So I finally pulled the trigger on a 2024 EV9 Land in Ocean Blue. It is absolutely massive compared to my old Niro and I am obsessed with the power but man, the interior feels like it is going to get trashed in about five seconds with my two kids and a Golden Retriever. We live up in Seattle so the mud situation is real and I need to get some protection before our first big family trip up to Whistler in three weeks.
I am currently torn between a few options for floor mats because that is priority number one for me right now. I am looking at TuxMat versus the standard WeatherTech ones. I have always used WeatherTech in my old trucks and they are basically indestructible, but honestly they look a little bit like industrial plastic bins and might ruin the vibe of the EV9 cabin. The TuxMats look way more premium and seem to cover every single inch of the carpet which is nice, but I have heard they can be a bit of a nightmare to clean if you get actual dirt and salt stuck in the ridges. Given I am in the PNW, we get a lot of pine needles and wet dirt so I dont want to be out there with a toothbrush scrubbing my mats every weekend.
Also trying to decide on the screen protector for that massive panoramic display. Spigen has that one with the alignment frame which seems foolproof, but it is pretty pricey for just one piece of glass. There are some generic ones on Amazon that come in a two-pack for half the price but I am worried about glare and fingerprints since the EV9 screen is already a fingerprint magnet. Is the brand name one actually better for visibility or is it just marketing?
Last thing is the cargo area. The Kia official folding tray looks cool because it works when the third row is up or down, but it is like 150 bucks. I could just get a cheap 20 dollar collapsible bin from Costco and call it a day, but I worry about stuff sliding around on that carpet back there and getting dog hair woven into the fibers. Trying to keep this whole first wave of accessories under 500 dollars total because the down payment basically drained my fun money for the quarter lol. Which way would you guys go for a family-duty EV? The premium stuff or the budget alternatives...
Adding my two cents here since I have been driving big family haulers through PNW mud for years. You really dont need to spend 500 bucks to keep an interior looking fresh.
Dude, congrats on the EV9! Ocean Blue is such an amazing color choice. I went through the exact same struggle because the interior is way too nice to let it get trashed by the kids and pets. For the floors, you 100% gotta go with TuxMat Kia EV9 Custom Floor Mats. Honestly, WeatherTech is great for work trucks but they look so industrial in a car this high-end. The TuxMats cover way more of the side walls and they actually look like part of the car, which I love! Cleaning them isnt even that bad if you have a shop vac... the pine needles and mud just suck right out of the ridges and they stay looking fresh for a long time. Since youre worried about fingerprints and glare, dont cheap out on the screen. I've tried those generic Amazon ones and they usually make the screen look grainy or reflect everything like a mirror. The Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit Screen Protector for Kia EV9 is seriously fantastic. The alignment tool makes it impossible to mess up, and the matte finish is a lifesaver when the sun hits that massive display. It is totally worth the extra cash for the visibility alone, especially with the fingerprint situation. For the back, definitely get the Kia OEM Folding Cargo Tray for EV9. Dog hair is a total nightmare to get out of that Kia carpet, and the folding design is genius for when youre switching between passengers and Whistler gear. Cheap bins just slide around and let the dog hair find every little crack. You can totally get all three of these and stay under your 500 dollar limit if you shop around online!
Wait really?? Thats actually super helpful. I always thought it was the other way around.