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Hyundai has aged the neat-sheet nature of electrical powertrains to manufacture original vehicles radically diversified from its interior-combustion items, however what occurs when the correct thing a brand original car may perhaps perhaps perhaps be is neatly-liked?
The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a 3-row SUV that, to succeed, needs to prioritize dwelling and a straightforward possession ride over radical styling or sports-car riding dynamics. That doesn’t plod away essential room for creativity, however Hyundai has carried out its most attention-grabbing by giving the Ioniq 9 futuristic styling mixed with the proven E-GMP devoted EV platform from its other Ioniq items and the Kia EV9.
The alive to response to the EV9, from Hyundai’s sibling stamp, reveals why, in spite of having two gasoline three-row SUVs in its lineup already, Hyundai wanted an all-electric one as neatly.
Another gallant make from Hyundai
Many automakers build a household look throughout their lineups, however Hyundai went in a diversified route with its Ioniq EVs. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 are polar opposites in terms of styling, and the Ioniq 9 follows but any other course that helps it stand out from other three-row SUVs.
It’s determined that engineers spent a range of time in the wind tunnel, however unlike so many other low-plod designs, the Ioniq 9 still has the fair proportions of a fair SUV. The reside result is one thing that seems to be like it’s miles also precise at dwelling on a college pickup line in the Tron Grid. The sizable hood is decidedly SUV-adore, however the entrance reside is smoothed as if by erosion. Squared-off fenders add a runt bit of ruggedness however don’t stick out far enough to hinder air float. And on the serve, the physique facets taper serve, and the roof descends, into a chopped-off tail now now not unlike what helped manufacture the 2004 Toyota Prius so distinctive and aerodynamically efficient.
All of right here’s topped off with one more iteration of the pixel lighting fixtures beforehand viewed on the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. The light bar working throughout the hood offers the Ioniq 9 a distinctive and futuristic look when considered by a rearview reflect, while on the serve the lights build a hoop throughout the tailgate. This helps punch up the make a runt bit, along side visual hobby to the otherwise at ease and unadorned surfaces of this electric SUV. Less successful in that regard is the copious sunless plastic captivating, which appears tacked-on. And fair as piano-sunless plastic interior captivating is laborious to preserve neat, the sunless license-plate encompass will doubtless continuously be covered in fingerprints.
Unexcited a colorful three-row SUV
As with so many of its other vehicles, Hyundai made a diversified styling assertion while the exercise of the a connected platform as a dramatically diversified-searching model from sibling stamp Kia. The Ioniq 9 is in accordance to the a connected plus-sized model of the E-GMP structure because the Kia EV9 (a Genesis luxurious model is additionally on the vogue). The EV9 trades the Ioniq 9’s wind-smoothed surfaces for interesting edges, however they give the impression of being close to a connected to a measuring tape. The Hyundai is 2.0 inches longer, 1.6 inches taller, and fair 0.1 lunge wider.
Headroom and legroom are rather essential a connected as neatly, with out reference to which seating location you’re speaking about. And adore most three-row vehicles, Hyundai offers 2d-row bench seat and captain’s chairs alternate options, making the Ioniq 9 a six- or seven-seater, respectively. The 2d row can bolt forward or serve in either case, however even with the seats slid the total scheme forward, adults won’t procure essential knee room in the third row. There’s still a total lot of dwelling for the kids that can perhaps be occupying it, despite the proven truth that.
Commence the Ioniq 9’s well-liked energy tailgate and also you acquire 21.9 cubic toes of cargo dwelling. That expands to 46.7 cubic toes with the third row folded, and 86.9 cubic toes with the 2d row folded. All three numbers surpass the EV9, and Hyundai claims more cargo dwelling in the serve of the 2d and third rows than in a Rivian R1S (Rivian doesn’t submit its have similar figures to examine this). But while the R1S has an unlimited frunk, the Ioniq 9 most attention-grabbing has a minute under-hood compartment fair big enough for charging cables.
Hyundai’s twin-camouflage setup, with 12.3-lunge monitors serving because the instrument cluster and touchscreen, stays impressive — especially now that Hyundai is integrating wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with this larger camouflage. But the Ioniq 9’s Universal Island 2.0 heart console undoubtedly stole the present. Incorporating a total lot of storage dwelling entrance and rear, it’s additionally accessible from either route and slides fore and aft. It’s a considerate characteristic for a automobile where every seat is necessary.
Rapid, however now now not sporty
Hyundai is providing three powertrain configurations for the 2026 model twelve months, all with a 110.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The Ioniq 9 S flawed model has a single motor sending 215 horsepower and 258 pound-toes of torque to the rear wheels. SE and SEL items win a twin-motor all-wheel pressure powertrain making 303 hp and 446 lb-feet. Restricted, Calligraphy, and Calligraphy Develop items win a “efficiency” twin-motor powertrain rated at 422 hp and 516 lb-feet of torque.
The rear-wheel pressure Ioniq 9’s output is a connected to a rear-wheel pressure EV9, however the most attention-grabbing-output model of the Hyundai has a runt bit more horsepower than the Kia (torque is the a connected), getting it from zero to 60 mph 0.1 2d faster, at 4.9 seconds. The advantage will shift to Kia as soon as a more highly efficient EV9 GT arrives later this twelve months, despite the proven truth that.
Rapid acceleration is to hand for merging onto highways, however it undoubtedly’s now now not undoubtedly the level of the Ioniq 9. It doesn’t try to be the relaxation other than a sizable, contented SUV that can scamper kids to extracurricular activities, or attend as an analogue to the sizable sedans of frail for consumers who simply settle on an unlimited automobile. The suspension absorbed bumps with none waterbed-adore jiggling, and adore every EVs the Ioniq 9 used to be impressively easy (despite the proven truth that there used to be a runt bit more tire noise than anticipated). It’s nice to pressure, fair now now not thrilling.
Helping to preserve consolation and composure is Hyundai’s i-Pedal brake-control device. This automatically blends regenerative braking and friction braking to unhurried the auto as smoothly and efficiently as doubtless. It’s a carryover characteristic from other Ioniq EVs, however the tuning for the Ioniq 9 used to be particularly precise. While it’s still doubtless to summon a burst of regenerative braking with guidance-wheel paddles, it used to be laborious to compare i-Pedal’s smoothness.
NACS onboard
Hyundai estimates 335 miles of vary for the flawed rear-wheel pressure S captivating stage, 320 miles for twin-motor SE and SEL items, and 311 miles for the excessive-reside Restricted, Calligraphy, and Calligraphy Develop items, all of which win the more highly efficient “efficiency” powertrain tune. That offers the Ioniq 9 a unfold advantage over its Kia EV9 platform-mate, which most attention-grabbing tops 300 miles in rear-wheel pressure Gentle Long Vary build, however that advantage is done with a elevated battery pack.
Both Hyundai and Kia are switching to the North American Charging Usual (NACS) charging port for the 2026 model twelve months, giving drivers entry to Tesla Supercharger DC like a flash-charging stations. This offers entry to more chargers with a proven reliability file, however on this case it doesn’t essentially indicate faster charging. Hyundai estimates that the Ioniq 9 can total a 10%-80% mark in 41 minutes at a V3 Supercharger, however that drops to 24 minutes at a 350-kilowatt Blended Charging Usual (CCS) online page, the exercise of an adapter.
When Stage 2 AC charging, a corpulent recharge takes nine hours and 40 minutes at 11 kW, in accordance to Hyundai. Fancy other items in accordance to the E-GMP structure, the Ioniq 9 is additionally in a position to bidirectional charging for powering devices and appliances. To this level, Hyundai hasn’t discussed a corpulent dwelling backup-energy device adore the one which’s on hand for the EV9, however its Hyundai Home marketplace offers a ready portal for selling such instruments.
A relative mark in a excessive-priced market segment
With a flawed mark of $60,555 with rear-wheel pressure, the Ioniq 9 is the most costly SUV in Hyundai’s lineup. Costs upward push severely from there. The all-wheel pressure SE and SEL start at $64,365 and $67,920, respectively. The luxe Restricted starts at $72,850, the Calligraphy starts at $76,590, and the Calligraphy Develop tops things off at $78,090.
Kia hadn’t launched pricing for the 2026 EV9 at press time, however for reference the 2025 model started at $56,395 with a smaller battery pack and now not more vary than the flawed Ioniq 9. Hyundai’s captivating stroll is additionally more top heavy with excessive-reside captivating ranges, however that often is the case for the EV9 — Kia has already confirmed Nightfall Edition and GT items for 2026 that doubtless won’t be bargains. All Ioniq 9 items will additionally be in-constructed Georgia and will qualify for a $7,500 federal EV tax credit score, however that’s now now not guaranteed with the EV9.
This pricing structure may perhaps perhaps perhaps attend differentiate the 2 manufacturers, however it undoubtedly doesn’t manufacture essential sense for purchasers, because the EV9 and Ioniq 9 offer identical capabilities, interior dwelling, and the a connected generous warranty coverage. The Ioniq 9 does as a minimal reside under the Rivian R1S and the handful of luxurious-stamp three-row electric SUVs currently in the marketplace. It’s an even desire, however now now not an unparalleled mark. That’s appropriate for what is a neatly-liked automobile, now now not an unparalleled one — fair because the mission short says.