- Kia’s 2026 EV9 GT takes an electric three-row SUV and bumps up power to 501 horses
- There’s also a new “Virtual Gearshift System” with simulated gear changes, if you’re into that
- Expect it to arrive in Canadian dealerships late summer 2025
Kia showed off three new models at the 2024 L.A. Auto show: a thoroughly updated 2026 Sportage; a refreshed 2025 EV6; and a brand-new sports model in the form of the EV9 GT. The EV9 three-row is Kia’s largest EV, and for the 2026 model year, it’s receiving the sporty GT treatment. We really enjoyed the sporty EV6 GT, and it’s interesting to see that same treatment applied to a larger vehicle.
What is it?
The headline is that the EV9 GT gets a lot of power! Kia has fitted a 160-kWh motor up front; and a 270-kWh motor out back. Those uprated motors deliver a full 501 horsepower to all four wheels. That’s a considerable 122-hp bump from the next most powerful EV9 in the lineup, the GT-Line, which makes 379 hp. The current EV9 GT-Line hustles to 60 mph (96 km/h) from zero in 5.0 seconds; the new GT model cuts that figure down to just 4.3 seconds. Of course, with great power comes great responsibility, and Kia has responsibly fitted the EV9 GT with upgraded brakes.
The EV9 GT also gets a version of the “fake” gearshifts with paddle shifters that we have previously enjoyed in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. The Kia version is called “VGS,” for “Virtual Gearshift System,” and we expect it to function largely the same as it does in the Hyundai. Simulated gearshifts in an electric car with a one-speed transmission seem odd, but really do add to driver enjoyment.
The other big news is that from 2025 onwards, all EV9s will swap to the Tesla-style NACS charger. (RIP a unified charging standard, we guess.) The 800-volt architecture allows the EV9 GT’s big battery to be charged from 10% to 80% in just 25 minutes if you have access to a 350-watt fast-charger.
Why does it matter?
Performance electric CUVs are hardly new or rare. We recently compared two of them, the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. But usually, these performance EV CUVs are two-row vehicles. The three-row EV9 GT opens up a new segment.
When will Canada get it?
The Kia EV9 GT will go on sale in Canada in late summer of 2025.
Should you buy it?
We are already big fans of the smaller EV6 GT. We like its blend of acceleration and handling in a relatively affordable package. Will these charms translate to the larger EV9? We hope so. If you want a three-row EV with some oomph that doesn’t break the bank, there aren’t too many other options.