The Kia EV9 electric car is Kia's newest, most generation-defining electric car! Now that I have had the chance to properly test drive one for a week — specifically the Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD trim — I can better tell you it’s unlike any other SUV I’ve driven or seen before,

Kia has a new performance-oriented electric vehicle in its lineup. The 2026 Kia EV9 GT is the automaker's most powerful three-row SUV. The sporty electric people hauler comes with a Tesla NACS charging connector from the factory.

The 2026 EV9 GT is one of three new debuts Kia is presenting on the LA Auto Show floor this week, and it's precisely what you expect it to be: an overpowered three-row electric SUV that received intense chassis, suspension and brake tuning so it can lap a racetrack faster than its normal versions, if that's your thing.

The new trim boosts horsepower from 379 to 501 and adds fake gear shifts (but just a reminder: 3-row SUVs are not sportscars)

And much like the Hyundai Ioniq 5N from Kia’s sister company, the EV9 GT will feature virtual gear shifting that simulates the feel of a traditional step-shift automatic transmission — complete with fake engine noises. This provides noticeable “shifts” as the EV9 accelerates and can reduce acceleration when the rev limit is reached.

The 2025 Kia EV9 GT retains the dual electric motor configuration. The pairing of the two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors delivers a combined estimated total output o