More than 11,000 km later, the iON evo AS SUV tire continues to deliver all the performance
Despite the challenges, the EV9 managed an impressive 21 kWh/100km during our summer road trip.

The vibration still persists, unfortunately.

The family and I were excited to hit the road in the EV9 and head to our rental on the shores of the mighty St. Lawrence River in the Gaspésie region. The boot and box were loaded up, as was the frunk, with a few small pieces. With the battery fully charged, we headed out.

By my calculations, humans and gear included, our 2025 Kia EV9 Land AWD was tasked with carrying an extra 800 lbs above its already hefty 5,900-lb curb weight. Rolling on pressure-checked Hankook iON evo AS SUV tires wrapped around handsome and lightweight Fast Wheels EV01 wheels, my expectations for the upcoming driving experience were high.

I do love driving it

As I’ve stated in my previous stories on the iON evo tires, they are built using serious technologies, including Hankook’s EV Contour Technology. This is what enables the huge P275/50R20 rubber boots to keep things interesting. And by that, I mean responsiveness and stability. Some roads away from the shoreline consisted in sweeping mountain roads with numerous switchbacks. Occasionally, having too much fun, I was firmly asked to dial back my enthusiasm…

Much of the travelling took place on a highway where surface noises can be a downer. The ON evo AS SUV’s Noise Guard Technology did what it needed to do, on the rare occasions when the kids were napping and K-pop demon hunters weren’t blasting through the audio system.

Hankook iON evo AS SUV Tire Review Update: EV Tires Are Asked to Do It All

Insanely efficient

Hands down, what impressed me the most in the aftermath of the trip was the returned average energy consumption. At 21 kWh/100km, this with my Thule roof box firmly attached to my inexpensive crossbars, loaded, and regularly rekindling with the unfortunate vibration (it returned only days after I got the wheels balanced), the EV9 proved to be exceptionally efficient.

The combination of Hankook’s EVolution technology, enabling lower rolling resistance, and the EV01’s lightweight flow-formed construction and advanced aerodynamic design (proven to extend driving range by 4.4%) enabled Big Bluey (the EV9’s pet name) to consistently cross the 450-km mark range-wise. Officially rated at 451 km (455 km for the 2026 MY), there’s no doubt in my mind that these additional accessories helped keep the Kia moving rather than stationary, gulping down electrons.

On the topic of fast charging, our 2025 Kia EV9 never choked on the energy it was fed. As we know, 350-kW chargers are still rare; however, 180-kW chargers are relatively common. Regular top-ups from 40-85% never took more than 16-17 minutes. I left the Kia plugged in at up to 91% on a fast charger, and although the charge rate noticeably dropped, it was still pulling in more than 70 kWh beyond the 90% mark.

12V woes

There was a very brief scare about two weeks before we set off. One morning, the EV9 simply refused to come to life. I quickly realized that the 12V was dead likely due to common software glitches or hardware issues within the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU). I thought it best to contact roadside assistance for a boost (rather than doing it myself for warranty purposes). The boost solved the issue, and I now drive everywhere with a booster pack and trickle charger in the frunk, just in case.

Looking forward to more road trips

For our specific needs, the EV9 is brilliant. Size-wise, I’d love an extra 5 cm of trunk depth behind the third row. Or, alternatively, a deeper storage area beneath the rear load floor. For all other needs, the Kia is tough to beat.

Having just crossed the 9-month ownership mark, my only concern with the 2025 Kia EV9 is that we’re racking up far more mileage than my lease allows on an annual basis. That’s how much we’re enamoured with our Big Bluey.