Kia EV9 Spied In Public With Off-Road Upgrades

Okay, sure, you can finally get a three-row electric SUV with room for the whole family. But you can’t go off-roading with it, right? Well, perhaps you can roll down some flat trails, but you’ll probably turn around at the first sign of serious terrain. And what if you get stuck? It looks like Kia is preparing to hush all the naysayers, based on this EV9 prototype caught testing in Korea.

It’s a version of the EV9 crossover with a suspension lift and a big winch in the front bumper. Is this a future X-Pro trim? Or the production version of the EV9 Advntr concept from last fall? Whatever it is, it’s likely going to be built soon based on this latest report.

An EV9 Ready To Go More Places Than Ever Before

Images of the new Kia off-roader were first posted by the YouTube channel Healer TV. Korean Car Blog added some details to accompany the images.

We can clearly see some serious changes. This version of the EV9 has a significant suspension lift. We’re not sure exactly how much taller it is than standard, but it looks almost as extreme as the Advntr concept Kia showed at SEMA last year. That off-road machine was three inches taller than a standard EV9, which should deliver loads of clearance underneath.

The spotted EV9 also comes with a front winch and a new front fascia designed to fit it. We can count the number of vehicles with a factory winch on one hand, so Kia making one available – even as an accessory – is big news. The GVWR of the current EV9 is nearly 7,200 pounds, so it’s going to have to be a big winch as well.

Where’s The Beef(y Rubber?)

This EV9 doesn’t seem to have all-terrain tires, or at least not very chunky ones. There’s still not a lot of sidewall here, at least not enough to go anywhere you’re likely to need a winch. On the other hand, if you use range-friendly on-road tires, maybe you’ll need the winch more often than not.

There’s one more clue to this being a production version of the Advntr, and it’s inside of each wheel. The brake calipers are finished in an electric lime green. It’s the same shade Kia used for the brakes, as well as the tow hooks and roof rack, of the Advntr concept.

It’s far from official, but this looks like it’s headed to dealers sooner rather than later. With Hyundai doing something similar but smaller with the Ioniq 5 XRT, it’s not even breaking new ground. The only real question now is what name Kia will use. Going with X-Pro like the Telluride and Sportage seems logical, or perhaps this big boy will get something different.

Related

2026 Kia EV9 Fights Inflation For The Third Straight Year

The 2026 Kia EV9 is the same price it was in 2024. Most versions are even cheaper.

Right now, Kia offers the EV9 with a single-motor RWD or dual-motor AWD powertrain. It produces up to 379 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, and offers up to 283 miles of range when equipped with AWD. It has up to 7.8 inches of ground clearance and can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Sources: Healer TV, Korean Car Blog