Saving the best for last? Huge Hyundai Ioniq 9 EV SUV set to leapfrog Kia EV9, Volvo EX90 and other seven-seater SUV electric cars

Hyundai has finally pulled the covers off the long-awaited Ioniq 9.

Set for Australia by the middle of next year, but pricing and local-market specification details have yet to be revealed. We understand a sub-$100,000 entry price is likely, to challenge the closely-related Kia EV9 Air’s $97,000 before on-road costs starting point.

“We will price it aggressively against its main competitors,” said Hyundai Motor Company Australia General Manager Public Relations, Bill Thomas.

As the newcomer’s design clearly demonstrates, the two SUVs may share the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP 800V all-electric vehicle (EV) architecture, but there are no visible body or interior panels in common, while significant changes also lurk underneath the slippery skin.

The Ioniq 9’s dimensions are greater, measuring in at 5060mm long (+50mm over the EV9), 1980mm wide (no difference), 1790mm high (+35mm) and with a 30mm-extended wheelbase of 3130mm – the longest of any vehicle in Hyundai’s existing line-up.

First seen in the 2021 Seven Concept, the production version’s styling stays somewhat true to the show car, particularly in its striking, elongated profile and use of pixels for the LED lighting up front and behind the vehicle.

Out of a trio of competing styles from Europe, North America and Korea, the latter’s Namyang-based group’s proposal was chosen. Design inspiration came from some unlikely sources, including the original Range Rover of 1970, as well as the brand’s own Ioniq 6 when it came to the way it flows through the air.

As such, advanced aerodynamics played a huge role in shaping the Hyundai, with a streamlined silhouette aided by a smooth, curved roofline and a tapered rear said to be reminiscent of a boat tail (or Peter Horbury-era Volvo wagons, crossovers and SUVs).

These enable a drag coefficient of just 0.26 Cd when fitted with the optional digital mirrors. To improve air flow, the wheel arch areas adopt active flaps and smoother wheel covers, there is a full underbody cover and all antennas are hidden. Wheels range in size from 19- to 21-inches.

The entry-level Ioniq 9 RWD model uses a rear-mounted electric motor driving the rear wheels, to deliver 160kW of power and 350Nm of torque, while an additional electric motor over the front axle provides dual-motor all-wheel drive in higher-spec versions, in either 70kW/255Nm Long-Range AWD, or 160kW/350Nm Performance AWD guises.

Effectively doubling the outputs, the latter is capable of a 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.2 seconds, compared to 6.7s in the Long Range AWD and 9.4s for the base Long Range RWD version. Top speed in all grades is limited to 200km/h for now.

A key difference between the Ioniq 9 and the EV9 is the Hyundai’s 110.3kWh lithium-ion battery pack, giving it an “anticipated” WLTP range of about 620km in the most efficient variant, compared to 512km offered in the 99.8kWh version of the Kia – though the latter figure is actual WLTP range. The bigger battery is likely to find its way to the EV9 in the near future too.

Preliminary figures show the Hyundai’s energy consumption averages around 19.4kWh/100km (on the smallest wheel option).

If you can find a 350kW charger, a 10 to 80 percent top-up can take under 25 minutes.

The company said that the E-GMP architecture has also evolved in the Ioniq 9, and includes the latest dynamic torque-vectoring tech for improved handling and high-speed stability, a rough-terrain traction-control set-up with AI assistance to help get you through, self-levelling dampers for a more-isolated ride experience and second-generation regenerative braking control for more-effective one-pedal driving.

Compared to previous HMG EVs, the newcomer’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities expands in that electrical devices and appliances can now be powered directly using the EV’s battery from the cargo area.

The Ioniq 9’s suspension consists of a MacPherson strut-style/multi-link combo up front, as well as a multi-link set-up out back. There is no air suspension available. No data about weight or weight distribution has yet been divulged.

To help contain weight and improve dynamic capabilities, aluminium is used extensively in the body, with the vast roof panel being one of the few applications of steel.

For now, the Hyundai will only be offered as a three-row proposition, in either standard 2+3+2 seven-seater, or luxury 2+2+2 six-seater configurations. No eight or even nine-seater versions are likely.

Stepping inside, the Ioniq 9 adopts what Hyundai calls a ‘Natural Lounge’ look – and the point here is that it is meant to provide a calming and soothing travelling experience.

Literally adhering to the lounge metaphor, the dashboard has soft, rounded ends that are apparently inspired by sofa furniture design. A flat floor, deep windows and available panoramic sunroof imbue a sense of spaciousness.

Plus, there’s sustainably-sourced leather, recycled PET plastic fabric and paint made from recycled tyres.

The gently-curved “floating look” instrument panel consists of two, 12-inch clusters, yet Hyundai has listened to customer feedback by providing physical buttons and switches as well, to minimise distraction.

Still on functionality, there are nine USB-C ports scattered throughout the cabin, while the so-called “Universal Island 2.0” centre storage console on rails slides between the first and second rows, while also allowing for walk-thru access.

Though yet to be confirmed for Australia, the flagship six-seater Calligraphy grade boasts fully reclinable and rotatable (to either 90 or 180-degree settings) middle-row ‘captain’s chairs’ with extendable leg rests, to make charging-station layovers seem a bit more business class compared to the standard seven-seater versions.

To help create a quiet oasis whilst on the move, there’s also acoustic laminated side glass, triple door seals, a reinforced body structure and optional Active Noise Cancellation tech.

Further back, VDA luggage capacity grows from 338 litres with all seats up, to 908L with the third row down (and 1323L when loaded to the ceiling), and there’s also additional storage under the bonnet, ranging from 52L in the AWD models due to the second electric motor over the front axle, to 88L in RWD versions.

On the safety front, the Ioniq 9 features 10 airbags, as well as an extensive suite of advanced driver-assist safety systems, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot View Monitor and Safe Exit Warning/Assist.

A reinforced body structure around the battery pack helps protect it in severe impact collisions.

More details including Australian-market specific information will be released closer to the Ioniq 9’s first-quarter 2025 local release date, so stay tuned.