2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 First Drive Review: The EV That Does It All

The title “Ioniq” first appeared in 2016 as a frugal various to the Toyota Prius. Hyundai has since co-opted the title for its lineup of electrical automobiles, which presently contains the Ioniq 5 crossover and Ioniq 6 sedan. Now, a 3rd mannequin has joined the lineup, a three-row SUV referred to as the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9.

Based on the Seven Concept proven in 2021, the Ioniq 9 is probably the boldest Hyundai EV but. It incorporates a glossy design that was impressed by boats, airplanes, and expertise, together with top-notch battery and motor {hardware}. Hyundai’s dedication to aerodynamics (and a reasonably gargantuan battery) signifies that each Ioniq 9 will go over 300 miles on a cost whereas carrying six or seven individuals. Oh, and now you can cost it at Tesla stations with out utilizing an adapter. Did Hyundai simply topple yet one more phase within the EV area? DrivingOnRoad traveled to Savannah, Georgia, to seek out out.

First Drive occasions present our preliminary impressions of a car in a restricted surroundings below sure time constraints. Regulate DrivingOnRoad for our complete Take a look at Drive overview which is able to comply with quickly.

What Is The Ioniq 9?

The Ioniq 9 is an all-new mannequin, primarily based on a bigger model of the E-GMP platform that underpins the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, in addition to a number of Kia and Genesis EVs. It is a three-row SUV, sharing probably the most in widespread with the Kia EV9, together with its 800-volt electrical structure. Just like the Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 9 is among the many first non-Tesla EVs to function an NACS (North American Charging Customary) port as a substitute of CCS, that means it could actually cost at Tesla stations with out an adapter.

Exterior Design: Parts From In all places

It doesn’t matter what your opinion is of the Ioniq 9’s styling, you’ll be able to’t name it boring or unoriginal. Every Ioniq car has a singular persona, carrying over just a few design parts from one to a different, such because the Parametric Pixel LED lights. These pixels someway look retro and futuristic on the identical time, forming a light-weight bar throughout the entrance of the car. The rear reminds us of an old-school Volvo wagon with tall, slender taillights that climb as much as the roof and merge into the brake mild. We consider that is probably the most controversial design aspect which may make or break it for some patrons. The wheel arches are additionally fairly odd wanting, completed in plastic, physique colour, or a mixture relying on the trim stage.

Talking of the wheels, sizes vary from 19-inches on the decrease trims, 20-inches on the mid-levels, and 21-inches for the Restricted and Calligraphy. A flagship Calligraphy design provides 21-inch turbine wheels and gold or silver matte paint. With regards to colours, the Ioniq 9 affords a reasonably daring palette for a three-row crossover. Our tester’s Ionosphere Inexperienced Pearl actually pops, and we additionally love Cosmic Blue Pearl and Final Purple.

Inside: Rest Chamber

Like its Ioniq siblings, the Ioniq 9 boasts a premium inside that turns into outright luxurious within the highest trim ranges. Material seats come customary on the S and SE trims in both black or gray, whereas the mid and better trims embody nicer H-Tex (man-made leather-based) in the identical colour or an accessible Darkish Teal (colour and trim dependent). Materials high quality is usually wonderful, at the very least on the Calligraphy mannequin, with some distinctive surfaces together with a metallic wallpaper-like end on the dashboard.

Seven seats come customary on the S, SE and SEL trims, whereas the Restricted and Calligraphy fashions swap the rear bench for captain’s chairs, limiting the seating to 6 individuals. The Calligraphy contains heated and ventilated entrance and rear seats with a leisure perform that provides a recliner to your ft. It is remarkably snug, particularly on an extended street journey. The motive force’s seat will get an Ergo Movement therapeutic massage, which we want was accessible on the passenger seat.

The rear seats provide beneficiant legroom and might slide/recline through energy to make passengers much more snug. You possibly can transfer the seats to enter the spacious third row with only one button, although the seat motors (Restricted and Calligraphy) do take just a few seconds to totally transfer out of the way in which. With the ability to fold and elevate the second and third rows for cargo or passengers is a luxurious that you just will not discover even on costlier crossovers.

Infotainment: Maintain It Easy

All Ioniq 9 trims embody two 12.3-inch shows, one which acts because the gauge cluster and one which handles infotainment. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come customary, performed out by way of an eight-speaker audio system or a 14-speaker Bose premium system on Restricted and Calligraphy grades. We like how the menus are easy to navigate and Hyundai contains a number of shortcut buttons for key capabilities. There’s nonetheless a quantity knob and a tuning knob, although the touch-capacitive local weather controls aren’t our favourite. Hyundai included another neat options, together with 100-watt USB-C ports, downloadable mild patterns and gauge cluster themes, and a UV-C sterilizer.

Powertrain & Driving: Whisper Clean

Hyundai solely affords one battery within the Ioniq 9, a large 110.3 kWh (web) unit that provides over 300 miles of vary in all configurations. Relying on the trim, prospects can choose a frugal rear-motor setup, a mid-level dual-motor, or a Efficiency dual-motor. We sampled the Calligraphy trim, which, together with the Restricted, is just accessible with the Efficiency dual-motor configuration.

It is a family-oriented crossover, so even with the highest Efficiency setup, the throttle is tuned for light acceleration somewhat than a neck-breaking launch. Regardless of rolling gingerly from a standstill, even with the throttle buried into the carpet, we recorded a 4.67-second 0-60 mph time, crushing Hyundai’s 5.2-second estimate. That point really matches the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T all the way down to a tenth of a second. It is attainable that the decrease energy outputs may also be faster than Hyundai claims. Hydro bushings ship silky-smooth experience high quality, even over tough pavement, and the cabin is remarkably quiet at freeway speeds, thanks partially to energetic noise cancellation expertise. The steering is surprisingly communicative, and weighs up while you put the Ioniq 9 into sport mode. It is a luxurious expertise with a mainstream nameplate.

Because of its 110.3 kWh battery pack, the RWD S mannequin can journey 335 miles on a cost. Including a second motor on the entrance axle within the SE and SEL trims solely drops the vary to 320 miles, and the AWD Efficiency powertrain within the Restricted and Calligraphy solely sacrifices 9 miles (311 complete) for the additional efficiency. This is among the first non-Tesla EVs to have a built-in NACS port, however there are only a few Tesla Superchargers that may hit the Ioniq 9’s peak cost velocity. On a 350 kW charger, it should go from 10-80% cost in as little as 24 minutes, however that point balloons to about 40 minutes. On a unfavourable notice, that large battery will take some time to cost at house at simply 11 kW, with 10-100% estimated at 9 hours and 40 minutes.

Verdict & Pricing: Ioniq Does It Once more

The most important Ioniq mannequin but comes with an understandably giant price ticket. The RWD S mannequin begins at $58,955, not together with a $1,600 vacation spot charge or the $7,500 federal tax credit score, which the Ioniq 9 qualifies for as a result of it is inbuilt Savannah, Georgia. Most prospects will wish to go for the AWD SE and AWE SEL fashions, which value $62,765 and $66,320, respectively. The AWD Efficiency Restricted begins to get costly at $71,250, whereas the Calligraphy prices $74,990 or $76,490 for the Calligraphy Design. The Kia EV9 is marginally cheaper and extra highly effective than the mid-level Ioniq 9, however comes with a smaller battery and decrease vary. For the worth of a loaded Ioniq 9, you would get a base Rivian R1S or Cadillac Vistiq, which supply better efficiency however fewer options at that stage.

Hyundai’s E-GMP platform is such a powerful start line, it looks like every new Ioniq mannequin arrives with the very best specs for its respective phase. The Ioniq 9 is expensive for a household car, but it surely might pull patrons who need all of the bells and whistles of a luxurious marque with out the costly upkeep. We consider the Ioniq 9 actually justifies its price ticket, feeling on-par with costlier fashions from Cadillac and Rivian. Might the Hyundai badge maintain it again for some patrons? Presumably. However in our advice, the Ioniq 9 is compelling sufficient to miss any preconceived notions concerning the model. It is actually nice at every thing.