• Meet the Hyundai Ioniq 9, the brand’s first three-row electric SUV. 
• It targets up to 335 miles of EPA range and will come from the factory with Tesla’s NACS plug design. 
• It goes on sale early next year, but its price is still TBD. 

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If you’ve been hunting for an electric three-row SUV but never loved any of the choices available, you’re not alone. The Rivian R1S and Tesla Model X have their compromises, and while we love the Kia EV9, some variety would be nice too. 

The situation is improving, thanks again to the Hyundai Motor Group. Following the home run it scored with the EV9, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 makes its debut as the newest and largest addition to its acclaimed Ioniq family of EVs. 

Photo by: Hyundai

The Ioniq 9 builds on what makes its smaller siblings great: long ranges, fast charging and head-turning design. It’s just all in a bigger package that, for better or worse, American families increasingly crave. 

And it’s more than just a re-badged and re-bodied EV9 this time. It beats the EV9 on range and even comes with the Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug right out of the gate, so it’ll be ready to use the thousands of Supercharger stations out there on the next family road trip. 

The Basics

First came the Ioniq 5 as a compact crossover aimed at the Tesla Model Y. Then Hyundai launched the Ioniq 6, a streamlined sedan with epic efficiency and range. Hyundai’s third U.S.-market EV on its modern E-GMP platform is the Ioniq 9. It offers up to seven seats and is an electric alternative to the Hyundai Palisade. 

It’s part of Hyundai’s plan to have a lineup of 23 electric models by 2030. It goes into production this coming spring at Hyundai’s Georgia plant, so the automaker expects it to qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit, which requires vehicles to be assembled in North America. (That is, if that policy still exists when the vehicle goes on sale.)

Hyundai hasn’t announced pricing yet, only saying it will be “competitive.” Given that the EV9 starts at around $55,000, somewhere around there is probably a good guess. It’ll cost a lot more than a Palisade or Santa Fe, I can tell you that much. 

Range, Charging and Other Specs

Hyundai is targeting an Environmental Protection Agency range rating of up to 335 miles, which is well above average and sure to dampen some buyers’ range anxiety. Even more impressively, the brand says that no matter what Ioniq 9 trim you buy, it’ll be rated for at least 300 miles. The same can’t be said of its cousin, the EV9, which is good for anywhere from 230 to 304 miles, depending on the trim. 

Photo by: Hyundai

Much of that has to do with the Ioniq 9’s 110.3 kilowatt-hour, nickel-cobalt-manganese battery, which is about 10% larger than the largest pack available in the EV9. Long range and super-fast charging is a winning combination, and that’s just what the Ioniq 9 serves up. Hyundai says the 9 will be able to recharge from 10%-80% in 24 minutes on a sufficiently powerful plug, thanks to its 800-volt architecture. And it comes from the factory with Tesla’s NACS plug design. So owners will be able to plug in at some 17,000 Tesla Superchargers without needing to use an adapter. 

Every major automaker is switching over to NACS from the Combined Charging System, the current standard, but Hyundai is ahead of the curve. Other automakers are still putting out new or updated models with the old charging port, necessitating the use of a dongle at Superchargers. 

There will be three powertrain options on offer. The Long-Range RWD is the range champion, while the Performance AWD is the quickest. The AWD Long Range fits in the middle. 

Here’s how they break down:

Interior and Design 

At first glance, the Ioniq 9 gives off minivan vibes. I mean this in a good way; the 9 lacks the standard upright boxiness of other big SUVs and that gives it a striking presence. Its short hood, steep windshield and curving roofline give it a sleek, unique look. Just like on other Ioniq models, the exterior is dotted with hundreds of little squares, or “pixels,” that tie together the otherwise disparate-looking EVs. 

And a stretched-out wheelbase—the longest of any Hyundai model—creates plenty of room to stretch out inside. Of course, as a three-row SUV, the Ioniq 9’s main selling point is how much stuff and people you can fit inside. 

Photo by: Hyundai

The Ioniq 9’s cabin does indeed feel huge, as I learned when I got a preview of the model earlier this month. It has a flat floor throughout, which frees up room for your feet, particularly in the middle seat. The second row is downright cavernous and can be optioned with either a three-seat bench or reclining captain’s chairs. The third row is totally usable, even for adults. When I crawled back there, I didn’t feel cramped in the legroom or headroom departments. 

One fun touch up front is the addition of a sliding center console. So when you want extra room between the front seats for a purse or something, you can slide the unit backward. When you need more room in the rear, you can shift it forward. A similar feature is also available in the Ioniq 5. 

Up front, the 9 offers high-output, 100-watt USB-C ports that get their power straight from the high-voltage battery. That’s in addition to vehicle-to-load, or V2L, a feature that lets owners use the Ioniq 9 as a mobile battery pack to power practically anything. 

Tech

The Ioniq 9 has the same dual-screen setup that’s shared with other Kia and Hyundai EVs. In this one, though, it’s curved rather than flat, which is a nice touch. Both the driver-facing cluster and the main screen come in at 12 inches. And the system can handle over-the-air software updates, just like previous models.

Photo by: Hyundai

 What’s new here is something called “Features on Demand,” an in-vehicle store where owners can buy “digital upgrades” for their cars. It’s debuting with a few options: some lighting signatures for opening or closing the doors, new themes for the displays, and streaming services like Amazon Music and Soundcloud. 

Don’t worry—Hyundai says paying to activate one’s heated seats is off the table. 

Should You Buy This Or The EV9?

Photo by: Peter Holderith / Motor1

We won’t know for sure until we can get the Ioniq 9 out on the road and spend some quality time with it. But it’s mostly a question of design preference. These two SUVs share a platform, they’re both big and spacious, and their user interfaces will feel similar too. The Ioniq 9 has the firm edge on range, though, which may be the deciding factor for some folks. And we know that the EV9 will soon pack the NACS port as well, along with an adapter for the existing cars. 

At the end of the day, it’s just great to see another solid electric option for bigger families. 

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