The concept of a high-performance, three-row SUV is a rather delusional one. When you stop to truly think about it, these things will spend most of their lives shuttling kids, family members, friends and a lot of cargo from point A to point B. Their main focus is comfort, cargo space, energy efficiency, and safety.
With that in mind, adding sports car performance and track-tested endurance to this category of vehicle is nothing but a flex from its respective carmaker. That being said, do we collectively like the idea of a sports car rivaling a three-row SUV? Of course, we do.
It was only a matter of time before Kia added the GT version to the EV9, its flagship electric SUV. After months of speculation and spy shots of prototypes submitted to intensive testing at the Nürburgring, it’s finally here, boasting the most horsepower and the fastest acceleration of any three-row SUV in Kia’s history.
EV9 GT Has An Electronically Controlled Suspension And Simulated Gears
The 2026 EV9 GT is one of three new debuts Kia is presenting on the LA Auto Show floor this week, and it’s precisely what you expect it to be: an overpowered three-row electric SUV that received intense chassis, suspension and brake tuning so it can lap a racetrack faster than its normal versions, if that’s your thing.
Kia didn’t yet specify the GT model’s battery capacity, but all signs point to it being the same 110.3-kWh as in the Hyundai IONIQ 9. Riding on the Hyundai Group’s E-GMP electric vehicle (EV) architecture, the EV9 GT cranks out a total combined power output of 430 kW, or the equivalent of 501 combined horsepower from two permanent magnet electric motors. This leads to a 0-60 MPH time of 4.3 seconds, a full 0.7 seconds quicker than the EV9 GT-Line.
Contrary to the EV6 GT, the EV9 GT doesn’t come with Kia’s trick rear drift mode feature (imagine that!), but it does sport Kia’s Electronically Controlled Suspension (ECS), a first for an SUV. Aside from setting shock damping, the system also adjusts steering and brake feel according to each drive mode. Hit the bright green GT button on the steering wheel, ECS defaults back to its stiffest setting. But Kia says that, out of the box, the EV9 GT preserves the same 7.8 inches of ground clearance and the 5,000-lb. towing rating as the regular EV9.
Finally, Kia introduces its innovative Virtual Gear Shift (VGS) technology. Similar to what you’ll find in a Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, the system simulates gear shifts like a traditional transmission. Operated via steering-mounted paddles, the system will bounce off the rev limiter, and even reduce the vehicle’s speed upon downshifts. Like in the IONIQ 5 N, Kia made sure to add a soundtrack to this technology through its in-cabin Active Sound Design (ASD) feature.
Ready For Tesla Superchargers
Other changes over a regular EV9 are a standard electronic rear limited-slip differential, model-specific 21-inch wheels wrapped in 285-wide high-performance rubber, more aggressive front and rear bumpers, a meaner stance, and sports bucket seats. Kia also made sure to highlight the GT with its signature neon green hue, which takes inspiration from the EV6 GT.
While Kia hasn’t yet mentioned anything about range or pricing, it’ll come out of the factory with a North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port, allowing it to be compatible with Tesla’s Supercharger network of fast chargers. The EV9 is already a master of fast charging thanks to its 240 kW capability, allowing it to fast charge from 10 to 80 percent charge in less than 25 minutes. The EV9 GT will be built in South Korea and is expected to arrive by the second half of 2025. We’ll circle back here with more details about once we have them.
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