Hyundai Ioniq 9 Finally Arrives With Three Rows, 'Aerosthetic' Design, 110 kWh for 385 Mi.

Let's remember the facts to support our 'eye roll' about Hyundai's belated launch of the Ioniq 9. Back in 2021, Kia first unveiled the EV9 concept at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, and then we had to wait about two years before production kicked off after the series model was introduced in March 2023. Meanwhile, Hyundai unveiled its very own prototype, dubbed Seven, an EV with three rows just like the EV9 and about the same size as the Palisade mid-size CUV, at the same 2021 LA Auto Show.

However, we had to wait three full years before the company finally came full circle with the presentation of the series production model at the 2024 edition of the LA Auto Show. A few hours prior, the South Korean automaker tried to steal the red carpet's spotlight with a separate unveiling at the Goldstein House in LA, "an icon of mid-century modern architecture, reflecting Hyundai Motor's commitment to innovation and EV leadership through its Ioniq vehicle lineup.”

So, now there's an Ioniq flagship – simply dubbed 9 – a fresh "three-row all-electric SUV, blending superior space, unique design and advanced EV technology." As far as the design is concerned, there aren't many surprises – we can see a lot of the Seven in the exterior styling, but also some boxy Santa Fe is present, too. Inside, the focus is on "expansive interior space that fuses cutting-edge design and innovative electric vehicle (EV) technology."

While the name suggests otherwise, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 will seat up to seven persons onboard, and the cabin styling fuses elliptical elements and calming tones to provide a soothing "lounge-like atmosphere." The interior configuration is for six or seven persons with Relaxation Seats available for both first and second-row occupants – and it includes Hyundai's new Dynamic Body Care system with features like Dynamic Touch Massage. There are also second-row Swiveling Seats and a slidable Universal Island 2.0 console.

For storage, there's a front trunk - 88 liters (3.1 cu ft) for RWD models and 52 liters (1.83) for AWD models, while the space in the rear trunk is 620 liters or 1,323 liters with the third row folded flat – that's 21.89 and 46.72 cubic feet, respectively. Naturally, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 is underpinned by the E-GMP dedicated EV architecture and has a floor-mounted NCM lithium-ion battery with 110.3 kWh capacity. That's enough for a WLTP-estimated range of 620 km or 385 miles, and DC fast charging from 10 to 80% takes just 24 minutes when using a 350-kW charger.

There's also a convenient vehicle-to-load (V2L) function, which operates at both 400V and 800V to ensure that its "multi-charging capability lowers the barriers to EV adoption." The powertrain options include a Long-Range RWD with a single 160 kW (215 hp) rear motor, a Long-Range AWD alternative with an additional 70 kW (94 hp) front motor, and also a Performance AWD variant. The latter has dual 160-kW (215 hp) motors front and rear to drop the sprint time to 62 mph (100 kph) to 5.2 seconds from 9.4s and 6.7s for the RWD and AWD options.