Kia unveiled one of its most exciting SUVs a year ago, that being the EV9 GT. With three rows and 501 horsepower, it combines a practical and high-tech interior with quick performance. The smaller EV6 GT already showed what Kia is capable of when it comes to a high-performance EV, and the EV9 GT was well-positioned to add to that.
Sadly, the EV9 GT looks unlikely to arrive anytime soon, if ever. Kia confirmed to Car and Driver that it has been “delayed until further notice” due to “changing market conditions,” which is likely a nice way of saying that the demand for the EV9 GT simply isn’t there.
Related: 2025 Kia EV9: 4 reasons to love it, 2 reasons to think twice
Low Sales Add to EV Challenges
2026 Kia EV9 GT
In October, sales of the EV9 in the United States declined to just 666 units—down from 1,941 units in the same month a year ago. This massive drop in EV sales has been reflected across multiple brands following the scrapping of the federal tax credit. If the regular EV9 is already struggling, chances are the high-performance, pricier EV9 GT would struggle, too.
The EV9 GT was supposed to go on sale in the second half of this year, and it would’ve had few rivals. Hyundai doesn’t have an Ioniq 9 with as much power as the EV9 GT, and while potential rivals like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Chevrolet Blazer EV offer similar levels of performance, they don’t have a third row like the Kia.
The EV9 GT’s dual motors produce 501 horsepower. With all-wheel drive, it’s capable of a 4.3-second 0-60 run. The Electronically Controlled Suspension is the first of its kind in a Kia, and additions like a limited-slip differential and simulated gear shifts would likely have made this more fun to drive than other EV9s.
Related: Kia’s 2026 EV9 Delivers More Miles for Less Money
Not The First Kia to be Delayed
Kia
The delayed EV9 GT follows Kia’s decision to postpone the launch of the EV4 in the United States, too. This small sedan was supposed to arrive in early 2026 and would likely have been one of the cheapest electric sedans on sale in this market, especially the base model with its small 58.3-kWh battery. Kia described the EV4’s delay as a “temporary hold,” which doesn’t sound promising.
The small EV3 is still planned, though, with Kia telling us recently the crossover is expected to arrive here before the end of 2026. The EV3 already picked up the World Car of the Year award for 2025, so the signs are there that it’s a great EV. If Kia can get the starting price below $35k, it’ll be particularly appealing.
All that being said, it’s hard to get too excited about new EV launches, given the number of cancelations in recent months.
