Not content to have its thunder stolen by sister brand Hyundai and its Ioniq 9, Kia has revealed its hottest EV9 yet.
The 2026 Kia EV9 GT is a new flagship variant for the large three-row electric SUV lineup, packing various mechanical and aesthetic upgrades.
The South Korean-built SUV has been confirmed for an Australian launch, which CarExpert understands will take place in the second half of 2025.
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While there’s extra power on tap, Kia has also given the EV9 GT electronically controlled suspension – a first for a three-row SUV from the brand.
CarExpert understands that, as with other models like the EV6 GT, this new flagship will get an Australian ride and handling tune.
Switching between drive modes adjusts the damping, steering and brake feel, while a bright green GT button on the steering wheel toggles the stiffest setting for the dampers.
Additionally, the EV9 GT is the latest EV from the Hyundai Motor Group to get Virtual Gear Shift. This simulates an automatic transmission in a combustion-powered vehicle, with artificial “shifts” that can also be toggled between using paddle shifters.
The EV9 GT’s electric Active Sound Design (e-ASD) also replicates the sounds of gear shifts as the EV9 GT accelerates.
Kia says it has also fitted the EV9 GT with upgraded brakes, plus an electronic limited-slip differential to help improve cornering stability.
Ground clearance and towing capacity are unchanged.
Here are the key performance figures:
| Kia EV9 GT | |
|---|---|
| Powertrain | Dual electric motors |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Power | 160kW (front) 270kW (rear) 374kW (total) |
| 0-100km/h | 4.3 seconds (estimated) |
That sees the GT pump out an extra 91kW over the current flagship, the GT-Line, with a 0-100km/h time 0.7 seconds quicker. A torque figure hasn’t been published, but the GT-Line produces up to 700Nm.
Kia hasn’t specified the range or battery capacity of the EV9 GT, which uses the same 800-volt electrical architecture as other EV9s and can be charged from 10-80 per cent in under 25 minutes using a DC fast charger.
Currently, the Australian-market EV9 GT-Line with 21-inch alloy wheels has a claimed WLTP range of 505km.
The upgraded brakes, with neon green calipers, sit behind 21-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 285/45R-21 ‘high-performance’ Continental tyres.
There’s a new pattern for the grille area and a new front bumper, while inside bright green accents can be found on items like the unique steering wheel.
There are also bright green accents on the new more deeply bolstered sport seats, which feature Alcantara inserts.
The EV9 GT has been revealed only in six-seat configuration, with a pair of captain’s chairs for the second row. All Australian-market EV9s, in contrast, feature a second-row bench for a total of seven seats.
It’s unclear how much the EV9 GT will cost here. The EV9 GT-Line is currently priced at $121,000 before on-road costs, while there’s a $12,000 gap between the GT-Line and GT trims in the smaller EV6 range.
Should Kia Australia follow a similar strategy with the EV9 GT, it could wear a price tag north of $130,000.
Kia’s flagship is no longer the only large electric SUV on the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform following the reveal of the Hyundai Ioniq 9, which also took place in Los Angeles.
For now, the most powerful example of the Ioniq 9 – due here in the second quarter of 2025 – is the Performance AWD which features a pair of 160kW/350Nm electric motors for a 0-100km/h time of 5.2 seconds.
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MORE: Everything Kia EV9
