Killer Kia EV9 GT Kicks Off Kinetic Korean Krossover King

We loved the EV9. It is a big ol’ bus, and plans for a GT version had already been detailed as the EV2 was unveiled. Despite all the kicking and screaming from the grumpy gas guzzler lovers, EV sales have now overtaken dinosaur burners, even if some of those EVs have fossil fuel assistance.

After a slow and rather late start, Kia finally confirmed the MY26 EV9 range in Australia will get the fiendishly fast GT variant. If you thought family haulers were destined for a life of school runs and beige aesthetics, Kia kicks that idea to the kerb. The lineup now stretches across four tiers, the enigmatically named Air and Earth, the more familiar GT-Line, and the big daddy GT. The EV9 train is ready for immediate departure. A six figure price puts this electric SUV in the same segment as the Toyota LandCruiser, but no one is inferring the EV9 can go where the LandCruiser can. As must SUVs see nothing more than a grubby driveway it hardly makes a difference. “It can’t tow a million kilos,” they cry. Who cares?

It is not all beer and skittles. Sales have been sliding for the big Kia, with 2024 moving 568 units but only 269 SUVs in 2025. January 2026 saw just 8 sales, down from 22 in January 2025. January is traditionally a quiet time, but the start of 2026 is not looking good for the rest of the year. New Chinese contenders are giving legacy brands a flogging, so it is a space to watch.

The GT is more than a trim swap with fancy stitching. The dual motor AWD blasts out 374kW and 740Nm for a 0 to 100km/h sprint of a frisky 4.5 seconds. Range anxiety is still a thing, and Kia promises a solid 510km capability, though good luck hitting those numbers if you keep pinning the throttle to hear the silence. In our experience, none of the range figures are remotely accurate regardless of brand.

The Kia EV9 GT, GT-Line, and Earth have 800V architecture capable of ultra fast DC charging at up to 350kW in Australia, allowing for a 10 to 80 percent charge in around 24 minutes. The 99.8kWh battery can be used for V2L and is rumoured to be hardware ready for V2G, meaning it can be plugged in at home for use as a local source of energy storage. We will confirm that in the road test.

ABOVE: Kia Australia expands the MY26 EV9 range with the high performance GT, EV2 revealed at Brussels

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Kia local tuning saw the GT shipped over for a thorough going over by local experts and bespoke settings applied. With Electronic Controlled Suspension to play with, the EV9 has the chutzpah to handle Australia’s unique, often rubbish road conditions without shaking your fillings loose. Visually, the GT gets tasty extras like 21 inch gloss black alloys that have a distinctly mean look. The digital LED Star Map lighting signature grille is exclusive to the GT.

The second row gets relaxation seats as standard, because apparently, the passengers should be as comfy as the driver. Pricing kicks off at $97,000 for the entry Air RWD and climbs through the $106,500 Earth and $121,000 GT-Line. The flagship GT sits at the summit with an equally stratospheric $129,250 price tag. It is a serious investment for a Kia, but the brand is known for reliable tech and frisky performance.

It will be interesting to see what impact the new Chinese brands have, and whether buyers would go for the Performance Model Y despite the size difference. Some might think European brands should be sweating, but a BMW buyer is not a Kia buyer. The halo model is a fitting replacement for the lack of ICE go-quick models in the range. As most brands are finding, NVES regulations are cutting through petrol performance like a sword through butter. GT style petrol and diesel vehicles are being dropped like hot potatoes because electric cars can go faster for much less money.

Kia, EV9 GT, Electric, SUV, Australia

Model Trim	Powertrain	Battery	Range	Price
Air RWD	Single Motor	76.1 kWh	443 km	$97,000
Earth AWD	Dual Motor	99.8 kWh	521 km	$106,500
GT-Line AWD	Dual Motor	99.8 kWh	505 km	$121,000
GT AWD	Dual Motor	99.8 kWh	510 km	$129,25

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Written by Alan Zurvas

Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.