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2026 Kia EV9 GT: Sporty Electric SUV With Native Tesla NACS Port, Virtual Gear Shifts
Meet Kia’s most powerful three-row SUV. It just happens to be electric.
Photo by: Kia
Iulian Dnistran 
By: Iulian Dnistran
Nov 21, 2024 at 12:45pm ET
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- Kia has a new performance-oriented electric vehicle in its lineup.
- The 2026 Kia EV9 GT is the automaker's most powerful three-row SUV.
- The sporty electric people hauler comes with a Tesla NACS charging connector from the factory.
This is the all-new 2026 Kia EV9 GT. Not to be confused with the EV9 GT-Line which was already available with some sporty-looking hardware, the newly introduced version is Kia’s most powerful production three-row SUV.
Boasting a dual-motor powertrain with a total estimated output of 510 horsepower, the Kia EV9 GT is 122 hp more powerful than the EV9 GT-Line. That’s enough to propel the sporty electric family hauler from zero to 60 miles per hour in an estimated 4.3 seconds, seven-tenths of a second quicker than the GT-Line.
Gallery: 2026 Kia EV9 GT
16
Source: Kia
The front motor of the EV9 GT makes 214 hp while the rear drive unit pumps out 362 hp, but because they don’t reach peak power at the same time, you can’t just add the numbers together. The torque figure was not disclosed by the Korean automaker.
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Kia’s go-fast family hauler adopts a rather controversial feature from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N–Virtual Gear Shifts. We quite liked the simulated gear shifts when we drove the refreshed Ioniq 5 N, but there are plenty of people out there who think an EV–which doesn’t actually have gears–shouldn’t try to impersonate a gas-powered car. This includes some folks at Porsche who said such a feature will only make their cars worse.
The system works in conjunction with the in-cabin electric Active Sound Design (e-ASD) system to make it feel like the car shifts through gears while accelerating. The EV jolts when it goes from one virtual gear to another and the sound system provides the audio cues to tie it all together.
The EV9 GT is Kia’s first three-row SUV to get electronically controlled suspension or ECS. This can soften or harden the suspension damping based on what driving mode has been selected: Normal, Eco, Sport or My Drive. These modes also alter the steering and brake feel. Speaking of brakes, the flagship EV9 gets larger front rotors than the lesser versions.
Photo by: Kia
At the rear, there’s an electronic limited-slip differential (e-LSD), just like on the EV6 GT, which limits wheelspin to the tires with less grip. Meanwhile, the 7.8-inch ground clearance is the same as on the other trim levels, as is the 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity of the GT-Line.
Just like the new Hyundai Ioniq 5, Genesis Electrified GV70 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, the 2026 Kia EV9 GT comes with Tesla’s NACS charging port from the factory. This means owners will be able to charge at Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network without an adapter. However, an adapter will be needed to charge at DC fast chargers with CCS plugs, like the vast majority of stalls operated by companies like EVgo, Electrify America and ChargePoint.
Kia said that all EV9 versions will come as standard with the NACS charging port starting in the first half of next year. The battery of the EV9 GT is the same as on the other long-range versions–99.8 kilowatt-hours–but the automaker hasn’t provided a range rating or a maximum charging speed. For reference, the EV9 GT-Line has an EPA-rated range of 270 miles and can accept up to 235 kW from a DC fast charger, enough for a 10% to 80% top-up in less than 25 minutes.
Photo by: Kia
“The EV9 has been a home run for Kia and introduced the first mass-market electric three-row SUV,” said Steven Center, COO & EVP, Kia America. “And EV9 GT includes all those wonderful elements while amping up the fun factor significantly. This new halo trim is set to spark the hearts of driving enthusiasts who still need the practicality of a six-passenger SUV. You can have your cake and eat it too!”
Outside, the 2026 Kia comes with 21-inch wheels wrapped in 285/45R21 high-performance Continental tires. The brake calipers are painted in neon green and GT-exclusive patterns on the Active Air Flaps in front.
Photo by: Kia
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Inside, the cabin is adorned with bright green accents, including on the steering wheel and seats, both of which are unique to the EV9 GT. The standard kit includes Parking Collision Assist with front, side and rear monitoring, as well as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control and others.
Pricing for the 2026 Kia EV9 GT has not been announced yet. However, we know it will go on sale in the latter half of next year. We also know that it will be assembled in South Korea, so any potential federal tax credit when purchasing goes out the window (leasing might make it eligible for a tax credit, if there will still be a tax credit for EVs in 2025.)
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