Kia K9 is not a new model at all, but a restyled version of the flagship sedan, which was previously known in Russia under the index Let it be K900. In the native South Korean market, the short designation K9 has been used since the days of the Quoris model, and is now accepted in export markets. But now, unfortunately, we are not talking regarding the resumption of deliveries of new Kia cars to Russia. The same story is repeated as with the crossover Kia Sportage new generation.
In South Korea, the updated Kia K9 sedan was presented last summer, and the Russian representative office of the company announced fast start of sales in January. By the end of winter, the first batch of car kits for assembly arrived at Avtotor in Kaliningrad, but following February 24, Kia paused activity in Russia, and Kia K9 sedans ready for shipment hung in warehouses. And only now a decision has been made to put these Kaliningrad-assembled cars into the distribution network.
On the left – it was, on the right – it became
The updated flagship has found a different design of the front and stern. A new face with narrow LED headlights and an even larger grille. The rear lights are now united by a luminous strip, which is why the platform for the license plate had to be moved from the trunk lid to the bumper. At the same time, the length of the machine is the same (5120 mm).
Salon has not changed much. There was only a new media system with an enlarged screen (14.5 inches instead of 12.3), the ability to update the software “over the air” and the function of remote access from a smartphone. You can even connect to all-round cameras to assess the situation around the car. Also, the new media system can recognize the driver by fingerprint (the sensor is located to the left of the steering wheel), remembering his individual settings for the seat, mirrors, climate control and “music”.
In Russia, the Kia K9 sedan is offered with only one engine. This is the already well-known aspirated V6 3.3 GDI with a power of 249 hp. in tandem with an eight-speed “automatic” and all-wheel drive. Concern Hyundai refused from the status engine V8 5.0 (413 hp), so it is excluded from the range even in Korea. And versions with aspirated 3.8 GDI (315 hp) and turbo engine 3.3 T-GDI (370 hp), which are in other countries, were not originally planned for our market.
All cars are in the richest Premium package (others simply did not have time to assemble). Here, the upholstery of the seats and some panels in nappa leather, wood veneer inserts, three-zone climate control, power rear seats with heating and ventilation, sunroof, door closers, media screens on the second row, 18-inch wheels, adaptive cruise control, complex electronic assistants and much more. Price – in the spirit of the times: 7 million 375 thousand rubles. But the number of cars is limited and there will be no new deliveries in the foreseeable future.
