2025 Kia EV9 GT Promises to Win Family’s Hearts, and Drag Races

Do you need to take the kids to baseball practice, but also want to drag race your buddy’s Mustang? Well, Kia has the vehicle for you. Introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2025 Kia EV9 GT is a three-row all-electric SUV with a performance car’s heart.

500 Should Do

The 2025 Kia EV9 GT will come standard with all-wheel drive and two motors. Up front is a 160-kW motor, while the rear houses a more powerful 270-kW motor. Combined, Kia is expecting power to be around 501 horsepower. Although the brand is still testing and tuning, if power does end up anywhere near that figure, it’ll be a healthy increase over the current EV9, which isn’t exactly slow. The estimated 0-60 mph time Kia has in mind is 4.3 seconds. Granted, plenty of EVs are much quicker, but none of them are this large and at this price point.

The EV9 GT will include Virtual Gear Shift (VGS) standard, which is shared with Kia EV6 GT and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. VSG mimics a traditional automatic transmission, with noticeable shift points as the vehicle accelerates. It can even mimic a rev limiter when the virtual rpm limit is reached. Although it may make the vehicle a bit slower, the point of VSG is to better connect the driver with the vehicle, increasing engagement.

VSG also has paddle shifters to control gear changes. Of course, inside there’s the Active Sound Design (ASD) that replicates the sounds of the gear shifts, to further enhance the driving experience.

Handling the Heft

The Kia EV9 isn’t exactly light, and with increased power, there’s the need for increased control. The biggest upgrade to the EV9 GT’s suspension is the driver-selectable Electronically Controlled Suspension (ECS). It’s accessed through the Drive Mode button and can be set in one of four configurations: Normal, Eco, Sport and My Drive. Aside from setting the shock damping, the steering and brake feel are also altered depending on which drive mode is selected. When the driver hits the bright green GT button on the steering wheel, the shock damping is put into its stiffest setting.

Complementing the stiffer suspension are 285/45R-21 high-performance tires and an electronic Limited Slip Differential. The brakes are upgraded all around, and like the EV6 GT, the front calipers are painted neon green and include GT badging.

Even in this new sporty GT trim, the EV9 still has 7.8 inches of ground clearance and the ability to tow 5,000 pounds.

Making the GT Standout

The exterior of the GT has unique styling elements, including exclusive 21-inch wheels. There’s a lighting pattern Kia calls “ENERGETIC” that’s also incorporated on the Active Air Flaps.

Inside, sportier, more bolstered front seats are standard. They’re finished in leather and Alcantara with a GT logo embossed on them. Those who do not want leather seating surfaces can opt for synthetic leather surfaces instead.

There are bright green accents throughout the interior, including on the steering wheel and the seats. The steering wheel is unique to the GT trim as are the dashboard finishes. The EV9 GT will also include an exclusive ambient lighting scheme throughout the cabin.

Speed Meets Safety

Even if the 2025 Kia EV9 GT is a high-powered SUV, it’s still a family vehicle first. That means safety remains a top priority. Standard on the vehicle are parking collision avoidance assist, forward collision-avoidance assist, cyclist and pedestrian detection, evasive steering assist, smart cruise control-curve, and much more.

All 2025 Kia EV9s will come standard with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port and will be assembled in South Korea. Kia expects the EV9 GT should arrive in the latter half of 2025.

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