10 Best Things About the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 is the new flagship for the brand. The three-row mid-size SUV EV joins the existing subcompact Kona Electric hatchback, compact Ioniq 5 crossover, and stylish Ioniq 6 mid-size sedan atop the brand’s EV lineup.

The latest Hyundai EV owes much of its futuristic styling to the Hyundai Seven concept from the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, which faithfully predicted the design theme of the production Ioniq 9, sans the concept’s swiveling armchair seating and rear-hinged second-row doors. What survived the transition is the EV SUV’s smooth, wind-cheating shape and generous helping of parametric pixel shapes (groups of small squares and rectangles) in exterior lighting elements and some interior details. The smooth, boat-tail shape aids aerodynamics and energy efficiency.

Underneath the zoomy sheet metal, the Ioniq 9 shares its basic layout and some componentry with its corporate cousin, the Kia EV9. Hyundai’s new EV flagship is available with rear- or all-wheel drive and six- or seven-passenger seating. Priced from $58,955 to $76,490 plus a $1,600 destination charge, there are six trims: S, SE, SEL, Performance Limited, Performance Calligraphy, and Performance Calligraphy Design. The Ioniq 9 is assembled in Hyundai’s all-new, sprawling Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America facility near Savannah, Georgia. 

Good People Space

Although nearly a foot shorter overall than the full-size Chevrolet Tahoe, the new Ioniq 9 boasts a 123.2-inch wheelbase that’s the longest of any Hyundai, 2.3 inches longer than the big Chevy. The Ioniq 9’s resulting 163.5 cubic feet of passenger space makes for three roomy rows with plenty of spread-out room with a flat floor that makes more of it useful. Wide rear doors ease access to the second and third rows. This is one SUV with a low step-in height that eases passenger ingress and egress.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Plenty of Cargo Space

While the Ioniq 9 is no minivan, cargo space is generous. With the second- and third-row seatbacks lowered, there’s up to 86.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity, slightly more than that offered in the Hyundai Palisade. Access is via a standard hands-free power-operated liftgate.

Even with the third-row seatbacks up, there’s good space back there for several airport roller bags. The Ioniq 9 offers more room behind the third row than in other three-row offerings such as the Volkswagen ID Buzz, Kia EV9, Toyota Grand Highlander, and Hyundai Palisade.

Where a gas-powered vehicle would have an engine under the hood, the Ioniq 9’s front trunk (frunk) offers handy storage for stashing items such as the portable charge cable, charging adaptors, and the tire repair kit, or to conceal a purse or laptop from larcenous eyes. The one in the base RWD Ioniq 9 offers 3.1 cubic feet of capacity, while the front motor and related electric propulsion components trim frunk space a bit to just under 2 cubic feet in AWD models.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Calming Cushions

Buyers who opt for the Ioniq 9’s top Limited, Calligraphy, or Calligraphy Design trims get treated to what Hyundai calls Relaxation Seats. These include front bucket seats and second-row captain’s chairs. The seatbacks recline fully to an easy-chair position and feature rising footrests that make for a great place to kick back and decompress while the Ioniq 9 is being recharged, or for chilling and gazing out the full-length panoramic sunroof. 

In the Calligraphy and Calligraphy Design trims, a standard Ergo Motion driver’s seat can perform lumbar (seatback) or pelvic stretching (bottom cushion) motions and posture assist, great for soothing stiff muscles on longer slogs. The length, frequency, and intensity of the sessions are customizable.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Clever Cabin Storage

Limited and Calligraphy models feature a sliding center console that Hyundai dubs the Universal Island. In addition to dual cupholders, an open tray with non-slip parametric-pixel-shaped rubber pads, and a wireless phone charger, it has a 1.5-gallon upper bin under the center armrest. The armrest has latches at the front and rear for ease of opening to either the front or back seat occupants. There is also a larger 3.3 gallon bin that can slide out up to 8 inches for access by rear-seat passengers.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

User-Friendly Infotainment

The Ioniq 9 makes it easy for the driver to monitor vehicle status and both front seaters to access their music, maps, and apps as well as vehicle settings. The digital space is well covered with a pair of high-resolution color 12.3-inch dash screens curved in an arc. The built-in “Hey Hyundai” AI voice assistant is brilliant with point-of-interest destination requests and media searches. And for those who prefer traditional physical controls, Hyundai has retained simple-to-use rotary volume and tuning knobs plus a row of hard shortcut buttons on the dash under the screen for quick on-the-fly adjustments. Embedded navigation, an EV route planner, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto are on board as well as Wi-Fi capability and dozens of free-to-use Hyundai BlueLink connectivity apps. Six super-fast-charge 100-watt USB-C ports, two in each of the three rows, help keep mobile devices charged.

Upgrading to Limited or higher trims swaps the base AM/FM/HD radio eight-speaker stereo with SiriusXM capability for an immersive 14-speaker, surround-sound Bose premium audio system.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Zippy and Responsive Performance

The base RWD-only S model is powered by a 215-horsepower electric motor with 258 pound-feet of torque. SE and SEL models add an 88-hp front motor for standard AWD and a total of 303 horsepower and 446 lb-ft of torque. Performance Limited, Performance Calligraphy, and Performance Calligraphy Design models, also with standard AWD, get a more powerful 207-hp front motor for a total output of 422 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of twist.

According to Hyundai estimates, zero-to-60 mph times range from more than 8 seconds for the single-motor RWD S model to less than 5 seconds for the twin-motor AWD Calligraphy I test drove. What those acceleration numbers don’t show, however, is the excellent response when pressing the accelerator pedal. It's great for accelerating up an onramp onto to a fast-moving freeway or squirting into a hole in traffic. This is because electric motors develop full torque the second they get juiced, which instantly taps into 258 to 516 lb-ft of grunt depending on which version of the Ioniq 9 you’re piloting. For the twin-motor AWD Ioniq 9 Calligraphy, that’s more torque than in the recent Dodge Charger Scat Pack with its gas-powered SRT 392 Hemi V8.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Quiet and Well-Mannered

A key takeaway is how hushed the Ioniq 9’s cabin is. The big Hyundai’s aerodynamic shape aids the cause here, bolstered by its special sound-absorbing tires, extra-thick and laminated acoustic glass in the windshield and first and second row windows, triple-layer weatherstripping, and tight body sealing. Also helping to hush the cabin is active road noise control, which uses in-cabin microphones and the Ioniq 9’s audio speakers to neutralize road rumble and tire sizzle sounds by generating equal and opposite sound waves.

On the road, the Ioniq 9 feels relaxed and refined, with self-leveling shocks, solid body construction, and precise rack-and-pinion steering contributing to the experience. Driving dynamics can be tailored for less-than-optimal traction conditions such as sand, mud, or snow using the driver-selectable terrain mode switch on the center console.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Up to 335 Miles of Driving Range

When it comes to electric vehicles, driving range is a top priority. All versions of the Ioniq 9 pack a 110.3 kWh electric propulsion battery under the passenger-compartment floor, one of the largest-capacity units available in any three-row EV SUV. The big lithium-ion battery can power the Ioniq 9 an EPA-estimated 311 miles in the 422-hp Performance Limited, Calligraphy, or Calligraphy Design AWD models, 320 miles in the 303-hp SE or SEL AWD, and 335 miles in the base S rear-drive model. Those numbers top the estimated range of all three-row EVs except much higher-priced versions of the Rivian R1S and Lucid Gravity. 

Helping to preserve range in the Ioniq 9 is a Smart Regen 3.0 system that feeds electrons back into the battery when the driver starts backing off the accelerator. The system is adjustable via steering wheel paddles, and in its most aggressive setting, allows for one-pedal driving.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Charging Ahead

The standard NACS V3 charge plug enables recharging the Ioniq 9 at Tesla Supercharger stations. Access to the extensive Supercharger network is a big deal, especially for drivers who live and work outside major metropolitan areas or drive long distances away from home with limited access to non-Tesla DC fast-charge stations. Using a Tesla NACS V3 DC charger, Hyundai says the Ioniq 9 can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 40
minutes.

Included with every Ioniq 9 is an adaptor for charging with AC at home or at a CCS DC fast-charge facility. Although there are far fewer CCS DC fast-charge stations (Electrify America, EV-Go, and so on), some of these offer faster charge rates that can take advantage of the Ioniq 9’s 800-volt/350 kilowatt architecture. Using one of these with a CCS plug adaptor can reduce 10 to 80 percent charging time to around 24 minutes.

Hyundai says home charging the Ioniq 9 with a 240-volt AC source can take the big 110.2 kWh battery from 10 to 100 percent in less than 10 hours for convenient overnight charging.

The Ioniq 9 is the first Hyundai to enable charging with the Hyundai cellphone app, as well as the ability to pay for it with Hyundai Pay, so there’s no need to use a credit card.

Limited and Calligraphy models include a vehicle-to-load 120-volt outlet in the cargo area that can power campsite lights, tools, and laptops, and the Ioniq 9’s battery can be used to back up home essentials during power outages.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

One of the Least Expensive Three-Row Mid-size SUV EVs

The market for three-row, mid-size utility vehicles is a dynamic one, with new entries adding to the already wide selection and government purchase incentives for EV versions in flux. Although priced some $20K higher than a comparably sized, gas- or gas-hybrid-powered three-row SUVs such as Hyundai’s own Palisade, the 2026 Ioniq 9, in all of its parametric pixelated glory, presents a compelling combination of excellent driving range, room for adults in all three rows, and advanced features such as remote smart parking assist and 800-volt ultra-fast charging capability. And it offers premium features for less than in luxury
three-row EV SUVs like the Cadillac Vistiq, Lucid Gravity, Tesla Model X, and the Volvo EX90. 

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 ・ Photo by Ron Sessions