Kia has answered a question we didn’t know needed asking, but we’re glad it did. The EV9 quickly won plenty of fans for its revolutionary take on a three-row crossover format that happens to be fully electric.
But for 2026, Kia is amping things up considerably for the EV9 by adding a GT trim, effectively boosting the performance of this slick crossover to eyebrow-raising limits.
Big Numbers
The range-topping GT trim equates to performance that is likely to surprise a lot of motorists in high-performance vehicles. Kia claims a zero-to-96-km/h (60 mph) time of just 4.3 seconds for the EV9 GT, which puts it in the same league as a V8-powered Mustang GT. The key difference here is that the Kia can do it almost silently, and still haul a family of six quite comfortably to the soccer park.
To achieve the EV9 GT’s impressive performance, it utilizes a 160-kW motor for the front wheels, and a 270-kW motor powering the rear. They combine to generate an estimated 501 hp, which represents a sizeable 122-hp gain over the already-quick EV9 GT-Line’s 379 hp.
The EV9 GT receives an electronically adjustable suspension and larger front brakes, both in the interest of keeping all that extra motivation managed. While the drive mode selector can cycle through varying stiffness settings, the lime-green GT steering wheel button pillaged from the EV6 GT automatically dials in the stiffest setting with the most responsive steering speed, braking, and throttle settings. The EV9 GT also gets the EV6 GT’s electronic limited-slip differential that limits wheelspin when cornering by redirecting torque electronically to the wheels with the most grip.
Despite the EV9 GT’s sporting pretenses, it’s still rated to tow up to 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs).
High-Speed Charging
GT trims retain the 800-volt fast charging architecture from the other EV9 models, enabling a recharge from 10 to 80 per cent within 25 minutes when plugged into a DC fast charger. And starting in early 2025, all EV9s will come standard with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port, which means EV9 buyers can access tens of thousands of Tesla Supercharger stations across North America.
The EV9 GT is expected to continue with the same 99.8-kWh battery as the other EV9 trims. Considering the increased power output, 285/45R-21 high-performance tires, and without any sort of weight reduction, we anticipate the GT’s range to be less than the GT-Line’s 435 km on a full charge, although official figures have not yet been released.
Fun Technology
Kia continues to make the EV9 a showcase of its technology offerings, including a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features like advanced collision avoidance and evasive steering assist, plus smart navigation and active lane-change assist.
On the fun side of the tech, Kia has also implemented what it calls Virtual Gear Shift, which simulates a traditional automatic transmission’s shift steps. It causes programmed steps between pretend gear changes that can also be manipulated by the steering wheel paddles and correspond with fabricated sounds piped through the audio system. While it’s a gimmick that adds no performance function, it’s meant to increase driver engagement.
The Green Giveaway
The easiest way to spot an EV9 GT in the wild will be to notice the bright green details such as the brake calipers, and inside with green trim sprinkled throughout, including on the deeply bolstered sport seats covered with grippy Alcantara inserts. The GT also wears a unique wheel design and LED lighting on the front grille area.
Final Thoughts
Kia certainly didn’t need to create a wild, high-performance version of its three-row electric SUV, but given how well-executed the rest of the EV9 lineup is, we’re certainly intrigued to try the EV9 GT when it arrives in the second half of 2025. Pricing is expected closer to its release date.
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