2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 First Drive: EV Inflection Point

As the 6,000-pound Ioniq 9 Calligraphy glided its way along British Columbia’s picturesque Pacific Rim Highway, its suspension damping wasn’t the usual stiff and bumpy we’ve come to expect from these large and heavy electric vehicles (EVs). Rather, the ride was smooth, compliant, composed, the way any sensible crossover should feel. And the more miles I stacked up during the Ioniq 9’s first drive, the more I would forget about its non-dependence on fossil fuels.

Perhaps what hit me the hardest while driving Hyundai’s first-ever electric three-row SUV, is how normal it all felt due to its abundance of range, fast charging speeds and very little compromise. If its twin cousin, the Kia EV9, changed the EV landscape forever by introducing electric propulsion to mainstream family transportation, the Ioniq 9 is the inflection point, the crucial moment in history where EVs have arrived neck-to-neck with their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 First Impressions: Minivan Vibes, With A Muscular Rear Stance

I generally like the way the Ioniq 9 looks, especially in the top-spec Calligraphy trim (as tested) and wearing the stunning Ionosphere Green paint color. Unfortunately, the entry-level models look a lot more naked due to their smaller and arguably less attractive wheel designs, as well as blacked-out body elements around the fender flares that just look goofy.

For me, at least, the Ioniq 9’s best angle is its rear three-quarter due to how the sloping roofline and tapered body — similar to a boat — wrap up beautifully with the flared wheel arches. It gives this minivan-like SUV a properly sporty stance and even allows it to appear smaller than it actually is. The side-profile view is all minivan, with even a visual resemblance to a 1990s Chevrolet Malibu MPV. The front fascia is clean, with a large glass covering the pixel-themed LED light bar, but I personally find the Ioniq 9’s face doesn’t project the same assertive presence as its rear.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Exterior Dimensions

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9: Differences Between The U.S. And Canadian Market

The main distinction between the U.S. and Canadian market Ioniq 9 lies in how the trim hierarchy was set up, equipped and named. In the U.S., the vehicle is offered in six available versions: S, SE, SEL, Limited, Calligraphy and Calligraphy Design. Canada has six trim levels called Essential RWD, Preferred AWD, Preferred AWD+, Preferred AWD with Luxury Package and Preferred AWD+ with Ultimate Calligraphy package. Both markets offer the Ioniq 9 in either a rear-wheel-drive or dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration depending on the trim level chosen, and with different horsepower and torque options.

U.S. Versus Canada Lineup Breakdown And Starting MSRP (model tested in bold below)

Driving Impressions And Performance: Smooth And Refined, Not As Quick As Its Spec Sheet Suggests

The hardware underneath the Ioniq 9’s large SUV body is all relatively familiar at this point. It rides on the Hyundai Group’s ubiquitous E-GMP EV-dedicated architecture, but it’s powered by an all-new, 110.3-kWh liquid-cooled, lithium-ion polymer battery. For the model I was driving, which was equipped with dual-motor all-wheel-drive, and churned out the highest available output, total combined horsepower is rated by Hyundai at 422, with torque at 516 pound-feet. Hyundai says that in this configuration, the Ioniq 9 will tow up to 5,000 pounds.

Lower trim levels in the all-wheel-drive guise pump out 303 combined horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, while rear-wheel-drive models make do with a more humble 215 horsepower/258 pound-feet setup, which will tow up to 3,500 pounds. Hyundai didn’t say if the Ioniq 9 will eventually inherit an N version, or something along the lines of the Kia EV9 GT. For now, its spokespeople told me that they consider that 422 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque is more than what most families actually need.

And I tend to agree. But, oddly, the Ioniq 9’s performance doesn’t reflect its technical specifications. Sure, this is an SUV weighing in at more than 5,500 pounds, but electric vehicle heavyweights aren’t exactly new, and many of them remain supremely quick off the line, even with all the heft they’re carrying around. But with the Ioniq 9, acceleration is swift, but never neck-bending. There’s the expected instant take-up for overtaking, but it never truly exhibits any real performance. It’s adequate, which, when you think about it, makes total sense for the Ioniq 9’s intended purpose.

Ride and handling are really where the Ioniq 9 shined on the curved roads of Vancouver Island, providing loads of grip on corner exits and the sort of controlled road composure you normally associate with vehicles of smaller dimensions. Due to their excessive weight and large, heavy wheels, EVs have the reputation of remaining stiff in an attempt to mitigate the moving mass. But with the Ioniq 9, there’s a sense of plushness I have only recently felt in models offered by Lucid. It’s that lovely blend of comfort and stiffness that allows the Ioniq 9 to gracefully carve its way through a winding road without offsetting its passengers.

It’s also vault-quiet in there, courtesy of several efforts to quell the outside noise. There’s technology coming from the audio system at play, things like Hyundai’s Active Noise Control, but Hyundai’s engineers also fiddled with some of the Ioniq 9’s structure and suspension components, even to the point of optimizing the strut rings, in a quest to reduce road and tire noise. The end result is a vehicle that’s Genesis-like in its execution of refinement.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Technical Specifications

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Energy Consumption Range And Charging

Like the rest of Hyundai’s recent EVs, the Ioniq 9 comes off the factory floor equipped with a North American Charging Standards (NACS) charge port, but only V4 Tesla Superchargers will allow it to pull at its advertised 24-minunte (10 to 80%) DC fast-charging speed on a 350-kW unit. All other Superchargers will limit the charge rate to 150 kW. The Ioniq 9’s onboard charger for Level 2 AC home charging is rated at 10.9 kW.

Hyundai says the Ioniq 9 will drive up to 335 miles on a full charge in RWD S trim. Opt for the full-fat, dual-motor Calligraphy Design model, and that number only drops slightly to 311 miles. Unfortunately, due to the controlled nature of this brief drive event, I was unable to perform any substantial range, energy consumption and charging tests. I’ll need to live with the Ioniq 9 for an entire week in my neck of the woods to properly evaluate it.

Manufacturer And As-Tested Energy Consumption And Range (Dual-Motor AWD Calligraphy Model)

Interior Design And Comfort: Supremely Well Built, Spacious And Comfortable

The Ioniq 9’s impressive refinement is carried over inside where general build quality and fit and finish truly impress at near-premium levels. Of course, Hyundai only had top-spec Calligraphy models for us to review, meaning my test unit was loaded with premium materials and neat design details like a marble-like texture on the passenger side of the dashboard. I do wish the entry-level models got some of the available creature comforts and technology, such as Hyundai’s Digital Key that allows you to use your smartphone as a means to lock, unlock, or start the car.

But in all trims, this SUV makes good use of the lack of an internal combustion engine. The Ioniq 9’s cabin was space-optimized to provide a wide range of storage solutions and a generally spacious and airy cabin experience. Wherever you sit in an Ioniq 9, no matter your size, you’ll find comfort. Second row seating offers generous legroom, but perhaps more impressive is the amount of legroom in the third row, even with the sloping roof. Third-row access and legroom are also above average, even when the second row is adjusted for a tall passenger.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Interior Dimensions (Dual-Motor AWD Calligraphy Model)

Technology And Ease Of Use: Hyundai’s Expected Ergonomics And Good User Experience

There’s nothing really new on the technology front here, as the Ioniq 9 essentially carries over the automaker’s latest dual-screen tablet interface. Now equipped with over-the-air update technology, it presents itself through an elegant graphical interface that’s both quick to react and easy to comprehend. Main icons are positioned on the main screen in a tile arrangement, while Android Auto and Apple CarPlay utilize the system’s full real estate. The digital instrument cluster for the driver is also Hyundai’s familiar stuff, with a minimalist approach and very few customization options. It rather focuses on giving you only the information you truly need.

What I also like is Hyundai’s pledge to preserve physical buttons for core functions. Acting as shortcut keys to access some of the system’s main menus, such as audio or navigation, these buttons vastly help improve the Ioniq 9’s general ergonomics and facilitate its operation, especially while driving.

Cargo And Storage Space: Very Spacious, Even More So Than Its Corporate Twin

Since the Ioniq 9 is a tad longer than its corporate twin, the Kia EV9 (20.2 cu-ft/43.5 cu-ft/81.7 cu-ft), it offers slightly more total cargo space. But even when comparing it with three-row SUVs from premium brands, like the Cadillac Vistiq (15.2 cu-ft/43.0 cu-ft/80.2 cu-ft), for instance, the Ioniq 9 still managed to hold its own. As a matter of fact, it has more cargo space than Hyundai’s own 2025 Palisade (18 cu-ft/45.8 cu-ft/86.4 cu-ft). But except for a very small storage compartment, the Ioniq 9 isn’t equipped with a front trunk (frunk).

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Cargo Space

Some Versions Are Expensive, But Overall, This Is A Win For Hyundai

While most of the players in this space are still hanging on to internal combustion engines, some of which still rely on six cylinders, the Hyundai Group is ahead of the curve with not just one, but two three-row electric SUVs that provide more than enough range and charging capability to fulfill the average family’s mobility needs. Furthermore, the Ioniq 9’s impressive capability and lack of compromise will have you seriously questioning the relevance of a fuel pump.

Some of the Ioniq 9’s versions are overkill, like the Calligraphy and Calligraphy Design models. But stick to the more sensible SE, SEL, and Limited trim levels, and you’ll have access to a well-equipped, well-appointed and surprisingly refined electric three-row SUV at a reasonable price. It appears that with the overachieving Ioniq 9, the South Koreans have hit another one straight out of the park.