The Kia EV9 practically created the three-row electric utility vehicle segment. But since then, it has had to adapt to rivals such as the Ioniq 9, which arrived in 2025 with a bigger battery and a more elevated exterior design. The EV9's response for 2026 is the addition of a GT performance variant with 501 horsepower. It can sprint from 0 to 100 kilometres in just 4.5 seconds and is equipped with adaptive suspension and larger front brakes.