Hyundai really can do no wrong at the moment. Its new Ioniq 9 range-topper looks to be another home run, with acres of interior space and an aerodynamic shape – yes, even though it looks like a brick!
If you’ve just ordered a Kia EV9, it might be time to put it on hold. This is the new Hyundai Ioniq 9, which shares a lot with the EV9, including massive proportions and vast interior space.
The Ioniq 9 continues Hyundai’s recent styling successes, with clear nods to the rest of the Ioniq range and a similarly brave and blocky design to the latest Santa Fe. High-set lights at the front and a wide grille give the Ioniq 9 a confident, almost Range Rover-like design, while the black side line adds cohesion and reduces visual weight of the side profile. Blistered wheel arches add interest and the tall tail-lights give a luxurious feel.
Despite the blocky shape, the Ioniq 9 cuts through the air like a svelte coupe. Its drag coefficient of 0.259Cd – with cameras instead of door mirrors – might not mean much, but it helps the Ioniq 9’s efficiency. Yes, it also has a large 110.3kWh battery, but the aero smoothness is partly why the big Hyundai can manage up to 385 miles on a charge.
On-board charging capability stands at a whopping 350kW – faster than most UK chargers. Find one that’s powerful enough and the Ioniq 9 can regain 10-80% battery in just 24 minutes.
The car’s electric motors are also powerful. Rear-wheel-drive cars get one motor with 215hp, while all-wheel-drive cars get an additional 94hp electric motor mounted on the front axle. A Performance model is due with 430hp, and this top-spec version will get from 0-62mph in just 5.2 seconds. The other versions hit 0-62mph in 6.7 and 9.4 seconds.
The Ioniq 9 measures more than five metres long, and its E-GMP electric-car platform allows the wheels to be pushed out to the car’s corners, so you get a huge amount of room inside. Like the Kia EV9, there’s a choice of six or seven-seat layouts – if you pick the six-seat layout, the second-row seats are captain’s chairs with massaging functions and the ability to swivel round to face the third-row seats.
Hyundai tells us that the Ioniq 9 offers 620 litres of boot space. There’s also a frunk under the bonnet which is the ideal size for charging cables or a pair of wet boots.
Sustainable materials are used throughout, including recycled fabric, wool and bio suede. Even the paint is made from recycled tyre waste, apparently.
Speaking of paint, there are 16 different shades to choose from, including five new paint colours. There are metallic, pearl and matte paint options available.
You get just as much scope for customisation inside, with seven interior colourways available – six of which are two-tone, such as Dark Teal and Dove Gray.
Tech-wise, the Ioniq 9 gets an upgraded EV route planner, an AI-enabled voice recognition system, a Features on Demand service that lets you buy digital upgrades from an online store, over-the-air software updates, a camping mode for the climate control and fast USB-C ports in all three rows that run directly off the car’s high-voltage battery, rather than a separate 12V battery.
Like Hyundai’s other EVs, the Ioniq 9 also gets Vehicle to Load (V2L) charging capability, allowing you to power small electricals using the car’s battery.
Some markets get a UV sterilising tray for phones, wallets and facemasks, although that’s not yet confirmed for the UK.
Prices are also unconfirmed at this stage, although we’d expect it to be close to the Kia EV9 – which starts at £65,000 and rises to £77,000 before options. The Ioniq 9 is due to be released in the first half of 2025, with first UK deliveries scheduled for later on in the year.
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