KIA might be considering going all in by launching a true 7-seater electric SUV with off-road capabilities.
25/09/2026 15:00
Updated to
25/09/2026 15:00
KIA may be preparing a new version of its large EV9 aimed at those seeking more than just a family electric SUV. The company has filed a design in the United States for a vehicle virtually identical to the EV9 ADVNTR Concept introduced in 2024, a concept that transformed the three-row seating model into a vehicle better suited for off-road use.
As of now, there is no official confirmation that it will be manufactured. However, the registration discovered and published by CarBuzz is particularly interesting because it comes after a prototype of the EV9 with elevated suspension, specialized tires, and even an integrated winch on the front appeared in South Korea during 2025. The combination of these two clues suggests that KIA has at least continued working on the concept since presenting it.
The KIA EV9 ADVNTR reappears two years later
The design was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and was finally granted on August 4th of last year. Hyundai Motor Company and KIA Corporation are listed together as applicants and owners. The documentation does not explicitly use the name EV9 ADVNTR and merely describes it as a car, although its references include information related to the concept presented by KIA at the 2024 SEMA Show.
The images show an EV9 with a considerably more rugged appearance. It features specific bumpers, more pronounced wheel arches, lower guards, front tow hooks, and a large roof rack. Many of these elements were present in the ADVNTR Concept, which aimed to demonstrate how far the adventurous nature of this electric SUV could be taken.
That prototype also raised the suspension by about 75 mm compared to a regular EV9 and used large off-road tires. The trunk could carry additional equipment, and even a tent could be installed on the roof. The model seen later during tests in Korea was not identical, but it shared key elements with the concept car and added a front winch.
KIA has not yet confirmed its mechanics or production
The patent provides no information about engines, batteries, or range, so it is currently impossible to determine what mechanics would be used in a hypothetical production version. It cannot also be assumed that it will retain exactly the same modifications as the original prototype. A design registration protects a company’s creation, but it does not necessarily mean the vehicle will reach the market.
A rugged variant would also have to deal with the consequences of using a higher chassis, specialized tires, and external accessories that impair aerodynamics. Therefore, KIA might prioritize off-road capability over maximum range if it decides to turn the ADVNTR into a production car.
The company has also not disclosed how much it might cost or when it will hit the market. In the United States, the EV9 GT-Line currently starts at $71,900, so various reports suggest that a hypothetical ADVNTR version could be priced higher. However, any specific figure is merely an estimate and not a price announced by KIA. It remains unknown at this time whether this alleged leak will reach Europe.
What we do know is that the project didn’t disappear after its presentation at SEMA. KIA developed the prototype, modified vehicles appeared later for testing, and now we have a patent protecting an extremely similar design. The most important step is still missing: confirmation from the brand itself that the EV9 ADVNTR will finally move from concept to becoming the most adventurous member of its electric lineup.