This week we take a look at the all-new flagship electric SUV from Hyundai, the Ioniq 9. My test vehicle is the All-Wheel drive Performance Calligraphy, which is the top-of-the-line trim level. This is Hyundai’s first 3-row electric SUV and after having its sister, the Kia EV9, I can tell you this SUV is more like a Genesis than a Kia. It ranks in my book as a true luxury SUV. Size-wise, it’s large. In fact, it is larger than the Hyundai Palisade and it has more interior room.
Powertrain
Powering this SUV is a huge 110.3 kWh liquid-cooled Lithium-Ion High-Voltage battery that powers one motor in the back and another one in the front. It has a 350 kW charger that will give you a 10-80% charge in just 24 minutes with a CCS level 3 charger.
A level 2 charger like mine will get you to 100% in about 9 hours if it’s down to just 10% left. You should know that it will also charge using the Tesla Superchargers (NACS) to get you from 10-80% in 40 minutes. In a regular 110-outlet like at your home, it’s 80 hours. Get a home charger.
Range
Range is great for a 6,000-pound SUV at 311 miles. It has 429-horses and an amazing 516 pound-feet of torque. 0-to-60 time is just 4.6 seconds, and it will tow 5,000 pounds. Overall electric technology in this big SUV is beyond impressive.
Exterior
I’m a really big fan of the exterior appearance of this SUV. The body lines are really unique as the rear side windows angle up at the back.
Pixelated LED lights run completely across the front and outline the entire rear section running vertically from the bumper to the roof, horizontally across the top of the rear window, and back down to the bumper again, which is a really cool optic at night. Even the backup lights are in the same design.
Body color wheel arches look terrific, they are black in lesser trim levels, and I am not usually a big fan of EV wheels, but these 21” alloys look awesome. It has roof rails, but they are very flat and barely noticeable. There is a rear spoiler in back, and the rear wiper is tucked under it, like all SUVs should have.
Pop-out door handles show themselves as you get close to the vehicle with the key. To top off the terrific looks, my test vehicle is Cyber Gray, a color I love.
Interior
When you open the door, your first thought is WOW. It is clean and modern, like EVs tend to be, but there is also a true luxury feel.
It is more like a W Hotel and less like a Four Seasons: If you know, you know. Both front seats are two-tone H-Tex (manmade leather) in what appears to your colorblind reviewer to be white and gray, but Hyundai says they are green. Whatever color they are, they look fantastic and are full power, massaging for the driver and passenger, and both are heated and cooled. Look up and you’ll see a power panoramic moon roof with a sliding cover that opens all the way to the cargo area.
I don’t want to harp on the seats too much, but you have to check out the Relaxation Comfort Seats for the front and the second row occupants.
All four seats are Captain Chair’s, and the seats are designed to provide a near-weightless experience, allowing occupants to recline fully with integrated power leg rests. This setup is particularly beneficial during charging stops or long journeys, offering a spa-like environment within the vehicle, including a wonderful massage feature for all. Check it out in this very short video.
There are two 12.3” touchscreens that display the driver info system that is configurable and will give you the battery range left in miles as well as what percentage you’ve used. You can change the center to get a ton of information, but I tend to leave the range up at all times, just for the sake of awareness.
In what appears to be the second half of the screen is the infotainment system that displays the navigation system, the Bose Premium sound, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, HD radio, Wi-Fi, and more. Everything is simple to operate, and there are some shortcuts to all the functions built across the dash, which makes it really nice. You can check out a lot of real-time info like weather and sports scores as well.
Below that are air conditioning controls, radio knobs and knobs for the temperature (let’s give a round of applause for knobs!) three USB-C ports, and a cubby for storage. Below that is another WOW moment!
This Ioniq 9 has a built-in UV-C sterilizer that uses ultraviolet light to disinfect small personal items such as cell phones, wallets, masks, and sunglasses. This thoughtful feature underscores Hyundai's focus on passenger health and adds a modern, convenient touch to the cabin, and it makes an awesome conversation piece.
Now, we have to discuss the center console called the Universal Island 2.0 and it slides forward and back up to 7.5-inches, which makes it easier to access the second row and enables a walk-through front row configuration. This console also features a dual-direction armrest (back seat folks can open it from the rear), a large upper tray storage and double that in the lower sliding tray. Universal Island complements the Ioniq 9's flat floor design, enhancing cabin versatility, and movement, especially when using the Relaxation Comfort Seats.
On top of the console is a cell phone charger, a toggle switch for drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport, My Drive), you can change the Terrain settings there, too. There is the Auto Hold button, hill descent control, you can activate the terrific cameras, and turn on the parking assist for hands-free parallel or perpendicular parking. This center console is the coolest one I’ve ever seen. If you’d like to see it, here’s another short, commercial-free video:
Second-row captain chair occupants get use of the slide-out storage in the Universal Island, there are USB ports, they can control their own temperature, activate heated OR cooled seats, and as I’ve told you, the seats are fully electric including the power recliners and the footrests that pops up.
A/C vents are in the roof, always the best place, and there are manually-operated sunshades on the side windows to keep the sun off little Johnny. As you can see from the pictures, leg and headroom are amazing. The push of a button will slide the second row seats forward and it will tilt to give easy access to the third row.
Speaking of the far back seat is extremely roomy for two adults, those occupants also have USB ports and cup holders. The flat floor that houses the big EV battery makes the 3rd room passengers more comfortable, but be aware, there is no seat belt for the center, making this a true six-passenger SUV. Two adults will have plenty of leg and head room no matter their size.
Scoot around to the rear of this Ioniq 9. You can open the electric tailgate from a button on the dash, the key fob, or just stand there. This SUV features a hands-free Smart Power Liftgate that opens automatically when the smart key is detected within approximately 40 inches of the rear for at least 3 seconds, awesome if your hands are full. Once back there, you’ll find buttons to lower and raise the third row seats AND raise and lower the second-row Captain Chairs and somehow it makes a completely flat load floor. There is also storage under the floor in rear. Cargo area specs are: 21.9 cubic-feet behind the third row, 46.7 with the third row folded down, and a huge 86.7 cubic-feet when all everything is down. Don’t forget the frunk. The front trunk offers even more cargo space.
-INTERMISSION-
I gotta take a break, I’ve been writing for hours. Be honest with yourself. If you had read all this so far and I did not tell you what brand vehicle this was, with all the cool features, what brand would you think this was? A Rolls-Royce Cullinan? Perhaps a Mercedes Maybach, or at minimum a Cadillac Escalade or Lyriq? The fact this is a Hyundai speaks volumes for this brand. OK, nap over, back to your regularly scheduled program.
Standard Equipment
It is important to note that nothing I have told you about is optional or at an extra charge.
It is all standard on the Calligraphy, except the paint color which is $500. Things I have not mentioned that are also standard include: a Surround-View rear mirror, a terrific head-up display which will even show you if something is in your blind spot, ambient lighting, a 120-volt outlet in the cargo area, automatic headlights, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, and adaptive cruise control.
Next cool feature: There are four square lights on the steering wheel that illuminate in different colors to indicate driving modes—green for Eco, white for Normal, and red for Sport or when reversing—while also showing the battery’s charging progress in 25% increments. Symbolically, these lights form the letter “H” in Morse code, paying tribute to Hyundai’s brand identity. Yes, they are unnecessary, but really cool.
On the safety front, the Ioniq 9 has automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear occupant alert, automatic forward collision assist, parking sensors for front and rear, rear cross traffic alert, attention assist, safe exit assist, rear seat reminder, lane departure with lane keep assist, and Blind Spot View Monitor. Cameras in both side mirrors are activated if there is a car in your blind spot or if you engage your blinkers. The picture of what is happening on either side appears on the driver’s display and is crystal clear. If you are awake at all, there is no way you can change lanes if there is something in your blind spot.
Ride and Drive
The Ioniq 9 drives great, the ride is smooth and in spite of its heaviness, lean is minimal in curves and turns. The SUV is incredibly quiet inside and Hyundai went to great lengths to make sure of that with more insulation and thicker glass. It features a suspension system designed for comfort and stability, using MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link systems at the rear. This setup includes self-leveling dampers and hydro-bushings to minimize vibrations, ensuring a smooth and composed ride, and it does just that. Acceleration is fantastic, and the steering is super-easy, but doesn’t offer much feedback.
I love one-pedal driving in all EVs, and this one works great from the steering wheel paddles, and the resistance helps to recharge the battery. I kept it at max the entire time I had it, and hardly ever used the brakes.
Again, range is rated at 311-miles, but according to the onboard computer, I charged it past that point. The MPGe rating is 91-highway, 79-city, and 85 combined, which is fantastic.
Total MSRP on this ultra-loaded Ioniq 9 Calligraphy with all-wheel drive is $77,540 before discounts and incentives, and this vehicle does qualify for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit, assuming it is still around when you read this.
This is an incredible SUV, I just can’t praise it enough. Kudos to Hyundai for this technological marvel of an SUV, built in Georgia.
A note to my friend Randy Parker, the CEO of Hyundai and Genesis, who has been on the Car Pro Show: Dude, you killed it with the Ioniq 9, the Board should give you a big, fat raise. Consider putting a gasoline engine in it and offering it as a gas or electric and you’ll need to build another assembly plant to keep up with demand.