Kia shares how EV9 trims and pricing will break down ahead of start of reservations this month
Days after announcing a concrete date for the start of reservations in the US this month, Kia has followed up with even more pertinent details surrounding the EV9 SUV, including its trim levels and pricing. Here’s the latest.
The EV9 is the upcoming, all-electric large SUV from Kia that has garnered a lot of hype and consumer interest since its debut this past March. Naturally, we have covered the SUV’s progress every step of the way, through deliveries in South Korea over the summer, plans for North American assembly, and production delays due to such high demand.
While we’ve seen the EV in action on roads and through cold weather testing, we have been lacking some of the major details surrounding the EV9, especially for consumers – trims and pricing.
In late September, Kia America shared that the EV9 would start at an MSRP of $54,900 and serve as a “wake-up call” to the industry thanks to its advanced 800 V E-GMP platform, bidirectional charging capabilities, and massive interior space – all at competitive pricing.
While we had since learned that reservations for the SUV would open in the US on October 16, we had yet to know how this market’s trim levels would break down and what pricing options beyond the base version would be. Today, we have our answer.
Kia shares pricing for five different EV9 trim levels
Per details from Kia America posted this afternoon, the EV9 will, in fact, begin reservations in the US on October 16 as the first EV from the Korean automaker assembled in North America. We’ve been talking about the details of this incoming SUV for months, so let’s skip right into the good stuff.
Here’s how the trims of the Kia EV9 will break down, complete with pricing:
| EV9 Trim | MSRP* |
| Light RWD | $54,900 |
| Light Long Range RWD | $59,200 |
| Wind e-AWD | $63,900 |
| Land e-AWD | $69,900 |
| GT-Line e-AWD | $73,900 |
The single-motor RWD Light versions of the EV9 will offer 215 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the Long Range RWD version will offer 201 HP and a larger 99.8 kWh battery pack and captain’s chairs.
The dual-motor AWD trims deliver 379 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, plus a higher ground clearance of 7.8 inches. Additionally, a heat pump and heated steering wheel come equipped standard.
Finally, the GT-Line offers the same horsepower but with torque vectoring AWD and a bolstered 516 lb-ft of torque. Kia has plenty more details you can peruse in today’s press release, but one last key detail we are missing is the EPA estimated range for all these trims.
We are sure to learn more about that in the coming weeks as reservations begin. Speaking of which – US consumers can secure their own EV9 now that they know the pricing above by putting a fully refundable $750 deposit down, which includes a pretty sweet welcome package if you place a rezzie before November 27, 2023. Per Kia:
Customers who make a reservation request through November 27, 2023 will be eligible to receive a suite of gifts after their purchase or lease of an EV9, including a Webasto Go Dual Voltage Portable EV Charger, a complimentary three-year Kia Maintenance Plan, and one year of available Digital Features & Services. All customers purchasing or leasing the all-new EV9 will receive a 1,000-kWh charging credit with Electrify America.
Reservations open at 10 a.m. PST on October 16 and can be made at kia.com.
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Tesla’s retro-futuristic diner with Superchargers and giant movie screens is ready to open, and I have to admit, it looks pretty sick.
This project has been in the works for a long time.
In 2018, Elon Musk said that Tesla planned to open an “old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in Los Angeles.” It was yet another “Is he joking?” kind of Elon Musk idea, but he wasn’t kidding.
A few months later, Tesla applied for building permits for “a restaurant and Supercharger station” at a location in Santa Monica. However, the project stalled for a long time, apparently due to local regulations.
Nevertheless, Tesla still moved forward with a Supercharger at the location, but it had to move the diner project to Hollywood. In 2022, Tesla filed the construction plans with the city, giving us the first look at what the automaker intends to build.
In 2023, the automaker broke ground on the site of the diner.
7 years after being originally announced, the project appears now ready to open:
Musk said that he ate at the diner last night and claimed that it is “one of the coolest spots in LA.” He didn’t say when it will open, but Tesla vehicles have been spotted at Supercharger and people appear to be testing the dinning experience inside.
A Tesla Optimus Robot can be seen inside the diner on a test rack. It looks like Tesla might use one for some tasks inside the diner.
Earlier this year, Tesla integrated the diner into its mobile app – hinting at some interaction through the app – possibly ordering from it.
Electrek’s Take
I think it looks pretty cool. I am a fan of the design and concept.
However, considering the state of the Tesla community, I don’t think I’d like the vibes. That said, it looks like Tesla isn’t prominently pushing its branding on the diner.
You can come and charge there, but it looks like Tesla is also aiming to get a wider clientele just for dining.
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Hyundai’s electric minivan is finally out in the open. The Staria EV was caught without camo near Hyundai’s R&D center in Korea, giving us a closer look at the electric minivan undisguised.
Hyundai’s electric minivan drops camo ahead of debut
The Staria arrived in 2021 as the successor to the Starex, Hyundai’s multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Although the Staria has received several updates throughout the years, 2026 will be its biggest by far.
Hyundai will launch the Staria EV, its first electric minivan. Like the current model, the 2026 Staria will be available in several different configurations, including cargo, passenger, and even a camper version.
We’ve seen the Staria EV out in public a few times already. Last month, we got a glimpse of it while driving on public roads in Korea.
Despite the camouflage, new EV-like design elements were visible, including updated LED headlights and a full-length light bar. Although it’s still unclear, the electric version appears to be roughly the same size as the current Staria from the side, but slightly wider from the front.
New images posted on the South Korean forum Clien reveal a test car, expected to be Hyundai’s Staria electric minivan, without camo.
Like most Hyundai test cars, the prototype has a black front and a grey body. It still features a similar look to other prototypes we’ve seen, but you can clearly see the new facelift.
Earlier this year, a Staria EV was spotted in a parking lot in Korea, featuring a similar look. The electric version is nearly identical to the Staria Lounge, but with an added charge port and closed-off grille.
The Hyundai Staria EV is expected to make its global debut later this year. Technical details have yet to be revealed, but it’s expected to feature either a 76 kWh or 84 kWh battery, providing a range of around 350 km (217 miles) to 400 km (249 miles).
Hyundai’s electric SUV arrives after Kia introduced its first electric van, the PV5, which launched in Europe and Korea earlier this year.
In Europe, the Kia Passenger PV5 model is available with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh, providing WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo version has a WLTP range of 181 miles or 247 miles.
Source: TheKoreanCarBlog, Clien
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