Kia EV9 pushed to off-road limits ahead of debut

Kia has recently revealed the intensive testing program it has put its new flagship electric EV9 SUV through, ahead of the model’s debut next year.

While undergoing development throughout the past 44 months, the Korean carmaker says it has focused on one goal for the EV9 and that is to “revolutionise the large electric SUV segment”.

Now that a production ready version has hit the test track at Kia’s global Namyang research and development centre in Korea, the SUV is beginning to achieve its purpose. However, it can already do more than you may think.

The final testing phase has seen the EV9 face four-wheel drive climbing hills, rough terrain and a deep-water wading test, ensuring reliability in the most challenging of conditions. It may not seem like a model destined to ferry seven passengers around should be able to undertake such activities, but it’s certainly nice to know that it can.

Back on the tarmac, the EV SUV’s on-road performance has also been tested with high-speed, handling and low-friction tracks. Cobble roads that are seemingly designed to shake vehicles to pieces have also tested the EV9’s ride comfort and build quality.

Aside from testing at the R&D centre, Kia engineers have also gone global with the SUV putting it through a wide variety of climates, weather conditions and road surfaces.

We first got a glimpse of the model in concept form at AutoMobility LA in Los Angeles last year that promised us 480km of range and the ability to charge its battery from 10 to 80 per cent between 20 to 30 minutes. Official production car figures are still under wraps though.

What we do know is that the EV9 will be based on the company’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) also found underneath the EV6.

More will be revealed when the EV9 makes its debut in early 2023.