Loaded and electric, Kia's EV9 sport-ute stands tall

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- Kia's reputation for building quality motor vehicles is enhanced with the 2026 EV9 GT-Line AWD, my tester during a recent week.

In case anyone misses the point, Kia adds words to the sticker: EV9 Long Range AWD GT-Line. Yes, I get it.  Electric power. Long range. Sporty touches.

The electric bonus is substantial for this three-row model: a 92 miles per gallon equivalent in city driving and 72 mpg on the highway.

My tester was loaded with popular comfort, convenience, safety and driving-enhancement features, all of which pushed the bottom line on this top-of-the-line model to $76,670. And yes, that's a fair price for all that's in there.

Bargain hunters be advised that a 2026 EV9 Light SR trim level of the vehicle can be had for a starting price of $54,900.

Either way, you are going to get a smooth-sailing, feature-loaded sport-ute for a fraction of what other automakers might charge for the same, luxury/feature-laden SUV.

While the freeway manners of the EV9 were excellent as usual, I was surprised at the inner-city agility of the vehicle.  Several times, I quickly darted out of harm's way in urban gridlock. Typically, a three-row SUV does not react so quickly in tight quarters.  Pleasantly surprised?  Yes, I was.

As per usual with Kia, the warranties are generous.

Volunteer passengers gushed happily about the comfort and roominess, even in the back-end seats.

Oh, it looks good as well.  A long roofline and a nicely sculpted, understated grille, combined with the GT-Line touches, make for a head-turning package.

All things considered: A Kia triumph in a vehicle segment of sizable, all-electric transportation.