Hands-on: The Kia EV9 is huge, but its backseat and frunk are not
The LA Auto Show is in town, and we got a chance to hop in the EV9 and see how big this three-row EV really is. It turns out, from the inside, it was smaller than expected.
This isn’t a full review, first drive, or even a first ride. All we got to do was check out a stationary version of the car up close on the show floor. Kia invited us out a few months ago to check out the EV9 but when we got there, the demo model we were to view was broken.
The main question that we think people will have about this car is: does it fit three rows worth of adults comfortably? And from our short experience, it feels like the answer is no.
The conditions of the impromptu test involved several members of the media climbing into the car to see how it felt. The EV9 in question was a 6-seat “captain’s chair” configuration, where the second row includes two chairs with armrests and a passthrough in between for access to the third row without having to fold the second-row seats down. For the record, I like this configuration and I think it is the most common on the Model X.
When I hopped into the car, there was a relatively small woman in the third row, and I asked if I could join. So I, a 6′ tall man (who nevertheless fits into small seats relatively well – I drive a Tesla Roadster, for example), got back there and had a seat, and the second-row seat was positioned way too far back to be comfortable. After adjusting the second-row seat approximately to my liking (which I could do by reaching around to the side electronic seat controls from behind – it wasn’t the easiest reach, but it was doable), a shorter person sat in the 2nd-row seat in front of me.
In this configuration, all three of us were unimpressed with the amount of space that we had. Despite having moved the seat forward, I didn’t really give myself a particularly spacious knee area, just the bare minimum. And the man in front of me was unenthused about the amount of room that he had.
As for my third-row-mate, the captain’s chairs had a post connecting to the floor of the vehicle right around where either of us in the back would have put one of our feet. The choices were either to twist our bodies unnaturally outward to put both feet underneath the second-row seats, or to leave one foot in between the second-row seats, wherein we ended up fighting for foot space. There was enough foot space for the both of us, but our feet were close enough that it felt like a game of footsie could break out at any moment.
All of this experience can’t really be summarized perfectly well in pictures, but I did take a couple just to give an idea of what was going on.
Even though the three of us did fit, it really didn’t feel like it would be comfortable for a particularly long ride.
Not long after, I walked over to the Lucid Gravity booth, and while I wasn’t able to sit in the third row seat of that vehicle, Lucid assured us that it has much more room in the seats. But then, every company says its cars have lots of room. It should be an interesting comparison when we get the chance, given that the Lucid is 1 inch longer than the EV9, so they fit into the same category.
As for other impressions – the dashboard was nice, striking a good balance between the spartan interiors that I love (Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 5) and those that offer a lot of functions and buttons. However, we didn’t really spend time in the front seat, because the back seat was of far more interest given that the third row is a big selling point.
The frunk was bigger than the frunks we’ve seen on other Kia vehicles. The latter are quite small, with room perhaps for a messenger bag or some charging cables. The EV9’s was much deeper, but compared to a Rivian or Model X, it’s not all that big.
Personally I’d prefer more rear/interior space over more frunk space anyway, and I think a lot of people might agree with that, since frunks tend to be used a lot less than trunks do. But then again, that’s because a lot of other frunks are bad, so why use it if it’s not great.
And if the car already has a big hood, might as well give us room to store things if we want it. I’m not going to say that Kia entirely missed the mark on this frunk, and it feels less tacked-on than frunks from less serious EV brands, but it seems like it could be better. And it’s certainly not as well-thought-out as the Lucid’s frunk, as far as we’ve seen anyway.
Finally, the EV9 display showed the potential to use the car for V2H. While Kias already have 1.9kW V2L capacity, the EV9 will be capable of V2H with an external unit from the company Wallbox. Kia told us this would be capable of 4-5kW (we didn’t get a specific number yet), and could power a home for multiple days off the car’s giant 76.1/99.8kWh battery (depending on options).
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On today’s highly educational episode of Quick Charge, we talk about some of the impacts that the EPA’s multi-billion dollar electric school bus programs are having on schools around the country and explore some innovative ways to help school districts pay for them.
Our guest today is Matt Curwood from Voltera Power, a company that specializes in electric vehicle charging as a service and helping fleets electrify by capitalizing their infrastructure investments. All this and more – enjoy!
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Tesla is holding its ‘We, Robot’ event today, which is expected to be the launch of its new Robotaxi, a vehicle dedicated to self-driving.
Here, you will find our news hub for the event, which will contain all the most important information about the event and our watch party.
Before being called its ‘We, Robot’ event to “unveil the future of autonomy”, Tesla called today’s 10/10 event the “unveiling of its Robotaxi”.
The Tesla Robotaxi is a vehicle that CEO Elon Musk has been talking about for the past two years.
Since 2016, Musk claimed that all Tesla vehicles built from then on would be capable of full self-driving capabilities through future software updates enabling owners to use them as “robotaxis”.
That has yet to happen and Musk made some owners worried when he started talking about Tesla building a new vehicle dedicated to self-driving: the Robotaxi, which is also sometimes referred to as the Cybercab.
This unveiling event is not only going to be interesting as our first official look at Tesla’s new vehicle, but many Tesla owners and shareholders want to know how this new dedicated vehicle fits into Tesla’s self-driving effort.
The vehicle itself is expected to be a two-seater with butterfly wing doors, no pedals or steering wheel, and have a design inspired by the Cybertruck.
Considering the event is about autonomy, we expect Tesla to also give an update about Optimus, its humanoid robot, at the event.
There could also be a surprise unveiling of Tesla’s upcoming new vehicles, like the next-gen Roadster or two cheaper vehicles based on Model 3 and Model Y.
Tesla is holding the event on Warner Brothers’ studio lot in Los Angeles, which has non-public streets. Some have speculated that Tesla is holding the event there to do some self-driving demos without getting a self-driving permit, which the automaker has avoided getting in California for years.
The event is set to start at 7 PM local time or 10 PM ET, and it will be live-streamed here:
The future will be streamed live
10/10, 7pm PT https://t.co/YJEjZIYoTA
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 9, 2024
Here’s our Tesla Robotaxi unveiling news hub, where you can find our articles about the most important news that comes out of the event (refresh the page for more stories):
We are also hosting a very informal watch party with myself, Fred Lambert, and Jamie Dow. Some other Electrek staff members might join too.
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Environment
Rivian’s R1T is getting a new solar-powered tonneau cover ‘to go further’ and ‘do anything’
Rivian’s (RIVN) electric pickup is getting unique new accessories. Worksport (WKSP) is releasing aftermarket accessories for the Rivian’s R1T, including its solar-powered SOLIS tonneau cover.
Known for its tonneau covers for trucks, Worksport is quickly expanding its lineup. The company announced plans to develop aftermarket accessories specifically for the Rivian R1T this week.
Worksport said its existing tonneau cover lineup, fitted for the Rivian R1T, is almost complete. The covers are designed to improve efficiency, protect the vehicle against outside elements, and provide a safe space to store stuff.
Building on its existing products, Worksport claims its SOLIS is “the world’s first folding solar tonneau cover.”
According to Worksport, the solar-powered truck bed cover can provide up to 650 watts of clean energy.
Combined with its COR battery system, Worksport’s SOLIS cover can harness solar energy and store it for later use. The bundle could be used to upgrade your next camping trip, work site, or anywhere off-grid.
Rivian R1T to get a new solar-powered tonneau
Worksport claims that, with expected Level 2 charging capabilities, the solar cover will be able to act as a last-mile range extender.
Steven Rossi, Worksport’s CEO, said, “Rivian owners deserve an exceptional bed cover and power system to go further and truly do anything.”
The company said its SOLIS solar-powered tonneau cover will be made at its West Seneca, NY, production facility, where it manufactures current accessories.
Rivian’s R1T is not the only electric truck set to get Worksport’s solar-powered tonneau cover. In February, Worksport announced it was developing a solar and battery storage system for Ford’s F-150 Lightning.
After delivering another 10,018 vehicles in Q3, Rivian’s deliveries reached 37,396 through the first nine months of 2024.
Rivian aims to deliver between 50,500 and 52,000 vehicles this year, slightly higher than the 50,122 handed over last year. The EV maker will launch its smaller, more profitable R2 in early 2026 as it expands into new markets.
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