The 2024 Kia EV9 recently made its debut as a stylish all-electric midsize three-row SUV, and it’s shaping up to be a sales success. The Kia EV9 is now Kia’s best-selling EV just a few months after first hitting showroom floors.

Kia sold 1,408 EV9s in January, besting the far-more-established EV6 by nearly 200 units. EV9 sales were just shy of the Ioniq 5, the EV6’s corporate cousin and the best-selling EV across the Hyundai Motor Group, which includes the Kia brand. Sales of the Ioniq 5 were 1,465 units in January, just 57 more than the EV9. As such, it appears the EV9 is quickly on its way to becoming the top EV across HMG.

Over 1,100 EV9s sold in December 2023, its first full month of sales.

For perspective, the EV9 is still not an overall sales champ within Kia’s ranks. The EV SUV only outsold the Rio, EV6 and Stinger overall. Kia discontinued the Stinger following the 2023 model year.

However, the EV9 has strongly bolstered Kia and HMG’s percentage of all-electric vehicle sales. Kia sold just over 51,000 models in January, 5.1 percent of which were fully electric. Hyundai sold nearly 72,000 all-electric Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 models throughout 2023, representing nearly nine percent of its total annual sales.  

Volvo, by comparison, reported its share of all-electric sales was just over three percent for January.  

The EV9’s auspicious sales start is likely aided by its all-electric midsize three-row SUV status. It’s a relatively limited class, after all, and the EV9 is the only non-luxury player in the game.

The Tesla Model Y and Model X offer an optional third row, but the EV9’s rear seats are far more spacious. The same is true for the Mercedes-Benz EQB. The EV9’s starting MSRP of $54,900 also significantly undercuts the $84,000 base price of a Rivian R1S. The most expensive EV9, the GT-Line, starts at $73,900.

The EV9’s more budget-friendly pricing and family friendly third row (which isn’t offered in the EV6) makes it a compelling option for SUV buyers who require pragmaticism and zero emissions. It’s unlikely the EV9 will closely compete with the Telluride for overall sales given its EV powertrain and price, however.

The addition of the EV9 is likely to boost Kia’s recent surging overall sales. The brand reported 2023 annual sales of over 782,000 units smashed its previous yearly sales record, 2021, by 12 percent. Kia’s EV sales were up 41 percent last year.