The Ioniq 9 has a 0.269 drag coefficient to help improve range and all versions come with more than 500 kilometres.Jason Tchir/The Globe and Mail
Hyundai’s newest all-electric vehicle has big shoes to fill.
The Ioniq 5 was awarded World Car of the Year in 2022 and the Ioniq 6 won the same award the following year.
Now, Hyundai hopes the Ioniq 9, a three-row, all-electric SUV, will win over buyers seeking plenty of space.
While the EV market is increasingly crowded with compact SUVs, there are only a few three-row SUVs – a popular segment for gas and hybrid vehicles with dozens of models available – and most of the larger EVs cost well over $100,000.
The Ioniq 9 (which was called the Ioniq 7 in early stages of production) comes in five versions, ranging in price from $59,999 for the base – with seven seats, rear-wheel drive and 539 kilometres of range – to $81,499 for the top AWD+ Calligraphy trim – with six seats, all-wheel drive and 500 kilometres of range.
It delivers more room, a quieter ride and smoother handling than some far-pricier rivals.
The main competitor? The sportier-looking Kia EV9 – which has a smaller battery and offers about 450 kilometres of range – built on the same platform by Hyundai’s sibling company.
he only family resemblance to the Ioniq 5 and 6 is the tiny squares which extend to the LED daytime running lights, headlights and taillights.Jason Tchir/The Globe and Mail
The goal is to appeal to mainstream buyers looking for a comfortable, well-equipped, all-electric family hauler but who won’t fork out nearly $115,000 for a Volvo EX90 or nearly $135,000 for a Lucid Gravity.
The Ioniq 9 is packed with technology and has plenty of room for seven adults – six in the Calligraphy version, which has second-row captain’s seats instead of a bench – and can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 24 minutes if you can find a 350-kilowatt fast charger.
I drove the top trim on narrow, winding roads on Vancouver Island. It’s pricey for a Hyundai, but it feels like a luxury SUV inside – and drives like a luxury sedan.
With two 160-kilowatt electric motors, front and rear, it delivers 422 horsepower and can tow 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms).
All models come with dual 12.3-inch screens, built-in navigation, wireless Android Auto and Apple Car Play and an in-car intercom.Jason Tchir/The Globe and Mail
But you can get that same power – with cloth seats – for less in the $64,999 AWD+ version.
Plus, Hyundai offers an AWD version, also starting at $64,999, with a 70-kilowatt front motor that delivers 303 horsepower and 515 kilometres of range.
The Ioniq 9 is Hyundai’s first EV in Canada to use Tesla’s NACS charging port, so you can charge it at Tesla Superchargers without needing an adapter. There’s also a CCS adapter for non-Tesla fast chargers.
While it doesn’t have plug and pay – where you can plug in and start charging without using an app – Hyundai said it’s working on it.
The Ioniq 9 is available in rear and all-wheel drive.Jason Tchir/The Globe and Mail
There will be 1,800 of them available across Canada this year – starting this month. Canadians will get Korean-built models (Hyundai also builds it in the U.S.).
It’s eligible for provincial rebates and for the federal rebate – if it resumes, Hyundai said.
Despite a drop in EV sales after Ottawa suddenly paused the $5,000 federal iZEV rebate in January, Hyundai thinks there’s plenty of room in the marketplace for a roomy EV SUV.
“What we’re seeing is that customers still want an EV and it still works for a lot of people,” said Steven Burke, senior product planner at Hyundai Canada, adding that he thinks some buyers are temporarily holding off buying an EV in case the rebate is resumed. “In the short term, we’re seeing some hesitancy. But in the long term, we still believe in the vehicles and believe that there will be customer demand. We’re going ahead full speed.”
The second row is available as captain's seats or a bench.Jason Tchir/The Globe and Mail
Tech specs
2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9
- Base price / as tested: $59,999 / $81,499 plus $2,050 for freight, plus additional fees and taxes
- Motor / battery: Single 160-kilowatt electric motor, rear (base), dual 160-kilowatt electric motors, front and rear (as tested) / 110.3 kilowatt-hours
- Horsepower / torque (lb-ft): 215 / 258 (base), 422 / 516 (as tested).
- Drive: Rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive
- Power consumption (NRCan ratings) / charging capacity: 2.6 litres equivalent per 100 kilometres combined city and highway (base), 2.8 (as tested) / up to 350 kilowatts
- Curb weight (kilograms): 2,502 (base), 2,641 (as tested)
- Range: 539 kilometres (base), 500 kilometres (as tested)
- Alternatives: Kia EV9, Lucid Gravity, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Rivian R1S, Tesla Model X, Volvo EX90
Looks
Distinctive without looking odd, the Ioniq 9 is a handsome SUV. With a 0.269 drag coefficient to help improve range, it’s Hyundai’s slipperiest vehicle after the Ioniq 6 sedan. The slightly awkward trim above the wheels isn’t there for aerodynamics – it’s a spot where the wheels could be bumped out in a future model. The only family resemblance to the Ioniq 5 and 6 is the tiny squares – Hyundai calls them pixels – inside and out. For the Ioniq 9, the pixels extend to the LED daytime running lights, headlights and taillights.
Interior
While some of the eco-friendly plastics feel a little chintzy for an SUV with a top trim that costs more than $80,000, the interior feels more like a Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand. In the first two rows, there’s almost no road noise thanks to laminated glass and noise-cancelling speakers (you can hear a little noise in the third row, but its still quiet). The controls are simple and intuitive - there are knobs for volume and temperature. The seats – cloth in the base RWD and AWD models and leatherette in higher trims – are comfortable. The driver’s massage seat starts every hour you’re on the road – a feature borrowed from Genesis (and that can be turned off). There’s plenty of head and legroom in the first two rows – with the captain’s seats in the top trim, it feels like a van. Even the third row was bearable for two adults.
The third row is comfortable for two adults.Jason Tchir/The Globe and Mail
Performance
The Ioniq 9 has plenty of power. Hyundai said the top configuration goes from zero to 100 kilometres an hour in 5.2 seconds. It clings to curving roads like a smaller, sportier vehicle and the ride is smoother than the EV9 and Volvo EX90. Its one-pedal driving can be turned off – and the level of regeneration can be adjusted with the paddles in the steering wheel. The range was better than predicted – we used 213 kilometres of range on a 250-kilometre drive (we started with 509 kilometres with the battery at 90 per cent)
Technology
The well-equipped base model boasts semi-autonomous safety tech, including lane-keeping assist and active cruise control, dual 12.3-inch screens, built-in navigation, wireless Android Auto and Apple Car Play and an in-car intercom. It also includes 100-watt USB-C ports that can quickly charge a laptop and vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability to use the EV’s battery to power other devices. Higher trims add bells and whistles including a digital key and an interior 120-volt outlet. The top trim includes a digital rear-view mirror and heads-up display. A dual HVAC system lets you heat or cool just the rear if you’re using the Ioniq 9 as a camper.
Cargo
There are 610 litres of cargo space behind the third row, 1,323 litres with the third row down and 2,462 litres with the second and third rows down. The frunk (front trunk) holds 88 litres in the RWD version and 52 litres in the AWD version.
The verdict
With plenty of style, space and range, the three-row Ioniq 9 gives far pricier rivals a run for their money.
The frunk on the Ioniq 9.Jason Tchir/The Globe and Mail
The writer was a guest of the automaker. Content was not subject to approval.
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