Kia EV9 News

Here are my personal and somewhat subjective Top 5 Cars of 2023... and in alphabetical order, because – like reading – objectivity is fundamental.

I didn't expect my entire list to be fully electric cars, but these five are all stand-outs in their own right.

The latest new cars to be assessed against ANCAP’s current 2023-2025 testing criteria have come through with flying colours to score maximum five-star ratings.

A flagship Kia EV9 GT is around 12 months away from launch in Australia, with the hardcore electric 4WD promising serious performance.

Kia has no interest in entering into the battle to deliver Australia's cheapest electric vehicle, instead vowing to deliver value to its customers, no matter the sticker price on its vehicles.Australia's three cheapest electric vehicles are all from Chinese brands – the MG4, BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora – and all list at a hyper-competitive sub-$40k starting price for their entry-level models.It's a price point that, so far, is yet to be matched by Australia's more established models. And it's a battle that Kia in Australia will look to avoid, suggesting its days of challenger-brand battles are long behind it.Instead, Kia says its name recognition, brand values and legacy in Australia will combine to create value for consumers."We will always compete,” says Kia Australia CEO, Damien Meredith.“But if you’re developing your brand – and we’ve put a lot of work into that – and getting great product, if you can easily translate that to the customer that this is still great value, like the EV9, then do you really want to play in the puddle that is $30,000, or $25,000?"You just need to make those decisions if you want to play in that price point. If you can stay at $40k-$50k, $50k-$60k, and there’s still value, that’s what we’re looking at."If something becomes available, like a smaller EV that’s $40k, we’ll have our hand up for it. But you need to be cautious. We’ve worked hard on getting our brand up, and you need to keep looking at that."Kia's EV portfolio currently spans three vehicles, the Niro, the EV6 and EV9. A Chinese-manufactured EV5 will launch in Australia next year, bringing the brand's tally in Australia to four.But with a plan to launch an electric vehicle at least per year, and a lot of numbers below '5', Kia insists it isn't leaving the affordable market behind, while making the distinction that value doesn't mean cheap.At a recent EV Day, the brand unveiled the EV4 and EV3, which will further lower the cost of entry to a Kia electric vehicle."Kia Australia is heavily invested in the global strategy, and we’ve got out hand up for as many (EVs) as we can get our hands on," says the brand's product planning boss, Roland Rivero.

Kia's LandCruiser-sized electric SUV will kick off from $97,000 in Australia, making the EV9 among the best-value (on a dollar-per-square-metre basis) electric vehicles in the country.The Kia EV9 will land in dealerships this week, with two of the three t

The countdown’s on with just two full months before the year ends, and in that time we’ll see some highly anticipated new models land in Australia.So here it is: our top 5 cars still come in 2023.Arrives: Mid-NovemberPrice: From $75,600There’s only one other series that’s been running as long as the 70 Series and that’s Neighbours. And just like the popular soap opera, the Toyota favourite will be getting a reboot this year.Expected in mid-November, the updated LandCruiser 70 Series will arrive with a new 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. The 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel from the previous 70 Series will also return.The new 70 Series will also boast improved safety tech and fresh(ish) looks.The list price of the new LandCruiser 70 Series starts at $75,600 for the 76 Series Wagon WorkMate (only available with the four cylinder engine). At the top of the range is the 79 Series double cab chassis which is $83,500 for the four-cylinder variant and $87,600 for the V8.When: Mid-NovemberPrice: From approx. $60,000Hyundai was way ahead of most in the electric race when it launched the first generation of the Kona Electric in 2019, and now the new gen is about to land.Expected to arrive in mid-November the new Kona Electric follows the launch of the petrol variant in July this year. Like the combustion version, the Kona Electric is bigger than the previous generation - it’s longer, wider and taller.You can also expect the Kona Electric to be offered in two battery sizes with a range of up to 420km.The current extended range Kona in the top of the range Highlander grade lists for $64,000.When: OctoberPrice: From approx. $55,000BYD has introduced Australia to two new things already - a very affordable electric vehicle in the form of the Atto 3; and the longest badge we've ever seen on a tailgate - Build Your Dreams.Now, launching this month in Australia is the BYD Seal - that’s right, as in the sea creature - only it’s a fully electric mid-sized sedan that’ll do battle with the likes of Tesla’s Model 3.Expect rear- and all-wheel-drive versions, a big 82.5kWh battery, and a range of between 520km and 570km depending on the motor - possibly two variants in the form of a 230kW output and one making 390kW.In terms of money, expect the Seal to undercut the Model 3 which starts at $57,400 and tops out at $83,400.Arrives: Early NovemberPrice: From approx. $95,000The world has been stunned by Kia’s rapid rollout of electric vehicles, but next to arrive will be the EV9 fully electric large SUV.Big, boxy and, we think beautiful, the EV9 will come with three rows to seat seven.Expect two battery sizes - a 76.1kWh standard range and a 99.8kWh long range version.Prices are expected to slide in under the $100K mark for the entry grade, but you could pay about $120,000 for the fancier versions.The Kia EV9 will arrive in early November joining the EV6 mid-sized SUV and little Niro SUV.Recently Kia revealed the EV3 SUV and EV4 saloon. A Sportage-sized EV5 SUV is also set to go into production.Arrives: Late DecemberPrice: From $79,990Arriving late in December but just in time for Christmas is Ford’s first Mustang SUV - and it’s fully electric - the Mustang Mach-E.You can actually build and order the Mach-E at Ford’s website now and you’ll see it comes in all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive.The entry grade rear-wheel drive Select has an output of 198kW/430Nm, the mid-grade aPremium produces 216kW/430Nm and the top of the range GT makes a whopping 358kW/860Nm.The Premium comes with the extended range battery offering 600km, Ford says.Prices start at $79,990 for the Select, the Premium comes in at $91,665 and the GT lists for $107,665.

The Kia EV9 is set to arrive in Australian dealerships within weeks, but Kia Australia is waiting until the model’s local launch to confirm details like exact line-up and pricing. However, government documents seen by CarsGuide seem to confirm the former.

The first-ever ‘Kia EV Day’ is just a week away, and the South Korean brand is set to use the inaugural event to reveal not one, but two new model concepts.

Toyota Australia has long held a dominant grip on the Australian new-car market, having wrestled control from home-grown brands like Holden and Ford.