- The Ioniq 9 is Hyundai’s newest EV, a three-row SUV that is in-built America and makes use of a Tesla-style NACS charging plug.
- That enables it to natively cost at Tesla’s Supercharger stations, or any standard charger with an adapter.
- Our Ioniq 9 Efficiency Restricted repeatedly exceeds its official 311-mile vary.
I had a wierd thought the opposite day after I drove residence from New York Metropolis within the new 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9: Is that this, pound for pound, one of the best electrical car you should purchase in America proper now?
I truly assume it may be. I do know that is a daring declare to make, particularly after just some hours within the automobile. However the brand new Ioniq 9 three-row crossover is a significantly spectacular machine, and on plenty of ranges, it’s extremely more likely to be the Hyundai Motor Group’s finest EV but.
In fact, it isn’t with out some downsides, and I hope to expertise a very good mixture of highs and lows through the week I am testing it. What would you prefer to learn about it?
Photograph by: Patrick George
When you want a refresher, the Ioniq 9 is the newest member of Hyundai’s Ioniq household after the wildly profitable Ioniq 5 crossover and range-king Ioniq 6 sedan. This one’s larger: a three-row SUV constructed for households with numerous children and kit to haul. And it is constructed to go the space for them. Each Ioniq 9 packs no less than 300 miles of vary throughout each trim stage.
It is also not only a re-badged Kia EV9, though that would not even be a foul factor as a result of the EV9 is a spectacular vehicle, too. However the Ioniq 9 manages to have its personal distinct character. It is truly barely bigger than the EV9 in each dimension—an inch or two extra in top, wheelbase, size and width—however maybe attributable to its extra rounded silhouette, it would not look the half.
Photograph by: Patrick George
It additionally will get a much bigger battery than the EV9 does. That automobile at the moment maxes out at 99.8 kilowatt-hours, whereas all Ioniq 9 fashions get a 110.3 kWh battery pack. Therefore, the vary. And it manages to have its personal vibe inside that is consistent with the remainder of the Ioniq household, together with the newest Ioniq 5’s up to date software program.
Then there’s the Tesla-style NACS port. From the manufacturing unit (an American manufacturing unit, no much less) it may use Tesla’s Supercharger stations. Fortunately, it additionally consists of an array of adapters so it may use a normal CCS fast-charger or Stage 2 plug like I’ve at residence. The adapter-swapping might get a bit annoying till a real normal emerges, however the flexibility of charging positive is sweet. I will be making an attempt that as a part of this check, as we all know Tesla charging won’t reach the normal 239 kW max speeds seen on CCS plugs.
Photograph by: Patrick George
Photograph by: Patrick George
Photograph by: Patrick George
Above all, it is faster than I anticipated, extremely easy, and has impeccable construct high quality. This simply appears like a extra superior, second-generation EV product than even the good things we have examined from Hyundai and Kia earlier than, not in contrast to the trajectory we’ve seen from automakers in China.
So it is an impeccable mixture of fashion, consolation, vary, charging flexibility and efficiency. What are the downsides? Clearly, it is massive—larger than my family would wish for positive. It isn’t low-cost, both. A base Ioniq 9 begins at $58,955, earlier than vacation spot charges, and my all-wheel-drive Restricted (the center grade) tester is available in at $74,300. However as a result of it is made in Georgia, it is eligible for the total $7,500 federal tax credit score when financed or leased. That is a stable 10% low cost and nothing to sneeze at.
Photograph by: Patrick George
We’ll see what life in an Ioniq 9 is like this week. Within the meantime, ask me stuff about it. What do you need to know that we are able to embrace in our evaluation? Pontificate within the feedback or shoot me an e-mail.
Contact the creator: patrick.george@insideevs.com
