and centre armrest – with significant open storage space beneath – all appear to float, seemingly suspended in their various locations. The EV9 sports one large 27-inch instrument panel combining a trio of slim screens underneath, which Paesen explained is a “newer generation of screens beyond the EV6 which will be rolled out across the range”.

The SUV also gets a new steering wheel with a chamfered top edge – creating a shallow, capital ‘D’ shape on its side at the top to make viewing the driver display easier – while all of the key physical driver controls are clustered around the steering column to avoid greater visual clutter elsewhere. There’s also a button called ‘Terrain Response’ below the base of the steering wheel hub, suggesting that this large SUV has some level of off-roading ability – which is refreshing given its body shape. But arguably the more interesting aspects of the EV9 are behind the front seats, where lies a variety of functional flexibility more usually associated with MPVs.

In six-seat mode, the EV9’s second-row captain-style chairs are able to swivel rearward, first through 90 degrees, to allow easier entry and exit for frailer individuals, and then again around to 180 degrees. In this position the seats can also slide left and right to be horizontally offset in relation to the forward-facing third row.

This means all passengers can find a place for their legs without clashing kneecaps and maybe even have a face-to-face chat (although under most countries’ laws, this layout can only be employed when the car is parked). There’s also a large centre console between the two front seats with a small tray that extends rearward to place drinks, phones and more on top and add to the convivial-feeling space.

Sitting in the third-row seats with the second-row facing forward, it’s a bit tight for passenger knees due to flat, rather than hollowed-out seat backs in front, but on the plus side this design improves load-flat functionality when second- and third-row seats are folded (see picture). A large boot is promised, but as yet no specific luggage volume figures have been given and there’s also a ‘frunk’ under the bonnet able to carry more than just charging cables.

The EV9’s cabin is a vegan, leather-free space and uses recycled PET within many of its materials. The colour palette on the two early vehicles we saw, one a design model, the other a prototype – and the latter unusually only shown in base trim – both featured a series of muted shades of grey. However, Paesen says more colourful options will be available from the EV9’s late-2023 on-sale date. “We wanted a two-tone approach, with less chrome and less gloss black and more fabric. But other colours are coming.”

Underpinning this practical family vehicle is a 337-mile electric range target and 800-volt rapid charging capability, starting from £65,000. That’s a lot of money for any car – and especially a Kia – but maybe the brand can now carry that price tag. Because up close, the EV9 looks like a highly desirable and compelling package.