The 2026 three-row midsize Kia EV9 electric SUV is getting a shot of adrenaline in the form of the sporty new GT trim. With standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and over 500 horsepower, this three-row electric SUV can sprint from zero to 60 mph in approximately 4.3 seconds. That makes it one of the quickest electric SUVs, with performance to match luxury-badged rivals like the Mercedes-Benz EQS, BMW iX, and Rivian R1S.
2026 Kia EV9 Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Kia EV9
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Kia EV9
The GT is a new high-performance addition to the EV9 lineup. Introduced for the 2024 model year, the EV9 is roughly the same size as Kia's popular mid-size gasoline-powered SUV, the Telluride. The new GT trim comes standard with AWD and two electric motors. Kia has also added an available Nightfall Edition for 2026, which brings both styling and performance updates.
Design
The EV9 GT doesn’t exactly shout its sporting pretensions. Visual updates from the regular EV9 range are fairly subtle and consist of green-painted brake calipers peeking out from behind trim-specific 21-inch alloy wheels. At each corner are 285/45R Continental tires. The GT also has what Kia calls its “Energetic” front lighting design and GT-specific patterns on the front active air flaps.
Also new for 2026 is a Nightfall Edition, a familiar name seen previously on appearance packages Kia has offered on other models. On the EV9, it adds Gloss Black exterior trim elements, including skid plates, mirrors, and roof rails. The EV9 Nightfall Edition gets a dedicated 20-inch wheel design, also in Gloss Black (naturally), as well as black badging and an exclusive available paint color called Roadrider Brown.
Powertrain
Considering it’s perched at the top of the EV9 lineup, the GT model boasts a dual-motor drivetrain that produces 501 horsepower. According to Kia’s stopwatch, this is enough to scoot the EV9 from zero to 60 mph in only 4.3 seconds. Helping get that power to the road is a driver-selectable electronically controlled suspension aided by an electronic limited-slip differential. Drive modes consist of Normal, Eco, Sport, and My Drive. The EV9 GT also gets what Kia calls Virtual Gear Shift. This is engineered to mimic the shift patterns of a traditional automatic gearbox. It's complemented by shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel. Like the rest of the EV9 range, the GT model has 7.8 inches of ground clearance and a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
The EV9 Nightfall Edition features performance enhancements as well; namely, a Boost function that can bump torque from 443 to 516 lb-ft. This lets it get awfully close to the EV9 GT's zero-to-60 time, achieving it in 4.5 seconds according to Kia.
Interior
The EV9 GT has more heavily bolstered front seats than its non-GT counterparts, with Alcantara inserts that are embellished with GT logos. Unique to the GT model is a dark gray and black color combination with neon accents. The design of the steering wheel and dashboard trim is also exclusive to the GT. Yet, for the most part, the cabin is similar to that of other EV9 models. This includes handy features like six USB ports, wireless device charging, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen.
The Kia EV9 can seat six or seven, depending on the second-row configuration. The new Nightfall Edition comes standard with captain's chairs in that middle row, but it's available with the bench seat for no extra charge. It gets an exclusive Black interior complete with a black headliner.
Technology
In addition to its generous onboard technology offerings, the EV9 GT has 800-volt DC fast-charge capability. This allows a battery recharge from 10 to 80 percent in less than 25 minutes, according to Kia. The 2025 EV9 is also fitted with a North American Charging Standard (NACS) outlet, which allows it access to roughly 35,000 public fast-charging stations around the country.
Safety
Kia hasn’t been stingy when it comes to driver aids on the EV9, much less the range-topping GT model. Standard equipment includes automatic emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, driver-attention monitor, and more. The standard EV9 SUV earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Pricing and Release Date
At the time of writing, Kia has only stated that the EV9 GT will arrive in the latter half of 2025. No pricing details have been released. For reference, the current range-topping trim, the EV9 GT-Line, has an asking price of approximately $74,000. It stands to reason the EV9 GT will command a price northward of this, most likely in the region of $80,000.