Hyundai’s family of well-rounded, well-priced, and featureful EVs continue to grow, and in this case, we mean that quite literally! The brand’s shiniest and newest IONIQ 9 3-row electric SUV has seen remarkable response since it went on sale in South Korea, and soon-ish, you might be able to see one in your local UK showroom. It’s a pretty huge deal for Hyundai too, as this new IONIQ 9 offers a lot of next-gen EV tech that will hopefully trickle down to the rest of Hyundai’s electric line-up. For starters, the IONIQ 9’s gargantuan proportions allow it to house an equally sizeable battery pack – a whopping 110.3kWh battery that offers you up to 620km of range!
Plus, it’s a rather efficient powertrain too, with an energy consumption of just 194 Wh/km. On the off-chance that you manage to deplete all that battery life, then worry not, as the IONIQ 9 comes fitted with a high-tech 800V architecture. This doesn’t just entail a longer range and even more battery life, but it’ll be able to recharge rapidly, as well. Specifically, when you do plug an IONIQ 9 into a 350kW charger, it’ll top up from 10% to 80% in a mere 24 minutes. Alternatively, should you need to use the IONIQ 9’s battery to power external devices, such as power tools or even to light up a campsite, it even features vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, which is neat!
Big Proportions, Big Batteries, & Even Bigger At Heart
Thankfully, it’s not like you’d need to recharge the IONIQ 9 too often, and that’s not just due to its sizeable battery capacity and long range. With that in mind, Hyundai’s designers paid really close attention to aerodynamics, which partly explains the brand-new IONIQ 9’s sleek, slippery, and attractively boxy looks. If you spec the IONIQ 9 with the optional digital mirrors, your drag coefficient drops to a very low 0.259 Cd. Meanwhile, it’s then paired with active aero bits, such as the dual-motion Active Air Flaps (AAF) that help with optimising your airflow and cooling. I also quite like the 3D, shaped underbody cover and the aero wheels to further reduce drag.
Elsewhere, Hyundai’s engineers have also put a lot of refinement into the IONIQ 9’s chassis, as well as the ride quality and handling. I’ve no doubt that trying to sharpen and fine-tune a huge electric SUV isn’t easy, but they’ve done it somehow! Among other things, Hyundai was able to tweak the chassis calibration for a balance of handling and comfort and tune its suspension in mind for an even smoother ride quality. To further minimise road, tyre, and wind noise from its interior, the IONIQ 9 adopts a plethora of noise reduction tech, like active noise cancellation, as well as acoustic glass and noise-reducing tyres, alongside the awesome surround audio system.
A Capable & Powerful Electric SUV For The Whole Family
Step inside, and you’ll be able to configure the new Hyundai IONIQ 9 as either a 6 or 7-seater, and this is made easier thanks to Hyundai’s use of a flat floor design for more flexible seating. Depending on the market-specific models and trim levels, the IONIQ 9 has swivelling seats, or relaxation seats in the first and second row, with full recline and even leg rests. Moreover, for all your luggage and stowage, the IONIQ 9 comes with a massive rear boot; 620 litres in all or up to 1,323 litres with the third-row seats folded. Aside from that, you also get a frunk, giving you another handy 88 litres of storage at the front (or 52 litres for the all-wheel drive models).
Now, despite how vast the IONIQ 9 might look and feel, Hyundai has packed it with a shocking amount of power. There are 3 powertrain options available; the Long Range RWD with 160kW of power courtesy of a singular rear motor, the Long Range AWD with 160kW + 70kW between the rear and front motors, respectively, as well as the Performance AWD model, with 160kW of power each, front and rear, for a 320kW total. The latter could even manage a 0-62mph sprint in just 5.2 seconds! So, if you’re shopping around for a huge, 3-row electric SUV, Hyundai’s new IONIQ 9 might be worth checking out as your next family runabout and handsome daily driver.
