Motion Sickness in the Kia EV9: Why It Happens & How to Prevent It
The Kia EV9 is a three-row electric SUV, and two things decide how a motion-sensitive rider fares in it: the regen setting and the row. Kia's manual shows the right steering-wheel paddle stepping regen down to level 0, and the third row, like every third row, sits farthest back, where speed changes and bumps are felt most.
3-Row SUV · EV · Reader-reported motion-sickness risk: mixed, very person-dependent.
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Risk levels summarise what passengers and riders commonly report, not measured testing.
Key facts
- The Kia EV9 is a 3-row SUV. It is fully electric.
- Reader reports place it in the moderate band for motion sickness.
- 6 design factors are documented on this page as motion triggers in the Kia EV9.
- Best seat: Seat the most sensitive rider up front or in the second row, and keep the third row for riders who travel well.
- Settings that matter: Pull the right steering-wheel paddle to lower regenerative braking one level at a time, down to level 0, the bottom of the 0 to 3 range in Kia's EV9 manual.
Try Dizzout free. Put it on your phone before you go, so it is there when you need it. Drug-free, any headphones.Free to download · works with any headphones
Stop car sickness. Free to download. Paid subscription for full access.
Why the Kia EV9 can trigger motion sickness
Like other EVs, the EV9 slows itself through regenerative braking when the driver lifts off the accelerator. Kia lets the driver set that slowing from level 0 to level 3 with paddles behind the steering wheel, and its manual notes that the setting returns to level 1 when the car is restarted from level 0. Level 0 has to be chosen again on each drive. The higher the level, the harder each lift-off slows the car. Driver aids come up too: on the Kia EV Forum, one EV9 driver wrote that the adaptive cruise control felt jerky, especially behind trucks, even with its acceleration and reaction settings at their lowest, enough to leave them a little queasy. A 2025 on-road study of 16 motion-sensitive passengers found more motion sickness with high regeneration than with a lower setting. The third row adds the usual three-row caveat: it sits farthest back, with the weakest view of the road ahead.
- Lift-off regen: the EV9 slows itself when the driver eases off the accelerator, which passengers cannot anticipate
- Regen levels from 0 to 3, set with the steering-wheel paddles; the higher the level, the harder the slowing
- The level returns to 1 after a restart from level 0, so the gentlest setting has to be picked again on each drive
- The third row sits farthest back, where speed changes and bumps are felt most and the forward view is weakest
- One owner reported adaptive cruise control that felt jerky behind trucks, even at its gentlest settings
- A quiet electric cabin removes the engine note that warns a rider the car is about to slow
Best seat & setup in the Kia EV9
Seat the most sensitive rider up front or in the second row, and keep the third row for riders who travel well. Before a long drive, have the driver set regen to level 0 or 1 and check it again after every restart.
Pull the right steering-wheel paddle to lower regenerative braking one level at a time, down to level 0, the bottom of the 0 to 3 range in Kia's EV9 manual. Kia notes that the setting returns to level 1 when the car is restarted from level 0, so check the level at the start of each drive. If adaptive cruise control feels abrupt with passengers aboard, drive without it in heavy traffic.
Comparing EVs? See which EVs let you turn regen down or off.
Going on a drive in the Kia EV9? Set it up first
Put it on your phone before you go
Set it up before you pull out, not at the first lay-by. Dizzout is a drug-free app that plays precisely calibrated audio through any headphones you already own, wired or Bluetooth, with relief in about 90 seconds. Free to try.
Free to download. Paid subscription for full access.
Know someone who gets motion sick?
Send them the app that helps stop it, drug-free, in about 90 seconds, works with any headphones. Free to try.
What helps in the Kia EV9
- Set regen to level 0 or 1 with the right paddle, and check it after every restart
- Seat a sensitive rider up front or in the second row, not the third
- Keep your eyes on the road ahead and the horizon, not on phones or tablets
- Ask the driver to ease off the accelerator gradually, and to skip adaptive cruise control in stop-and-go traffic if it feels abrupt
- Crack a window or aim a vent at your face for cool, fresh air
- Dizzout is a drug-free, screen-free sound therapy you can start the moment symptoms begin; Dizzout states relief in about 90 seconds. Over-the-counter options also exist, so follow the label or ask a pharmacist.
The screens-away item on that list has a page of its own, with the trials attached: see the verdict on putting your phone away.
Comparing apps for the drive? The car sickness app guide sets sound therapy against on-screen motion cues, free options included.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Kia EV9 cause motion sickness?
One owner has reported it. On the Kia EV Forum, one EV9 driver wrote that its adaptive cruise control felt jerky enough behind trucks to leave them a little queasy. Strong regenerative braking is a commonly reported trigger in EVs, and the EV9 lets the driver step it down to level 0, so much of the feel depends on settings and seating.
How do I reduce regenerative braking in the Kia EV9?
Pull the right paddle behind the steering wheel to lower regen one level at a time, down to level 0; the left paddle raises it. Kia's manual says the setting returns to level 1 when the car is restarted from level 0, so set it again at the start of each drive.
Is the third row of the Kia EV9 bad for motion sickness?
It is the hardest seat in the car for a sensitive rider. Like every third row, it sits farthest back, where speed changes and bumps are felt most and the view of the road ahead is weakest. Seat a queasy passenger up front or in the second row instead.
Other car motion-sickness guides
Sources & further reading
Your next question, probably
Car sick on every single drive?
The graded plan that builds tolerance ride by ride
If that is not your question:
Based on publicly reported owner experiences and the vehicle's documented design characteristics, as of 2026. Vehicle and brand names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Motion-sickness sensitivity varies by person, so this is informational, not a vehicle review or a substitute for a doctor's advice.