- Meet the Hyundai Ioniq 9, the model’s first three-row electrical SUV.
- It targets as much as 335 miles of EPA vary and can come from the manufacturing facility with Tesla’s NACS plug design.
- It goes on sale early subsequent yr, however its worth continues to be TBD.
For those who’ve been looking for an electrical three-row SUV however by no means cherished any of the alternatives obtainable, you’re not alone. The Rivian R1S and Tesla Mannequin X have their compromises, and whereas we love the Kia EV9, some selection can be good too.
The state of affairs is enhancing, thanks once more to the Hyundai Motor Group. Following the house run it scored with the EV9, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 makes its debut as the most recent and largest addition to its acclaimed Ioniq household of EVs.
Photograph by: Hyundai
The Ioniq 9 builds on what makes its smaller siblings nice: lengthy ranges, quick charging and head-turning design. It’s simply all in a much bigger bundle that, for higher or worse, American households more and more crave.
And it is greater than only a re-badged and re-bodied EV9 this time. It beats the EV9 on vary and even comes with the Tesla-style North American Charging Customary (NACS) plug proper out of the gate, so it will be prepared to make use of the 1000’s of Supercharger stations on the market on the following household highway journey.
The Fundamentals
First got here the Ioniq 5 as a compact crossover aimed on the Tesla Mannequin Y. Then Hyundai launched the Ioniq 6, a streamlined sedan with epic effectivity and vary. Hyundai’s third U.S.-market EV on its fashionable E-GMP platform is the Ioniq 9. It affords as much as seven seats and is an electrical different to the Hyundai Palisade.
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Hyundai
It’s a part of Hyundai’s plan to have a lineup of 23 electrical fashions by 2030. It goes into manufacturing this coming spring at Hyundai’s Georgia plant, so the automaker expects it to qualify for the complete $7,500 federal tax credit score, which requires automobiles to be assembled in North America. (That’s, if that coverage nonetheless exists when the automobile goes on sale.)
Hyundai hasn’t introduced pricing but, solely saying it will likely be “aggressive.” Provided that the EV9 begins at round $55,000, someplace round there may be most likely a superb guess. It’ll price much more than a Palisade or Santa Fe, I can inform you that a lot.
Vary, Charging and Different Specs
Hyundai is focusing on an Environmental Safety Company vary ranking of as much as 335 miles, which is nicely above common and certain to dampen some patrons’ vary nervousness. Much more impressively, the model says that it doesn’t matter what Ioniq 9 trim you purchase, it’ll be rated for a minimum of 300 miles. The identical can’t be stated of its cousin, the EV9, which is nice for wherever from 230 to 304 miles, relying on the trim.
Photograph by: Hyundai
A lot of that has to do with the Ioniq 9’s 110.3 kilowatt-hour, nickel-cobalt-manganese battery, which is about 10% bigger than the most important pack obtainable within the EV9. Lengthy vary and super-fast charging is a successful mixture, and that’s simply what the Ioniq 9 serves up. Hyundai says the 9 will be capable to recharge from 10%-80% in 24 minutes on a sufficiently highly effective plug, because of its 800-volt structure. And it comes from the manufacturing facility with Tesla’s NACS plug design. So house owners will be capable to plug in at some 17,000 Tesla Superchargers while not having to make use of an adapter.
Each main automaker is switching over to NACS from the Mixed Charging System, the present customary, however Hyundai is forward of the curve. Different automakers are nonetheless placing out new or up to date fashions with the outdated charging port, necessitating using a dongle at Superchargers.
There might be three powertrain choices on provide. The Lengthy-Vary RWD is the vary champion, whereas the Efficiency AWD is the quickest. The AWD Lengthy Vary suits within the center.
Right here’s how they break down:
| Drivetrain | Entrance Motor | Rear Motor | Complete Energy | 0-60 MPH | Tow Capability | Est. Vary |
| Lengthy-Vary RWD | N/A | 160 kW | 215 HP | 8.4 sec | 3,500 lbs | 335 miles |
| Lengthy-Vary AWD | 70 kW | 160 kW | 303 HP | 6.2 sec | 5,000 lbs | 300+ miles |
| Efficiency AWD | 160 kW | 160 kW | 422 HP | 4.9 sec | 5,000 lbs | 300+ miles |
Inside and Design
At first look, the Ioniq 9 offers off minivan vibes. I imply this in a great way; the 9 lacks the usual upright boxiness of different large SUVs and that offers it a placing presence. Its brief hood, steep windshield and curving roofline give it a glossy, distinctive look. Identical to on different Ioniq fashions, the outside is dotted with a whole lot of little squares, or “pixels,” that tie collectively the in any other case disparate-looking EVs.
And a stretched-out wheelbase—the longest of any Hyundai mannequin—creates loads of room to stretch out inside. After all, as a three-row SUV, the Ioniq 9’s most important promoting level is how a lot stuff and other people you’ll be able to match inside.
Photograph by: Hyundai
The Ioniq 9’s cabin does certainly really feel large, as I discovered once I bought a preview of the mannequin earlier this month. It has a flat flooring all through, which frees up room on your ft, notably within the center seat. The second row is downright cavernous and might be optioned with both a three-seat bench or reclining captain’s chairs. The third row is completely usable, even for adults. Once I crawled again there, I didn’t really feel cramped within the legroom or headroom departments.
One enjoyable contact up entrance is the addition of a sliding middle console. So if you need additional room between the entrance seats for a handbag or one thing, you’ll be able to slide the unit backward. Once you want extra room within the rear, you’ll be able to shift it ahead. An identical function can also be obtainable within the Ioniq 5.
Up entrance, the 9 affords high-output, 100-watt USB-C ports that get their energy straight from the high-voltage battery. That’s along with vehicle-to-load, or V2L, a function that lets house owners use the Ioniq 9 as a cellular battery pack to energy virtually something.
Tech
The Ioniq 9 has the identical dual-screen setup that’s shared with different Kia and Hyundai EVs. On this one, although, it’s curved reasonably than flat, which is a pleasant contact. Each the driver-facing cluster and the primary display are available at 12 inches. And the system can deal with over-the-air software program updates, similar to earlier fashions.
Photograph by: Hyundai
What’s new right here is one thing referred to as “Options on Demand,” an in-vehicle retailer the place house owners can purchase “digital upgrades” for his or her automobiles. It’s debuting with just a few choices: some lighting signatures for opening or closing the doorways, new themes for the shows, and streaming providers like Amazon Music and Soundcloud.
Don’t fear—Hyundai says paying to activate one’s heated seats is off the desk.
Ought to You Purchase This Or The EV9?
Photograph by: Peter Holderith / Motor1
We gained’t know for certain till we will get the Ioniq 9 out on the highway and spend some high quality time with it. However it’s largely a query of design choice. These two SUVs share a platform, they’re each large and spacious, and their person interfaces will really feel related too. The Ioniq 9 has the agency edge on vary, although, which could be the deciding issue for some people. And we all know that the EV9 will quickly pack the NACS port as nicely, together with an adapter for the present automobiles.
On the finish of the day, it’s simply nice to see one other strong electrical choice for greater households.
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