Test Drive Hyundai Ioniq 9—a Big Number

Hyundai's latest electric car is well-suited for North America. For families with a large space requirement, the big SUV could also be a good fit here.

Hyundai is one of the more successful players in e-mobility in Germany, with almost one in three models sold in the country powered exclusively by an electric motor. Now, the Koreans are expanding their range upwards with the Ioniq 9, the third model to bear this somewhat cryptic name after Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. The SUV measures a full 5.06 meters in length, four centimeters longer than the comparable EV 9 from sister brand Kia, available since 2023. The Ioniq 9 is offered in three drive and three equipment variants, with prices ranging from 68,500 to 86,750 euros (approx. 80,000 to 101,000 USD).

What you get, above all, is space. The electric vehicle, available as a seven-seater or a six-seater for an additional 1,000 euros (approx. 1,100 USD), offers plenty of room in the first and second rows. The third row, which can only be accessed with difficulty by adults through the rear door, is, as is the case with virtually all cars in this configuration, mainly suitable for children. Since there is no option for a five-seater version without a third row, folding down the third row is a practical everyday solution, as it increases the trunk volume from a rather modest 338 liters to a generous 908 liters.

Transporter Qualities and Substantial Towing Capacity

Anyone planning a longer vacation for two or a Saturday visit to a certain Swedish furniture store can fold down the 60:40 split rear bench in the second row. This provides nearly 2,500 liters of storage space, which would do justice to a smaller van. Additionally, the Ioniq 9 can tow up to 2.5 tons, a very good value for an electric car. However, we can only imagine how consumption would skyrocket and range shrink under such conditions.

As with many modern electric cars, the theoretical range is quite promising. The Ioniq 9 offers a stated range of 600 to 620 kilometers (approx. 370 to 385 miles), depending on the motorization, with an average consumption of around 20 kWh per 100 kilometers (approx. 62 miles). The battery capacity is 110 kWh gross and 103 kWh net. AC charging is standard at 11 kW, while DC charging delivers up to 233 kW. According to Hyundai, thanks to the 800-volt technology, a standard feature in this price range within the group, the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in about 24 minutes—under optimal conditions, of course.

As a vehicle, the Ioniq 9 is a representative of the more comfortable kind—and we mean that positively. After all, curb weights of between 2.6 and 2.8 tons, depending on the chosen variant, need to be managed. The large model, built in Korea for the European market, handles this quite well, although the comfortable suspension naturally results in some body motion on bumps. Additionally, one shouldn't expect exceptional steering feedback and should be prepared to apply the brakes firmly and in good time given the weight. But then again, sportiness was never the focus here.

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Three Powertrains for Different Needs

Acceleration and pull-through are absolutely satisfactory even with the "base engine" (160 kW) and rear-wheel drive. The standard sprint to 100 km/h takes exactly 9.4 seconds, with the top speed electronically limited to 190 km/h (approx. 120 mph). However, this pace shouldn't be maintained too frequently or for too long—see range. For those wanting more, there’s the all-wheel drive with 226 kW or the performance variant with 315 kW, also powering all four wheels. Both versions offer a top speed of 200 km/h (approx. 125 mph).

The rear-wheel drive version is available with the trim levels Ioniq 9 or Techniq, the mid-range powertrain as Techniq or Uniq, and the performance variant only as the top version Uniq, which practically offers full equipment but costs almost 87,000 euros (approx. 102,000 USD).

One sentence about the design: Giving the car, with well over five meters in length (approx. 16 ft), almost two meters in width (excluding side mirrors), and nearly 1.80 meters in height (approx. 6 ft), a modern appearance was certainly no easy task. However, the massive dimensions were cleverly concealed. Still, the 9 remains an imposing piece.

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