Hyundai’s long-awaited three-row electric SUV has finally arrived in the form of the Ioniq 9. It serves as the brand’s equivalent to the Kia EV9 and is underpinned by the familiar E-GMP architecture beneath the skin of several Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis models.

Powertrain Options and Performance

All versions of the Ioniq 9 come equipped with a massive 110.3 kWh battery and it will be sold in three different configurations. Entry-level Long Range models are equipped with a single electric motor at the rear, producing 214 hp (160 kW) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque. Hyundai says this model can travel up to 385 miles (620 km) on the WLTP testing cycle when equipped with 19-inch wheels.

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Those seeking some additional performance can opt for the Long Range AWD. It adds a 94 hp (70 kW) motor to the front axle, with an extra 188 lb-ft (255 Nm) of torque. Sitting at the top of the range is the Ioniq 9 Performance, rocking a pair of 214 hp (160 kW) motors at the front and rear. This model can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.2 seconds, whereas the Long Range AWD needs 6.7 seconds to hit the same mark, and the Long Range RWD takes 9.4 seconds. All models top out at 124 mph (200 km/h).

Regardless of what variant customers choose, all Ioniq 9’s support can be charged from 10-80% in just 24 minutes through a 350 kW charger. It also features a vehicle-to-load charging function.

Exterior Design and Aerodynamics

Visually, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 shares a lot in common with the SEVEN Concept from a couple of years ago. It sports the same Parametric Pixel lights as other Ioniq models and, despite its size, has a drag coefficient of just 0.259 Cd with the optional digital wing mirrors.

It’s also the first Hyundai to ditch a roof antenna and instead uses the windshield for GPS and satellite radio, the instrument panel for connected car services, and the tailgate glass for FM/AM radio. Buyers will be offered 19-, 20-, and 21-inch wheels, including a set of flagship 21-inch ‘Calligraphy’ shoes. No less than 16 exterior colors are available.

Interior and Tech Features

The Ioniq 9’s huge 123.2-inch (3,130 mm) wheelbase results in an expansive cabin clad in plush materials that looks like a great place for long road trips. A steering wheel similar to the one of the latest-generation Santa Fe comes standard and includes small green LEDs to allow drivers to keep track of remaining battery charge.

A single curved screen houses a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch infotainment display. As standard, the Ioniq 9 is equipped with eight speakers, although an optional 14-speaker array from Bose is optional. Other key features include several 100-watt high-output USB-C ports that receive power directly from the 110.3 kWh pack rather than the 12-volt battery.

Plenty of the interior surfaces are clad in eco-friendly materials, including recycled PET fabric, wool fabric, and eco-process leather, underlining the car’s environmental credentials. The Ioniq 9 will be sold in six- and seven-seat configurations and the second-row seats include a swiveling function, like the EV9.

Hyundai’s latest suite of safety features is standard. This includes Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, and High Beam Assist. It’s also fitted with 10 airbags.

Availability

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 will first launch in Korea and the United States in the first half of 2025 before expanding to Europe and other markets later in the year. Market-specific specifications and pricing will be announced at a later date.

Update 11/12: As the LA Motor Show draws closer, Hyundai is cranking up the teaser campaign for its Ioniq 9. The latest short video, which you can check out for yourself below, gives us a few quick glimpses of both the exterior and interior, including an unmasked shot of the front end.

Additionally, Hyundai has shared a ghost sketch of the cabin, revealing a three-row layout that accommodates up to seven passengers in a “lounge-like environment.” They also highlighted the “spacious cabin with a flat floor across all three rows, enabling easy movement within the vehicle.”

Hyundai has been on a relentless EV offensive in recent years, pushing hard to expand its all-electric Ioniq lineup and establish itself as a major player in the zero-emissions space. The latest chapter in this saga is the Ioniq 9—the brand’s biggest and boldest EV yet—designed to tap into the growing demand for larger, three-row electric SUVs. Teased with just enough detail to stir up interest, the production Ioniq 9 is set for its full global unveiling in November.

The Ioniq 9’s arrival was first hinted at with the launch of the compelling SEVEN Concept at the LA Auto Show in November 2021 and will serve as Hyundai’s alternative to the Kia EV9. While these teasers don’t provide us with a detailed look at the new SUV, it’s clear that it will look very similar to that concept.

Read: Hyundai Ioniq 9 EV Looks Ready For Production In Latest Spy Shots

Found at the front of the Ioniq 9 will be a full-width LED light bar with Hyundai’s eye-catching ‘Parametric Pixels’ design as seen on the smaller Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. As with the concept, the new model will feature additional pixel LEDs running vertically down the front fascia.

The side profile is also quite familiar. It has a very similar shape to the SEVEN Concept and includes particularly thick D-pillars with squared-off wheel arches. The concept stunned with its rear suicide doors, but it seems unlikely these will be retained for the production model. No teaser has been provided of the EV’s rear end, but the side shot does show prominent pixel LEDs, which form a T-shape.

Hyundai claims the diagonal lines that cut across the body are inspired by Hanbok, a traditional Korean garment, while the overall design supposedly draws influence from the sleek hulls and open, airy cabins of luxury boats.

Underpinning the new SUV will be the Hyundai Motor Group’s ever-present E-GMP platform with an 800V charging capability. There’s no word on what battery packs the Ioniq 9 will be available with nor what motor configurations customers will be able to choose from. However, in all likelihood, Hyundai will borrow from the Kia EV9’s playbook, offering the same 76.1 kWh and 99.8 kWh battery packs. If so, power output could range anywhere from a sensible 215 hp to a far more exhilarating 576 hp, catering to a broad spectrum of buyers.

Expect Hyundai to drip-feed more teasers of the Ioniq 9 in the lead-up to its November unveiling, which will take place at next month’s LA Auto Show.