If Santa's sleigh were to be unexpectedly out of action this Christmas Eve, he could do worse than borrow Kia's bold and impressive new EV9 family SUV.
This electric flagship model really makes a statement with its distinctive, modern, yet sophisticated styling. It looks huge – especially when you stand next to it – and it attracts attention on the road, as I have seen myself.
The ambitious Korean car company's 21st century answer to the British Range Rover has stolen a march by being the first to market with a fully electric model.
I drove the top-of-the-range GT-Line S with seven seats and recessed fold-out door handles as standard. Enough space for passengers. And even more in the trunk for presents.
It comes with all-wheel drive, with eco, normal, spirited sport and bespoke 'My Drive' drive mode settings, plus off-road terrain modes for snow, mud and sand. So a white Christmas will not be a problem.
Flagship: The EV9 family SUV aims to compete with Range Rover models
Two other equipment options are the entry-level Air model – two-wheel drive with a less powerful 200 hp electric motor – and the GT-Line with four-wheel drive. Both have seven seats.
It's a pleasure and a breeze to drive, and not at all intimidating. The smart interior and dashboard are uncluttered, contemporary and fairly easy to navigate alongside the 12.3-inch central digital touchscreen.
My EV9 was packed with safety technology. My favorite is the rear camera setup that, when you signal to turn, projects a live feed of the blind spot in the direction you're turning onto the dashboard. It is also fast and powerful, as well as agile.
On 19-inch wheels, my GT-Line S sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds, up to a top speed of 200 km/h; the two electric motors develop 378 hp. It has a range of 500 kilometers, despite a weight of 3.24 tons.
This electric flagship model really makes a statement with its distinctive, modern, yet sophisticated styling
The smart interior and dashboard are uncluttered, contemporary and fairly easy to navigate alongside the 12.3-inch central digital touchscreen
On 19 inch wheels my GT-Line S accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds to a top speed of 200 km/h
It has a range of 500 kilometers, despite a weight of 3.24 tons
Charging via a fast charger takes only 24 minutes
An optional six-seater version with lounge-style swivel seats is also available on my top model
It looks huge – especially when you stand next to it – and it attracts attention on the road
There is one catch: the price. My EV9 cost £76,025 on the road. The range starts from £64,995.
It's an understated premium package that's ostentatiously luxurious.
An optional six-seater version with lounge-style swivel seats is also available on my top model. The range of the single-motor, two-wheel drive version is 549 kilometers.
There is another important plus. Due to its large size, van drivers and drivers of other large vehicles (yes, BMW and Audi drivers, I'm looking at you) are somewhat intimidated and are less likely to try to 'tackle' or bully you. It has 'muscle', as taxi drivers call its large footprint. I have experienced this first hand.
Charging via a fast charger takes only 24 minutes.
If you like one yourself, start saving now – or write Santa a nice letter.
A Merry Christmas to you all.
New insurance package for Range Rover owners
Range Rover owners are being offered a new insurance package after many in London were denied cover due to rising car thefts.
The deal from parent company Jaguar Land Rover – JLR – offers an average monthly premium 'of less than £200'. But that's still around £2,400 a year. JLR has invested £10 million to reduce keyless theft in Britain.
Under wraps: Order books have opened for the first new all-electric Range Rover – the new model will follow this year's SV Intrepid, pictured
Order books have been opened for the first new all-electric Range Rover – but there are no price, performance figures or even a photo – as testing continues.
Instead, JLR has released five 'teaser' photos of isolated details. Performance is said to be comparable to that of a flagship Range Rover V8.
So expect more than 600 horsepower and a price above £100,000.
The new model follows the plug-in hybrid petrol-electric versions of the Range Rover, including the top model SV Intrepid.
JLR said: 'With the new Range Rover Electric having more patents filed than any other Range Rover, prototypes are now subject to one of the most rigorous technical approval programs ever.'
Don't lose your license
With the festive holiday season approaching, make sure you don't lose your driver's license.
A new study shows that British drivers have spent a whopping £20.3 million replacing lost or stolen driving licenses in just one year.
Duration: From September 2022 to August 2023, more than one million licenses were reported as lost or stolen
A Freedom of Information request from UK car leasing company Select Car Leasing revealed that more than one million (1,015,048) driving licenses were reported lost or stolen between September 2022 and August 2023.
With the DVLA now charging a £20 replacement fee, this represents a huge boost to the DVLA coffers.
London recorded the most lost licenses, with 108,000 (costing more than £2 million to replace), followed by Birmingham (32,000) and Manchester (22,764).
Drivers in Edinburgh had the highest number of lost or stolen cards per capita.
Graham Conway from Select Car Leasing said: 'It's all too easy to lose track of your driving licence, especially if you're on your way to Christmas and New Year's parties and may be using your ID card as a way to prove your age at the bar .
“Thieves will also be very active, so everyone should be on the lookout.”
And remember: don't drink or drive. That really is the fastest way to lose your driver's license.
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