2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9: One Step Closer To Hyundai’s Electric Dreams

It might not be obvious to the average car buyer why Hyundai is staying the course with its EV strategy, but to the company, the mission is crystal clear: tapping the affinity of ‘early majority’ adopters. That’s where brands pull ahead in a race. To get there, Hyundai rolled out its newest EV, the Ioniq 9, at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

The reception was stellar; the two models on display were among the most popular cars at the show with a constant line of people waiting to get a peek at this three-row, 7-passenger electric SUV.

Distinctly Different From Its Close Cousin, The Kia EV9

The Kia EV9 provides inspiration for the Hyundai Ioniq 9, but also, points of distinction. The EV9 has led Kia’s EV sales, with about 18,000 sold so far, more than the EV6, and has attracted that ‘early majority’ buyer, which will be more important in the long run as the brands seek to develop lifetime customers.

And, it has proven the case for the shared powertrain and platform. Both are powered by a 110.3 kWh battery that delivers about 303 miles of range and has a fast-charging 800V system that can replenish up to 80% of the battery in 24 minutes at a DC fast charger.

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 will be offered in three versions: Long Range RWD generating 215 hp; Long Range AWD generating 303 hp; and Performance AWD generating 422 hp.

Ioniq 9 WiIl Feature Tesla’s NACS Charge Protocol

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 will feature NACS charge ports, or North American Charge Standard, the format used by Tesla and what will become the new national standard for EV charging. This means that buyers will be able to charge at available Tesla charge stations, as well as at any charge station by using a NACS adapter if needed.

They’ll also be able to charge at iONNA “rechargery” stations that are being built under the consortia of Hyundai, GM, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, Toyota, Honda and Kia. iONNA Rechargeries, which promise to lounge-like charge stations across the country, will begin opening in 2025 and plan more than 30,000 plugs by 2030.

Ioniq Design Advances In This Electric Three-Row SUV

While the Kia EV9 is designed for an electric adventure feel inside and out, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 is inspired by the idea of a modern lounge: Materials and colors are soft and muted, as are the lines of the car. Yes, it’s long and tall, but it’s also lean, giving it a sleek feel.

Notable inside and out is the “pixel” design that has marked other Hyundai EVs including the Ioniq 5 and Kona. Pixels dress up the front grille, spanning the hood in a light bar, and framing the rear lift gate. The pixel motif glows through stacked cube headlights that frame the narrow lower grille that spans the front of the Ioniq 9.

Inside, pixels are seen throughout, including four across the center of the steering wheel; these light up in the dark and add to the effect of ambient lighting, which is a central feature in the Ioniq 9.

Ioniq 9 Takes Design Notes From Ioniq 5

The pixel design language on the exterior is one we first saw on the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and it continues in the Ioniq 9. But the Ioniq 9’s design draws on more that just pixels; it embraces the open cabin feel of the Ioniq 5.

The open cabin idea starts with a movable center console between the front seats; it can be moved forward toward the dash or back toward the rear seat. With the console in the rear position, significant floor space is opened between the front seats, giving more access to a console box below that sits below the climate controls; it holds USB chargers and storage cubbies.

The open cabin feel continues with the center and rear seats, which have quite a large capacity for passengers. The very spacious center row has nearly 43 inches of legroom, and the third row has 32 inches, but with the moveable center row seats I found the third row to be quite comfortable and spacious with more than average legroom. What the Ioniq 9 won’t have, at least in North America, are second row swivel seats; the company showed these in other markets but they don’t meet safety regulations in the United States.

Hyundai also equipped the Ioniq 9 with four full sets of lower anchors and upper tethers for installing child passenger car seats. Finally, Hyundai included slide-and-tilt center row seats for easy access to the third row.

“Hey Hyundai” Leads Ioniq 9’s Tech Interface

Hyundai equipped the Ioniq 9 with its newest tech interface featuring Hyundai Pay for parking in partnered garages and plug-and-charge services, meaning no phone-tapping or credit cards needed to pay for charging where the service is available. The Ioniq 9 also features a digital phone-as-key, and for times when the car is parked, video streaming on the front touch screen.

The wide single-pane front screen also features “Hey Hyundai” voice activation, a new feature that is rolling out across the Hyundai lineup. Once the wake word is activated, just say “Hey Hyundai” to set the cabin temperature, navigation or change the radio settings.

What Will the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Cost?

Hyundai hasn’t announced pricing yet, but based on the Kia EV9 and other electric three row competitors, it’s likely that the Ioniq 9 will start at about $60,000 and top out in the mid-to-high $70,000 range. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 will be built at the company’s new assembly plant in Georgia, which under current rules would qualify for federal tax incentives should they apply when the car comes to market in the Spring of 2025.

Even without incentives, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 provides needed choices for families and ‘early majority’ consumers interested in a roomy, modern and tech-forward three-row SUV. And it takes Hyundai closer to its goal of leading the electric car market.