The Kia EV9 is a big electric SUV, but it will come at a relatively low price.
The Telluride-sized model that goes on sale late this year will have a starting price of $54,900, not including destination fees.
That’s for the entry-level, rear-wheel-drive EV9 Light, which will have an estimated driving range of 223 miles per charge of its 76.1-kilowatt-hour battery pack.
Pricing for the trims above it that will be offered with all-wheel-drive and a 99.8-kilowatt-hour pack have not been announced, but batteries are a major factor for EV pricing.
KIA TELLURIDE TOUGHENS UP FOR OFF-ROAD RALLY
The three-row EV9 will come in six and seven passenger versions and all have a standard 800-volt electric architecture that allows them to be charged from 10% to 80% full in 25 minutes at the fastest public charging stations.
The much Tesla Model Y, which is a midsize available with a very small third row of seats, starts at $50,490, but has a driving range of 330 miles per charge.
While the first EV9s will be imported from South Korea, Kia is rushing to finish a new factory in West Point, Ga., that is scheduled to build them starting sometime in 2024.
Initial EV9s will only be eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit on EVs through leases, but the U.S. built models may qualify for purchasing if the regulations on battery material sourcing are met.