Kia EV9 revealed in production form, due in late 2023

Kia has begun to lift the wrap over its EV9 electric SUV slated to become the mass-market-oriented manufacturer’s first three-row car running on battery power. Sales in Europe remain penciled in for late 2023.

The production vehicle looks nearly identical to the concept, but has a few features in the cabin making it unique. For one, the middle-row seats can be swiveled around to face the rear row.

On the outside, the EV9 looks every bit as striking as its prototype did when it debuted: sharp edges go side-by-side with smooth curves and nearly flat surfaces. The wheel arches are boxy, and dimmed pillars all around create the illusion of a ‘floating’ top.

The unusually styled headlights and faux grille combine to create what the company calls the Digital Tiger Face, the latest take on its Tiger Face front fascia. The taillights are Y-shaped and consist of multiple sections, just like in the pre-production version.

Inside, there are three displays combined into a single unit. The digital gauge cluster and the infotainment unit both measure 12.3 inches across and have a 5-inch extra touchscreen separating them. Judging by the images, the latter is used exclusively as an HVAC control panel. Some hardware buttons are still present on the center console and the steering wheel, and the drive selector is a paddle shifter.

The Kia EV9 will ship in six- and seven-seat versions with seats that you can fold down to get some extra cargo space. As long as you order the six-seater, you will be able to rotate the middle row to face the doors or the rear row.