The next Kia to wear the brand’s GT performance badge might come as an unexpected surprise. Enter the 2026 EV9 GT, which will be the brand’s most powerful and capable version of its three-row electric SUV, and Kia’s first real attempt at a performance crossover.
The biggest changes are to the EV9’s dual-motor setup. The EV9 GT’s front motor puts out 215 horsepower and the rear motor makes 362 hp, adding up to a a total combined output of 501 horsepower. If you’re keeping count, that’s 122 horses more than the next most powerful EV9, the EV9 GT-Line. Kia says that’s enough power to propel the EV9 GT to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds, which is pretty nuts for a three-row electric SUV that’ll likely weigh close to, if not over 6,000 pounds.
Kia says the EV9 GT will be able to stop well thanks to larger brakes with GT-badged calipers, and it’ll hustle in the twisties, too. The EV9 GT is fitted with an electronically controlled suspension, a Kia SUV first, and drivers can select between Normal, Eco, Sport and My Drive settings via a button on the steering wheel. Depending on the setting, the shock dampening, steering and brake feel are all adjusted. For maximum performance, there’s a bright green GT button on the wheel for the GT mode that sets the suspension to its stiffest setting.
Other performance goodies added to the EV9 GT include an electronic limited-slip differential, and something Kia is calling Virtual Gear Shift. Given the name, you’ve probably already figured out what it does but I’m going to explain anyway: VGS simulates the shifts of a normal automatic transmission, and drivers can use the steering wheel paddles to “shift” themselves. It even decelerates the EV9 GT when it hits the simulated rev limit. Combined with the Active Sound Design that pipes in fake engine sounds into the cabin, it’s all probably a very convincing imitation of a performance car going through the gears.
Keen eyed observers will be able to tell the EV9 GT apart by a few styling differences, like its 21-inch wheels wrapped in high performance 285/45 Continental tires wrapped. The GT also gets a unique front lighting pattern Kia calls “Energetic,” and the bumper designs are more aggressive. Inside there are Neon Green accents throughout the cabin, Alcantara sport seats with GT logos and a performance steering wheel that’s unique to the GT trim.
Don’t let all the performance and sporty stuff fool you, though. The EV9 GT is still a family-hauling crossover at its core. The EV9’s 800-volt architecture remains intact, meaning it takes less than 25 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent charge. The GT is the first EV9 to get a standard Tesla-style NACS (North American Charging Standard) port, which also will be added to all 2025 EV9s. The 7.8 inches of ground clearance and 5,000-pound towing capacity from other EV9s also carries over to the GT.
The only things we don’t know about the EV9 GT is how much range it’ll have and how much it’ll cost when it hits dealers in the latter half of 2025. Once it does arrive at dealers, interested buyers are going to want to act fast. Kia says that EV9 GT inventories will be “extremely limited.”
