2026 EV9 GT is Kia's mean, green machine

Kia has revealed the most powerful three-row SUV it has ever created.

At the 2024 LA Auto Show, the Korean manufacturer took the wraps off the 2026 Kia EV9 GT – a performance version of its flagship three-row all-electric SUV.

Featuring a standard dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain, the Kia EV9 GT has been juiced up to produce a combined 501 horsepower – a significant jump compared to the 389 PS, 700 Nm output of the GT-Line version that we have in the country. Kia claims the large SUV can reach 100 km/h from a standstill in 4.3 seconds with the EV9 GT.

Kia is yet to release details about the EV9 GT’s driving range, but we think it’s also now equipped with the bigger 110.3 kWh battery pack found in the Hyundai Ioniq 9. What’s worth noting is that the EV9 GT already comes with the NACS, or the North American Charging System port which gives owners access to Tesla supercharger stations in the US.

Furthermore, apart from the bump in power output, the three-row SUV receives performance hardware courtesy of an electronically-controlled suspension with adaptive dampers. The GT Mode stiffens up the suspension for sportier handling and maximizes the grippier tires and beefed-up brake system that comes with the EV9 GT.

Kia has also equipped the EV9 GT with the Virtual Gear Shift (VGS) mode, which is essentially a feature adopted from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. The VGS mimics an internal combustion engine’s behavior through simulated sounds, gear shifts, and torque cuts. If the system in the EV9 GT is exactly the same as the Ioniq 5 N, then expect driver engagement to be just as good.

The Kia EV9 GT distinguishes itself from the other versions with its 21-inch wheels, along with the use of neon green accents on the brake calipers, and interior trim pieces. Speaking of which, the EV9 GT gets sports seats with Alcantara suede inserts and the GT logo embossed.

Kia is set to roll out the EV9 GT by the second half of 2025 in the US market. If that’s anything to go by, then we may have to wait until 2026 if ever Kia Philippines decides to bring it here.