Kia has just unveiled Kia EV9, and it looks like it's going to be one of the most exciting electric SUVs on the market. The design is sleek and futuristic. But what really sets the EV9 apart is its powertrain and battery options.

The EV9 is built on the 800V E-GMP platform and comes with two battery options: a 76.1 kWh battery and a new 99.8 kWh battery. The larger battery is the biggest battery that the E-GMP platform has seen so far, and it means that the EV9 can deliver an impressive driving range. According to Kia, careful drivers who stick to speed limits can expect up to 541 km (336 miles) of range on a single charge.

The smaller battery pack can be coupled only to the RWD powertrain with a single electric motor and its 160 kW peak power (350 Nm). The larger battery pack can come with either RWD or AWD powertrain. Interestingly, the RWD option has a less powerful electric motor than the version with the smaller battery, but Kia toned the motor down to 150 kW/350 Nm to increase the range. The AWD version is the most powerful, with two electric motors with a combined output of 283 kW and 600 Nm of torque. With the optional Boost feature, the AWD version can go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds (standard 6 s).

The interior of the EV9 is just as impressive as the powertrain. There are two trims available - standard and GT-Line. The GT-Line has a different front bumper and the roof rails are standard, and it will soon get the HDP - Highway Driving Pilot. The HDP meets the Level 3 autonomous driving requirements thanks to its dual LiDAR sensors and a host of cameras and ultrasonic sensors.

In the 6-seat configuration, the middle-row captain chairs swivel 180 degrees, and there is a large dual-display screen we know from other Kia models. Kia is also pushing the recycling agenda, with the interior materials using 7 PET bottles, fully recycled into various parts and fabrics. The company is phasing out the use of leather.

Specs:

• dimensions: 5010x1980x1755 mm
• wheelbase 3100 mm
• 800V E-GMP platform
• battery: 76.1 and 99.8 kWh
• RWD 150 kW or 160 kW / 350 Nm
• AWD 283 kW / 600 Nm / 6.0 / 5.3 s (optional Boost feature)
• Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) up to 3.6 kW
• Highway Driving Pilot Level 3