Light Standard Range RWD

Light Long Range RWD

Wind AWD

Land AWD

GT-Line AWD

The Kia EV9 is a three-row electric SUV that competes directly with the Rivian R1S and Volkswagen ID.Buzz in a segment with few established players. Arriving for the 2024 model year, it shares its E-GMP platform with the Hyundai IONIQ 6 and Genesis GV80 Coupe EV, bringing 800-volt architecture to a family-oriented package. Reviewers at Edmunds and Car and Driver consistently highlight its genuinely usable third row for adults and the upscale, minimalist interior as differentiators that justify its price positioning against both traditional three-row SUVs and rival EVs.

Third-row seating is legitimately usable for adults, a distinction Car and Driver noted separates the EV9 from most three-row SUVs at any price point

800-volt architecture enables DC fast charging at up to 240 kW, allowing roughly 10–80 percent charge in around 24 minutes under ideal conditions

Light Long Range RWD trim achieves 304 miles of EPA-rated range, the longest in the lineup and competitive with the Rivian R1S Standard battery

GT-Line AWD produces 501 hp and a 4.5-second 0–60 time while retaining full seven- or eight-passenger seating with no dedicated performance penalty to cargo space

Vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability across all trims allows up to 3.6 kW of external power output, usable for camping equipment or jobsite tools

Wind AWD and upper trims see range drop to 270–280 miles despite significantly higher prices, a trade-off InsideEVs flagged as a meaningful efficiency penalty for the dual-motor setup

Standard Range RWD base trim at $54,900 produces only 215 hp and an 8.2-second 0–60 time, noticeably sluggish relative to the weight of the vehicle

Real-world charging speeds frequently fall short of the 240 kW peak rating outside of optimal battery temperature and state-of-charge conditions, per owner reports

At 6,000-plus pounds of curb weight, reviewers including MotorTrend noted that body roll and overall dynamics feel closer to a traditional three-row SUV than a performance-oriented EV

Rivian

Dual Standard

Dual Large

Dual Max

Tri Max

Quad Max

The Rivian R1S is a three-row electric SUV that competes with the Cadillac Escalade IQ and Mercedes EQS SUV while appealing to buyers who actually want to use their vehicles off-road. Built on Rivian's skateboard platform shared with the R1T pickup, it combines genuine trail capability with a spacious, premium interior. Reviewers at MotorTrend and Car and Driver consistently single out its quad-zone air suspension and tank-turn-capable software as features no other luxury electric SUV matches, while the Dual Large trim's 352-mile EPA range draws particular praise for long-haul usability.

Dual Large trim achieves 352 miles EPA range, and the Dual Max extends that to 410 miles — among the highest in the class for a three-row SUV

Tri Max and Quad Max trims hit 0–60 in 3.0s and 2.6s respectively, with up to 1,025 hp, rivaling performance SUVs costing significantly more

Standard air suspension with up to 15 inches of ground clearance and genuine wading depth up to 3.5 feet distinguishes it from competitors that offer off-road styling without capability

Interior build quality and material choices received favorable marks from Edmunds and MotorTrend, particularly the thoughtful storage layout, gear tunnel integration, and configurable flat-fold seating

Over-the-air software updates have meaningfully improved range estimates, charging speed, and off-road drive modes since launch, a pattern reviewers note as ongoing rather than one-time

Entry Dual Standard trim is priced at $75,900 for only 270 miles of EPA range, making the value case weak unless buyers step up to the $82,900 Dual Large

Rivian's proprietary charging network remains far smaller than Tesla's Supercharger network, and DC fast-charging peaks around 200 kW, slower than rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 7 on a per-kWh basis

Third-row space is tighter than in conventionally proportioned three-row SUVs of similar exterior length, a consistent complaint in long-term reviews from Car and Driver and InsideEVs

Quad Max at $121,990 adds 655 hp and drops 0–60 by 0.4s compared to the Tri Max, but range does not improve beyond 371 miles, making the top trim difficult to justify on practicality grounds alone

	Kia EV9	Rivian R1S
Body type	three-row SUV	three-row SUV
Trims	5	5
Starting price	$54,900	$75,900
Max EPA range	304 mi	410 mi
Max power	501 hp	1,025 hp
Quickest 0–60	4.5 s	2.6 s
Federal tax credit	$7,500 eligible	$7,500 eligible
Drive options	Single-Motor RWD Dual-Motor AWD	Dual-Motor AWD Tri-Motor AWD Quad-Motor AWD
	Full Kia EV9 specs →	Full Rivian R1S specs →

Kia EV9 vs. Rivian R1S