Kia EV9
Like the mechanically and dimensionally similar Hyundai Ioniq 9, the three-row Kia EV9 offers seating for six or seven passengers, but it does it with a decidedly Kia take from its exterior styling and cabin standpoints. Equipped with Tesla NACS charging port, the EV9 is available with either a 76.1-kWh or 99.8-kWh battery; the latter delivers more than 300 miles of range when the EV9 is equipped with a single 201-horsepower rear motor.
The EV9’s optional, dual-motor AWD powertrain dishes out 379 hp and 443 lb-ft, and an available Boost feature can raise that torque figure to 516 lb-ft and get the EV9 from 0 to 60 mph in a quick 4.4 seconds. The GT, a new performance-tuned variant, also arrives this year with more than 500 hp that should make it one of the quickest three-row EVs on the market.
Rivian R1S
The R1S has been a MotorTrend favorite since its debut in 2022, and Rivian continues to make its three-row SUV even better. It combines luxury amenities with extraordinary performance, head-tuning design, and trail-ready off-road capability, but what really makes the R1S stand out in its class is that it’s all executed to such a high degree. The biggest update for 2026 was the addition of a NACS port, which eases access to the Tesla Supercharging network. Other recent upgrades for the R1S include an all-new electrical architecture, a revised heat pump system and battery pack design, a revamped suspension, and a new infotainment interface.
Choice is the name of the game with Rivian EVs, and as such, there are three battery sizes: Standard (92.5 kWh), Large (108.5 kWh), and Max (140.0 kWh). Range naturally fluctuates depending on spec and configuration. Dual-motor models vary between 258 and 410 miles in EPA ratings; MotorTrend’s Road-Trip Range test measured an R1S with the Max battery going about 340 miles on a charge. The R1S Tri is equipped with the Max pack and is EPA-estimated at 371 miles of range (311 miles in MotorTrend testing). The R1S Quad also gets the Max pack and an EPA range estimate of 374 miles; it got exactly 100 miles less in our test.
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A 30-plus year veteran of the publishing industry, Mike cut his teeth in the newspaper business before covering cars full-time in 2000. He’s spent his career on the bleeding edge of digital operations and editorial at MotorTrend, with a stint as editor-in-chief of Automobile magazine along the way.
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