First drive

the-2024-kia-ev9,-an-electric-three-row-suv-designed-with-the-us-in-mind

The 2024 Kia EV9, an electric three-row SUV designed with the US in mind

mostly good —

Kia bets on edgy design, a futuristic interior, and plenty of interior space.

A blue Kia EV9 drives along a forest road in California

Enlarge / The 2024 Kia EV9 takes many of the things people love about the Telluride but does them on one of the best purpose-built EV platforms in the industry.

Kia

American car buyers love purchasing way more car than they need. Have a kid and a dog? You’d better get a Suburban. Need to tow a Hobie Cat to the lake once or twice a year? Get a full-size diesel four-wheel drive pickup. Looking at an EV for your family? Well, it had better do 400 miles at a time and charge in 15 minutes, despite you having a six-mile commute. This mentality would make a cynic say that Kia’s EV9 is a pointless exercise, but that cynic would be wrong.

The 2024 Kia EV9 is ostensibly a three-row, midsize electric SUV that in its most efficient form—the Wind RWD Long-Range trim—will do a claimed 304 miles (489 km) of range, but it’s also Kia’s flagship model and the vehicle that seems to give us the best look at the formerly cheap-and-cheerful brand’s more upscale future.

The EV9 is the latest vehicle based on the E-GMP platform that underpins the Ioniq 5, EV6, and Genesis GV60. Like those vehicles, it features a skateboard-style chassis and is available in rear- or all-wheel drive. Power ranges from 201 hp (150 kW) in the entry-level Wind RWD model to 379 hp (283 kW) in the Land AWD and GT-Line models. There are two available battery packs, with the smaller coming in at 76.1 kWh and the long-range pack rated at 99.8 kWh.

The larger size of the EV9 means you won't get quite the same range efficiency out of the same powertrain as the smaller E-GMP cars. Not that it matters on the commute, school run, or grocery errand.

Enlarge / The larger size of the EV9 means you won’t get quite the same range efficiency out of the same powertrain as the smaller E-GMP cars. Not that it matters on the commute, school run, or grocery errand.

Kia

The conversation around electric vehicles, especially with new buyers, tends to be dominated by range. The claimed range figures for the EV9 won’t light anyone’s hair on fire, particularly with the GT-Line model and its not-so-whopping 270 miles (434 km) or the bottom-of-the-barrel Light RWD model that only offers 230 miles (370 km). Still, these figures should prove to be ample for most Americans.

Like other E-GMP-based vehicles, the EV9 is built on an 800 V architecture and supports DC fast charging at up to 235 kW. The onboard AC charger is rated at 10.9 kW, and for home-based level 2 charging, Kia is partnering with Wallbox and is pushing that company’s Quasar 2 home charging setup. While the Quasar’s vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-home capabilities are neat, its $4,000-plus price before installation isn’t, and neither is Kia’s decision to not sell them through dealers, preventing new EV buyers from wrapping the system into their car loan.

On the road, the EV9 is just nice. It’s not particularly quick, even in its most performative variant. Kia claims a 4.5 second 0–60 time, but that’s only if you pay for the acceleration boost unlock (more on this later), and while that’s not slow per se, it won’t impress veteran EV drivers. Ride quality is also average. Like many other Kias, the suspension is tuned on the slightly firmer side, but it’s not harsh, even over very broken pavement.

Only the EV9 GT-Line features an exterior vehicle-to-load AC outlet.

Enlarge / Only the EV9 GT-Line features an exterior vehicle-to-load AC outlet.

Kia

The EV9’s steering is perfectly ignorable in most drive modes, but it leans hard into artificially heavy territory in sport mode. The EV9 has a super long wheelbase—122 inches (3,098 mm) vs. the Telluride’s 114.2 inches (2,900), despite being essentially the same size—but it lacks any kind of rear-wheel steering, meaning that parking lot maneuvers are a bit of a chore—and don’t even think about u-turns unless you’re ready to do a very fast three-point turn.

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Not all pickups are work trucks—Toyota aims the 2024 Tacoma off-road

Not the official truck of Takoma Park, however —

The TRD Pro trim even comes with seats fitted with shock absorbers.

A red Toyota Tacoma TRD seen on a trail

Enlarge / Yes, pickup trucks are used in work situations, but they’re also bought by people who want to drive them off-road.

Kristin Shaw

Between a new platform and the model’s first hybrid powertrain, the redesigned 2024 Toyota Tacoma is full of interesting tidbits and both off- and on-road enhancements. The refresh has been a long time coming, as the last time Toyota updated the Tacoma was for model-year 2015.

The Tacoma line began in 1995 as a US-specific version of the global HiLux. Even Back to the Future‘s Marty McFly coveted a black 1985 Toyota HiLux SR5 Xtra Cab, and it appeared in his garage, complete with a kangaroo bar, off-roading lights, and more.

By design, the new Tacoma is larger than the last generation, sharing a platform with the full-size Tundra. Today, the 2024 Tacoma is more fuel-efficient than its smaller predecessor, notching between 20 and 26 mpg (9–11.8 L/100 km) in the gas-powered versions—a 1995 HiLux ranged from 14–22 mpg (10.7–16.8 L/100 km). We’re waiting to see what the hybrid powertrain earns from the EPA; the difference in mpg may be modest, but the horsepower quotient is impressive.

Toyota will sell you a range of different Tacoma trims, many of which can handle some rough stuff. The TRD Off-Road grade is the most specialized.

Enlarge / Toyota will sell you a range of different Tacoma trims, many of which can handle some rough stuff. The TRD Off-Road grade is the most specialized.

Kristin Shaw

In the last few years, the popularity of off-roading has soared, and the segment has exploded, with accessories becoming a cost center for manufacturers, too. The 2024 Tacoma is available with over 100 off-roading accessories, all covered by the same warranty as the truck. At the truck’s launch, we had an opportunity to test it off the tarmac.

More options, more off-road upgrades

Toyota didn’t spare any bells and whistles for the new Tacoma, basing the infotainment system on the new Tundra’s much-improved setup and adding a coilover rear suspension option over leaf springs. Each trim level has a suspension tuned specifically to its grade, including high-end Bilstein shocks for the TRD Off-Road grade.

The differences are evident after driving several trims on a test run in California. Limited trim buyers can choose an available adaptive variable suspension that adjusts to road conditions on the fly; the ride is noticeably smoother than its model siblings. On the other end of the spectrum, the TRD line carries progressively tougher shocks to save your back and neck muscles when powering over dirt and rock obstacles.

Toyota

At the top of the line is the Trailhunter grade, which is equipped with an Old Man Emu suspension by ARB. The Australian suspension setup is designed to increase the range of motion to make off-roading more comfortable—and, as a result, more fun. Its suspension is custom-tuned for the Tacoma and isn’t available as an off-the-shelf product.

Progressively tougher

Two years ago, Toyota showcased the Trailhunter concept on display at the Specialty Equipment Market Association annual megaevent, and the buzz was palpable. More drivers are interested in off-roading, and this one is built to withstand heavy loads (think camping gear like tents, 10-gallon water containers, and portable refrigerators). It also carries an onboard air compressor and is covered in skid-plate armor to protect the fuel tank, mid-body, and front from damage.

In the TRD Off-Road grade, one of the standard technologies is a new 2-inch Bilstein monotube shock with piggyback reservoirs. Tacoma Chief Engineer Sheldon Brown says it’s pretty unusual to see those types of shocks in a core grade of vehicles, but he felt it was important to provide an “incredible” off-road performance.

The piggyback part is key, providing a reservoir of heat management to keep the shocks moving.

The Tacoma TRD Pro's interior.

Enlarge / The Tacoma TRD Pro’s interior.

Toyota

“As we’re moving, we have these long stroke shocks and it’s working this fluid,” Brown says. “The fluid gets warm, the viscosity gets lower, and we get shock fade.” Shock fade is what happens when the damper loses control and the ride loses some of its comfort factor.

Seats that protect your neck and back

The ultimate comfort feature is an option in Toyota’s popular TRD Pro trim. The engineers and designers worked together to give the new Tacoma new seats for the driver and front passenger that ride on a shock-absorber system.

“The purpose of these so-called IsoDynamic Performance Seats is to keep your head—and in turn, your eyes—steady and focused while driving (or riding in the right seat) on rugged terrain,” Brown says. “If you’ve ever ridden a horse or performed in a marching band, you understand how important it is to keep your vision intact while moving.”

Sounds great, right? The best part is that the new seats, called IsoDynamic Performance Seats, can be tuned and adjusted by body mass, or they can be bypassed via levers on the seatbacks.

This truck was made for getting dirty. But Toyota gave the new Tacoma a wide range of options that will satisfy the person least likely to even touch dirt with one today all the way to the seasoned off-roader.

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