I Paid Extra for My Kia EV9's 2nd-Row Leg Rests And Quickly Learned They Are Worthless To Me As You Can See From This Image

Kia has done something daring with the EV9, a full-size, all-electric, three-row SUV that dares to punch at Tesla, GM, and even Mercedes with a squared jaw and a well-lit face. It’s the kind of corporate gamble that would’ve made old-school Detroit nervous back in the tailfin days. And for the most part, it’s worked.

The EV9 is a commercial win: Buyers are showing up, money in hand, ready to swap their V6s for volts. But underneath all the high praise and low emissions lies a string of questionable design choices and dealership dilemmas that make you wonder: who exactly was this built for?

Unpacking the Controversial “Calf Rest” Feature

Let’s start with the infamous second-row "calf rest", a misnomer that sounds like something offered on a budget airline. Marketed as a luxury touch, it's more of a gimmick unless you're the height of an average hobbit. One baffled owner laid it all out in a now-viral post in the Kia EV9 Owners USA Facebook group:

“2nd-row leg rests are worthless to me. I am 6'1. Look at this pic, and you can see the issue with the 2nd-row seat... If you are over 4 feet tall, you can't use this all the way reclined.

My feet and ankles don't magically poke through that seat in front of me! Am I missing something, or do most of you have the same issue?”

The comments? Pure internet gold. “It’s a calf rest, not a footrest,” snapped one user, clearly clinging to whatever thread of logic they could find. Another chimed in: “My teenagers are already 6’ tall, nope, not for my family.”

Whether it’s a case of user error or corporate oversight, it’s clear something’s off. It’s the kind of ergonomic mistake that feels less like an oversight and more like no one in the design studio bothered to sit back there. Kia set out to impress with features, but this one feels like it came from a concept sketch no one expected to see in production.

Kia EV9 Specs Unveiled: Powertrain, Range, and Family-Friendly Details

• The Kia EV9 offers multiple powertrain configurations to cater to diverse driving preferences. The standard rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model features a single electric motor producing 215 horsepower, paired with a 76.1 kWh battery, delivering an EPA-estimated range of 230 miles. For extended range, the RWD Long Range variant utilizes a larger 99.8 kWh battery, achieving up to 304 miles per charge. All-wheel-drive (AWD) versions incorporate dual electric motors, generating a combined 379 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, enabling brisk acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 5.7 seconds. These AWD models offer an EPA-estimated range of 280 miles, balancing performance with efficiency. ​
• Designed to accommodate families and groups, the EV9 provides three rows of seating with configurations for six or seven passengers. The seven-passenger setup includes a second-row bench seat, while the six-passenger arrangement features second-row captain's chairs with one-touch fold and slide functions. Higher trims offer second-row VIP relaxation chairs that are eight-way power-adjustable, complete with headrests and a two-way power-adjustable legrest, enhancing passenger comfort during journeys. ​
• Equipped with advanced charging technology, the EV9 supports ultra-fast DC fast charging, compatible with both 400V and 800V infrastructures. Utilizing a 350 kW DC fast charger, the vehicle can charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 24 minutes, minimizing downtime during long trips. Additionally, starting in Spring 2025, EV9 owners are expected to gain access to over 16,500 North American Charging Standard (NACS) compatible fast chargers, nearly doubling the number of accessible DC fast chargers to over 35,000 nationwide, enhancing the convenience of long-distance travel.

And yet, despite the quirks, the EV9 is no flop. In fact, it’s a hit. It moves with poise, rides quietly, and finally gives EV-curious families a legitimate alternative to Tesla’s tech cult. The range is respectable, the tech is flashy, and the styling is anything but anonymous. It’s a vehicle that demands attention, whether in suburban parking lots or stoplight conversations. People like it. And they should. It’s an ambitious car in a sea of cautious ones. But that ambition comes with growing pains.

Kia EV9 Service Woes: Dealer Delays and Critical Parts Challenges

Chief among them? The service experience. The moment something goes wrong, say, a charging fault or a software freeze, you’re suddenly staring into the void of a dealer network still stuck in ICE-age thinking. These are the same techs who just last year were troubleshooting power steering pumps, now expected to understand the intricacies of high-voltage architecture. Spoiler alert: many don’t. One owner recalled a visit that took three hours because the dealership had to call corporate just to reset the battery management system. That’s not a luxury experience, it’s a learning curve.

And then there’s the parts problem. If you need something beyond basic maintenance, chances are it’s being shipped from South Korea. Wait times can stretch from weeks into months. It’s déjà vu for anyone who's owned a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or a Genesis GV60. Kia and Hyundai have built great cars, but their U.S. supply chains haven’t caught up to their engineering ambition. You don’t notice it until your touchscreen blanks out or a charging port malfunctions. And then you’re stranded, waiting for a component that’s floating somewhere in the Pacific.

Praised Performance Amid Notable Design and Service Compromises

Still, for all the gripes, there’s a camp of owners who love this thing. They praise the quiet ride, the third-row space, and the understated luxury. Some even say it’s more comfortable than their old BMW X5s or Audi Q7s. It’s the first time a Korean manufacturer has made a large electric SUV that doesn’t feel like an imitation but a statement. And maybe that’s enough for most people. After all, cars have always been compromises. The EV9 just happens to highlight its own compromises with flashing ambient lighting and awkward foot positioning.

Ultimately, the EV9 is a rolling contradiction, a triumph of ambition with moments of baffling execution. It’s the kind of car that will be remembered not just for what it got right but for how boldly it got a few things hilariously wrong. Like the second-row calf rest that doesn’t work for actual calves. Or a dealer tech who has to phone a friend every time an error code pops up. It’s part brilliant, part beta test. 

Image Sources: Kia Pressroom, and from Barton Young's Facebook post referenced above.

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.