2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9

Folks craving a family-friendly electric vehicle get a new option this year: the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9. Going on sale in spring 2025 for around $60,000 to start, the new Ioniq 9 has three rows of seats and plenty of range and utility.

The current Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 clearly share retro-futuristic styling, but the new Ioniq 9 moves in a different direction aesthetically. The only bridge between the new SUV and Hyundai's current Ioniq models are the pixelated detailing in the lighting and some parts of the interior. Aside from that, this three-row SUV has flair all its own. You can kind of think of the Ioniq 9 as serving the same purpose as a Hyundai Palisade, just with electric power. It competes against the Kia EV9 (which it shares a lot of EV design with) as well as more expensive luxury-branded models such as the BMW iX, Rivian R1S and Volvo EX90.

There are multiple powertrain setups to choose from, starting with the rear-wheel-drive S trim, which uses a single motor to produce 215 horsepower and has an EPA-estimated range of 335 miles. Next up are the all-wheel-drive SE and SEL trims, both of which make a more robust 303 hp and get 320 miles. Finally, the Limited and Calligraphy trims also have all-wheel drive but upgrade power to 422 hp and drop the range to 311 miles. As is often the case with Hyundai, the best mix of value and performance is probably in the middle of the lineup with the SEL.

Hyundai is estimating a wide range of 0-60 mph times, with the slowest being 8.4 seconds and the quickest at 4.9 seconds. A base rear-wheel-drive Ioniq 9 will, therefore, likely feel a bit too slow, especially if you're trying to get up to highway speeds with multiple passengers aboard. But the all-wheel-drive versions should be sufficiently speedy.

Hyundai says the Ioniq 9 can charge quickly at a compatible high-power fast-charging station, quoting a time as short as 24 minutes to get from a 10% battery to 80%. All Ioniq 9s will come with a NACS charging port standard, giving it access to Tesla's Supercharger network. Charging won't be as quick at Tesla stations, however.

Inside, the Ioniq 9 offers room for adults across all three rows; you could easily fit three 6-footers sitting behind each other. There are both six- and seven-seat versions of the Ioniq 9 available. The more expensive Ioniq 9 trim levels will be six-seat versions with second-row captain's chairs that come with footrests and the ability to recline quite far. This setup allows multiple people to relax while the Ioniq 9 might be at a charging station or while you're waiting for soccer practice to finally end.

Though the outside of the vehicle looks like nothing else in the Hyundai lineup, the inside will be familiar, as the Ioniq 9 shares many of its features with the redesigned Santa Fe SUV. No complaints here on the familial resemblance; the Santa Fe's interior is a gem. You'll find a center console that can open forward or backward so it can be accessed by passengers from both rows, and there's an available UV sterilizing tray. A pair of 12.3-inch screens house a gauge cluster and multimedia display.

But the Ioniq 9 does have a few new tricks up its sleeve. On more expensive models, that floating center console has 7 inches of travel, to move it closer to the front or rear passengers. There are tech improvements as well, including a better EV route planner and a revamped voice recognition system that can handle a much wider range of queries. The charge ports also get a boost — they all draw from a shared 100-watt power supply so you can charge a laptop or tablet quickly. And this will also be the first Hyundai to offer a store in which to buy different theme packages or LED animations to further customize your vehicle.

Hyundai took specific steps to keep the Ioniq 9 as quiet as possible inside. There's insulation in the tires to absorb road noise and the windows have laminated glass. It absolutely works — this is one of the quietest EVs I've ever driven. Even on the highway with heavy rain coming down, the only disturbance is the light sound of raindrops hitting the windshield.

Driving the Ioniq 9 is a nonevent, and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s smooth, it’s comfortable and the 422-hp Calligraphy version is seriously quick. Power comes on strong with sharp and direct acceleration.

Like with every other Hyundai EV I’ve driven, the regenerative braking is integrated super well. There are four levels to choose from, letting you turn it off and use the brake pedal or crank it all the way up and come to a stop without touching the brakes.

Hyundai also nailed the ride quality on this SUV. The Calligraphy rides on 21-inch wheels, but the tires have a decent amount of sidewall for better cushioning. This, alongside great suspension tuning, means that the Ioniq 9 has a wonderfully soft ride, but it still feels connected to the road. It's on par with luxury electric SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz EQS.