The Kia EV9 is doing pretty well, making it one of the first three-row electric SUVs that Americans seem to love. Not to be left behind, Hyundai is bringing its own game-changer to the table: the Ioniq 9. It’s built on the same E-GMP platform as the Kia, and it promises plenty of room, great features, and over 300 miles of range no matter the trim. A family hauler, but make it electric? Sounds like it.
A battery with a net capacity of 110.3 kWh powers this beast. The base Long Range model? It’s got a single electric motor driving the rear wheels. If you need more power, there’s a dual-motor option, and for those craving speed, a Performance variant. So yeah, options for everyone.
Here’s the deal on power: the Long Range single motor churns out 215 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Step it up to the dual-motor version, and you’re looking at 310 hp with 445 lb-ft. Want even more? The Performance model blasts ahead with 430 hp and 515 lb-ft of torque. That one will rocket from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and can reach a max speed of 124 mph. Quick enough for an SUV that can carry the whole squad, right?
Hyundai hasn’t dropped range estimates for the dual-motor models yet, but it claims every version clears 300 miles. For the single-motor, they estimate 335 miles on a full charge. Pretty solid numbers. When it’s time to juice up, plug it into a 350-kW DC fast charger, and you’ll go from 10% to 80% in about 24 minutes. Oh, and did I mention? It can tow up to 5,000 pounds, so bring the trailer along.
Seats for six or seven—your call. The second-row passengers? They get this fancy new thing called Relaxation Seats, complete with massage. Plus, you can swivel those seats to face whoever’s chilling in the third row (but only when parked, obviously). Need a nap? The first and second rows can lay totally flat. Comfortable enough for road trips or just hanging out.
Eco-friendly materials are all over this thing. Hyundai’s using stuff like recycled plastic bottles, wool, and sustainable leather to cover the seats and panels. Up front, there’s a pair of 12-inch screens: one for the touchscreen controls and the other for the instrument cluster. Music lovers, you’re in luck—a standard eight-speaker audio system is included, or you can upgrade to a fancy 14-speaker Bose setup.
Big car, big space. The wheelbase is 123.2 inches, and the total length is 199.2 inches. With the second and third rows combined, there’s 80.7 inches of legroom. No bumps or humps in the floor, either—it’s flat from the front seats to the back. That’s the benefit of a smart battery layout.
Need to pack stuff? The rear cargo area offers 21.8 cubic feet of space with the seats up. Fold the third row down, and it jumps to 46.7 cubic feet. There’s even a little front trunk (or “frunk”): 3.1 cubic feet on the RWD models and 1.8 on AWD ones. Not huge, but handy.
The exterior design is modern, with sharp lines, digital-looking eight-bit headlights, and sleek aerodynamics. Hyundai’s even using recycled tire materials in the paint—cool, right? Sixteen color options are available, including exclusive shades like Ionosphere Green Pearl and Cosmic Blue Pearl. Not bad for something this big, with a drag coefficient of 0.259 Cd. That’s not far off from Tesla’s Model X.
Pricing? Hyundai’s keeping quiet for now, but it’s expected to start around $55,000 and go up to $80,000 for top trims. Sales begin early next year. If you’re in the market for an eco-friendly, spacious, and high-tech ride, the Ioniq 9 might just check all the boxes.
Source and Images: Motor1