We think Hyundai and its sibling Kia have been on a roll lately, and the Korean manufacturer was one of the first import brands to really embrace the EV future. We’ve loved the Ioniq 5, and Ioniq 6, as well as the Kia EV6 and EV9. So, when Hyundai announced the all-new Ioniq 9, a 3-row, EV SUV, we couldn’t wait to check it out. And now, we have!
Bold and Beautiful
Can a 3-row, EV be sexy? We think the Ioniq 9 sure fits the bill. Hyundai has really been making some great looking, stand apart SUV’s lately, like the new Santa Fe, and the ‘9 is another head-turner.
Hyundai says the Ioniq 9 is “Aerosthetic” – a unique blend of aero performance and aesthetic appeal, drawing form the sleek exteriors and a spacious cozy interior of boats.
Like our recent Ioniq 6 tester, the 9 is bedecked with Parametric Pixels – Hyundai’s name for a plethora of cubes that make up the signature lighting design.
Up front is a well-rounded snout with Pixel lights spanning the width of the front for a signature look that’s hard to miss, especially at night. Large, lower headlights and a contrasting lower grille area give real heft and upscale quality to the design.
The profile is stunning in many ways. This is a large vehicle similar in size to the Hyundai Palisade 3-row SUV, but with a look all its own. Hyundai says the character lines on the side evoke the diagonal lines of the traditional Korean clothing, Hanbok. Cool.
Where most big SUV’s trade heavily on big boxy designs, the 9 features a steeply raked windshield pillar and an upswept rear pillar with a sloping roof line that looks more sporty hatchback than SUV.
There are also interesting “eyebrows” in the fender wells that square off the design, while handsome 20-inch alloy wheels on our SEL tester really give a beefy, substantial look.
The rear, like the front, is bold with Pixels aplenty, including for the brake lights, a bar of pixels that spans the width of the rear window on top, while I O N I Q 9 is spelled out in big bold letters. The back up light is below the prominent hatch, while a rugged looking chrome-effect bumper finishes off the look. Our tester was painted a bold, deep red Hyundai calls Ultimate Red. It’s an extra cost item, but we think it really fits with the bold, strong design. All in all, it’s an awesome looking vehicle.
Luxury Space
Hyundai interiors have been really stepping it up lately, and the Ioniq 9 sets new highs. Open the door, and your eyes are drawn to the dual 12.3-inch screens that create a seamless wall of info and info-tainment. In our tester, a 2-tone color scheme of light and dark gray create a feeling of true elegance, while the interior’s expansive width creates an instant feeling of comfort. And if you look closely, you’ll find lots of little Parametric Pixel squares sprinkled throughout the interior.
While our tester was the SEL model (somewhere in the mid-range) it serves up a top-of-the-line vibe. Settle into the heated and ventilated front seats and the deep cushioning feels great. Our tester had H-Tex trimmed seats, and while it’s a faux leather, you could have fooled us. If you want real cowhide you have to step up to higher trims, but with an available massaging front seat on those models, it may be worth the extra cash.
The SEL is no penalty box, and once seated, the curved dual displays look like something you’d expect out of Audi – it’s that nice. The driver’s info display is handsome, and clearly gives you range information properly – an important point for EV drivers.
Info-tainment is excellent with the massive widescreen serving up your desired items in bright, crisp colors. The Hyundai system offers a swiping, tablet-style interface similar to BMW, and it makes easy work to access what you need.
Our WAZE looked great and wireless Apple CarPlay and Wireless Android Auto, along with a wireless charger for smartphone helped keep our cabin clutter free. An available Wi-Fi hotspot and Hyundai’s excellent Bluelink+ connected services serve up all the modern tech you could want.
We also appreciated the dedicated climate control system that lets you keep everyone comfy without having to dive into the info-tainment system. Smart thinking.
The 2nd row seats are impressively spacious, and our tester sat three across in easy comfort. We especially liked how far you can recline them, giving a limo-like vibe. They also tilt forward to give access to the 3rd row seats, which like most vehicles in this class are best for kids or pets.
We would point out that on more expensive models first and 2nd row captain’s chairs include a swing-up ottoman cushion and lay-flat seating like flying first class – a great idea when charging the EV, and possibly worth ponying up the dough for the high-end models.
Cargo space is impressive too, with 22 cu-ft with the 3rd row up, and 46 cubes folded down. You can also fold that 2nd row split bench and create a massive cargo hold. We also liked the “frunk” front trunk – since there is no engine, which gives a couple cubic feet of added storage – a perfect place for adapters, charger cables for home, etc. Overall, stylish, spacious, tech loaded and luxurious, the Ioniq 9 interior is massively impressive!
Big Smoothie
The drive continues the luxury feel.
The Ioniq 9 gives you three choices for power – enough to tailor to your needs. The base rear wheel drive model features a single 215 horsepower motor. While all-wheel-drive models like our tester feature dual electric motors for 303 horsepower and an impressive 446 lb.-ft. of torque. (Those seeking even more can opt for the high-end model with 422 horses and 516 lb.-ft. of torque.)
Acceleration is strong, even in Eco mode there was plenty of power, and you never felt wanting, but in Sport mode the big EV really moves and flies off the line and pulls away from traffic with insouciant ease. We can only imagine the more powerful models’ power to be completely jaw-dropping.
Interestingly, the range does not vary much by model. The rear drive models estimate around 335 miles, while AWD models like our tester have a range of up to 320 miles. The more powerful models come in at 311. This brings up something interesting, our fully charged tester said range of over 400 miles. Hmm did Hyundai give us a special model? We think it’s a calibration thing, but even trusting the EPA range of 320 miles is plenty good for most people’s need.
We do appreciate the range gauge on the dash – instead of just giving you an “X” number of miles left, it gives you a range from least efficient to most, so you can decide what settings for performance, economy etc., will work best for your trip.
It’s no surprise that with the long wheelbase, the 9 serves up a comfy ride, but it actually is a sweet handler, too. We think it’s the combination of the battery pack sitting low in the chassis, and the optional HTRAC all-wheel drive. It makes the vehicle feel smaller than it is when zipping around town or traffic, and with all that low-end power it’s fun to give it the boot coming out of the turns. We also appreciate the natural feeling brake pedal.
Most Ioniq 9 buyers will probably never drive it that way, but it’s nice to know you’ve got a responsive chassis underneath you. Towing? AWD models like our tester feature a 5,000 lb. max capacity.
OK, back to the real world, charging is easy – the Ioniq 9 can now use the Tesla charger system, which opens up a wide range of choices, and with a 350kW DC Fast Charger you can go from 10-80% of battery charge in just 24 minutes. Perfect time to grab a quick lunch or take a nap if you have those optional fully reclining seats.
Family savvy, the Ioni 9 features a full range of safety equipment, including Forward Collision Avoidance, Lane Keeping and Lane Following assist, Blind Spot rearview monitor, collision avoidance, Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Alert, Parking Collision avoidance, Safe Exit Assist and Rear Occupant Alert.
Big Bucks for the Big EV?
The Ioniq 9 offers a nice range of choices. The line up starts with the rear-wheel-drive S at $58,995. Stylish, spacious and loaded with tech, it’s an exceptional value in a 3-row EV SUV. We’d probably pony up for the AWD SE at $62,765, a reasonable step up, considering the extra power of dual motors and grip of AWD along with little penalty in range.
Our well-equipped SEL model carried a price of $66,320 with extras including Ultimate Red Paint ($500), Carpeted Floor Mats ($230) and Vehicle Load Adapter ($220). Add in $1,600 for Destination, and we rang the bell at $68,870.
In the Luxury 3-row, EV sweeps you’d of course consider the Kia EV9, the Ioniq’s sibling. At $71,190 it’s a little bit more expensive, and it has a more trucky look. We’d also consider the Volvo EX90. At $81,290 it’s a beautiful vehicle, but we’re not sure it’s worth $14,000 more than the 9. We also love the VW ID Buzz with it’s cool, funky, vibe, at $71,545 it’s a worthy competitor to the Ioniq – you just have to decide which one floats your EV boat.
Great looks, a luxury interior and impressive performance. The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a beautiful 3-row EV, SUV – and an impressive value too!
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