Kia EV9 2026: flagship GT performance SUV priced at $129,250 in Australia

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Kia Australia has debuted its most expensive and lavish model yet to the Australian market, launching the EV9 GT with peak outputs of 374kW and 740Nm, and a starting price of $129,250 before on-road costs.

The EV9 GT is positioned above the EV9 GT-Line – which claims outputs of 283kW/700Nm and a price of $121,000 – with a drivetrain that is 32-percent more powerful and a starting price $8250 more than the once-flagship.

Sprinting from 0-100km/hr in the EV9 GT takes 4.5 seconds – on par with a 2026 Audi S5 Avant – with ample traction from its rear-bias dual-motor all-wheel drive system.

Oddly, the EV9 GT’s driving range increases over the less powerful GT-Line, claiming 510km (WLTP) to the GT-Line’s 505km range, despite boasting an additional 91kW and 40Nm.

Features exclusive to the EV9 GT include a unique front clip with digital LED grille, 21-inch alloy wheels, electronic-controlled suspension, and a unique interior with second-row ‘captains chair’ relaxation seats.

Typically, large, three-row electric luxury SUVs will trade overall performance for an extended driving range, due in part to added weight from luxury equipment, a large interior and the typical extra metal associated with a five-metre long body.

But Kia’s EV9 GT, which is expended to tip the scales slightly above the 3240kg GT-Line, promises both performance and a luxury experience, with a unique selling position matched by few rivals – chiefly the 460kW/950Nm $194,100 Mercedes-AMG EQE 53.

While easily the most expensive, the EV9 GT will not be Kia’s most powerful car. That title is still held by the 430kW/740Nm EV6 GT, which currently starts from $99,660. Moreover, the EV6 GT will soon be updated with an improved output of 478kW/770Nm and a likely higher price.

GT to sit atop EV9 range

The introduction of the EV9 GT means the large, three row electric SUV now spans four grades, starting with the base, rear-drive Air, which features a 76.1kWh battery and range claim of 443km (WLTP), middle grade Earth, and range toppers GT-Line and GT.

Air, GT-Line and GT specced EV9’s all feature standard-equipped all-wheel drive, a 99.8kWh battery, and range claims of 521km, 505km, and 510km respectively.

The EV9 GT easily breaks into the upper echelons of premium electric SUVs, finding rivalry with the $124,990 Volvo EX90 and $142,900 BMW iX, as well as close relative $119,750 Hyundai Ioniq 9.

According to Kia, the EV9 will rapid DC charge from 10-80 percent in around 24 minutes, peaking at 350kW, and AC charge from 10-100-percent in around 9 hours, with a peak of 11kW.

All Kia EV9 models are built on the Hyundai-Kia joint venture Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) with 800V architecture.

Kia EV9 2026: Prices in Australia

Prices listed are before on-road costs

• EV9 Air RWD: $97,000
• EV9 Earth AWD: $106,500
• GT-Line AWD: $121,000
• GT AWD: $129,250