Hyundai Ioniq 9 unveiled with 429bhp and 385-mile range
Hyundai has pulled the covers off the Ioniq 9, its first all-electric seven-seat SUV, which it says will offer some of the most impressive space and range in the class.
A rival to the Kia EV9 and Volvo EX90, the Ioniq 9 is Hyundai’s new flagship and is the next in a planned line of 23 all-electric models the brand will launch by 2030.
Hyundai Ioniq 9 powertrain
The Ioniq 9 is based on the same E-GMP platform as Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and 6, as well as the Kia EV6 and EV9, but gets a unique powertrain line-up with a gargantuan 110.3kWh battery – the largest of any production car on sale in the UK.
Paired with the entry-level 215bhp motor in the Long-Range RWD model (and on 19-inch wheels), that gives the Ioniq 9 a range of 385 miles on a charge.
Above the RWD model is the Long-Range AWD variant, which adds a 70kW motor on the front axle for a total output 308bhp and maximum range of 320 miles.
At the top of the range is the Ioniq 9 Performance AWD which uses twin 160kW motors for a total output of 429bhp and a 0-62mph time of just 5.2 seconds. Range drops, predictably, to 311 miles.
All variants get the 110.3kWh battery and ultra-rapid charging that will take it from 10-80% in 24 minutes. They also all come with vehicle-to-load function and a new feature that powers the high-powered interior USB ports from the drive battery rather than the 12V one, for continuous power even when the car is stopped.
Hyundai Ioniq 9 design
A sister car to the Kia EV9, the Ioniq 9 has a softer approach to design to the big and boxy look of the Kia. The front end is dominated by a thin band of ‘parametric pixel’ LED lights that stretches from edge to edge beneath the bonnet. The Ioniq 9 has a more curved windscreen and roofline for a more aerodynamic look and performance – it has a lower drag coefficient than the Kia or Volvo. A boat tail, which subtly narrows the rear relative to the front, also helps aerodynamics and to soften the car’s shape, while pinched-in rear windows make it look less slab sided. At the rear there are more pixel lights running the height of the vehicle and across the smooth, angled tailgate in an almost continuous line.
The interior has a familiar look, with a curved twin-screen display atop the dashboard and a sensibly laid out panel of physical controls in the lower half of the dash. Between the front seats is a sliding centre console offering up to 18 litres of space. Owners will have the option of a 14-speaker Bose sound system and access to Hyundai a new ‘Features on Demand’ service. This will let them make digital purchases of everything from media streaming via Amazon to dynamic lighting patterns when opening the door.
The Ioniq 9 with its 3.1-metre wheelbase will come in six- or seven-seat configurations and, like the EV9, six-seaters will offer swivelling, reclining airline-style seats in the middle row. In seven-seat configuration, Hyundai says the Ioniq 9 will offer up to 620 litres of space or 1,323 in five-seat mode. That’s to the roof, though, rather than the window line.
Hyundai Ioniq 9 price and on-sale date
The Ioniq 9 is due to go on sale in Korea and the US in the first half of 2025, with European sales starting in the second half of the year. There’s no word on pricing but with the EV9 starting at £65,000, we’d expect Ioniq 9 prices to start in the same region and reach north of £80,000 for the Performance AWD model.
