Hyundai Ioniq 9 Review 2025

With no sign that car buyers’ appetite for SUVs is going to subside anytime soon growing numbers of manufacturers are seeking to fill niches within their model line-ups, particularly with fully-electric drive systems. Using modular underpinnings similar to those of its Kia EV9 cousin is another ultra-modern, battery-powered seven-seater — the Hyundai Ioniq 9.

Sitting above the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 models in the Korean brand’s range, this electric SUV promises to have even more interior space and seating flexibility than the much-admired, combustion-engined Hyundai Santa Fe.

Just as the Ioniq 5 and 6 manage to look related without being especially alike, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 pulls off the same trick — there’s a family resemblance yet it doesn’t look like any of the firm’s other designs in scaled-up form.

Hyundai refers to the styling as Aerosthetic, which is to say its surfaces are smoothed-off and — in isolation, at least — it appears to be not especially enormous, more like an estate than a luxury SUV, although the tape measure confirms that the Ioniq 9 is 5060mm long, 1980mm wide and 1790mm high.

That the Ioniq 9 has a mildly passing resemblance, particularly from the sides and rear, to the Volvo EX90 — one of its key rivals — is a fortunate coincidence but there’s sufficient Hyundainess in the detailing to ensure there’s a clear distinction. The pixel-look LED head and tail lights as well as the angular chamfering along the bodysides hint at the Ioniq 5, while the ‘eyebrows’ over the wheelarches are unique to this model.

A choice of three electric power options are available for the Hyundai Ioniq 9 although all share the same enormous 110.3kWh Long Range battery pack — the difference is in the number of motors and their overall output.

Entry-point to the Ioniq 9 range is the rear-wheel drive 218PS model producing 350Nm of torque for with a 0-62mph time of 9.4 seconds. An additional second motor powers the front wheels for all-wheel drive in the next version up, elevating its output to 307PS and 605Nm, with a reduced 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds. Topping the line-up is the AWD Performance option — output’s increased to 427PS and 700Nm while the 0-62mph acceleration benchmark’s slashed to a very brisk 5.2 seconds.

According to Hyundai's WLTP Combined cycle results, the 218PS rear-drive Ioniq 9 is the rangiest of the lot, capable of 385 miles before requiring a recharge. Surprisingly, the drop-off for the AWD models isn't especially savage — 307PS versions manage 372-376 miles depending on specification, while the 427PS Performance models also achieve 372 miles.

Recharging times when using a typical 7.4kW domestic wallbox are still to be confirmed although we'd estimate you're going to need at least 16 hours for a flat-to-full replenishment given the battery capacity. Ultra-rapid DC charging at up to 350kW is possible with a 10-80% recharge using such a connection taking as little as 24 minutes. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities will also allow the Hyundai to be used as a power source to charge external electrical devices.

Although there are three trim levels for the Hyundai Ioniq 9, they're not all available with multiple power options. Premium is the range's gateway and can only be paired with the 218PS RWD setup, while similarly mid-ranking Ultimate is solely available with the 307PS AWD arrangement. Flagship Calligraphy specification can be had with either of the AWD drive systems.

As with the Kia EV9 it will be possible to replace the Ioniq 9 seven-seater’s three-person second-row bench with two adjustable captain’s chairs in the range-topping 427PS Performance Calligraphy version, each of which has an integral seatbelt allowing them to be revolved to face rearwards when the car’s being driven — it certainly helps make journeys feel that bit more sociable, especially for those in the rearmost seats.

Kia EV9 excepted, those trick seats also serve as a key differentiator compared with other high-priced large SUVs from upmarket brands that will serve as rivals to the Ioniq 9, even though the Hyundai is less expensive. Not only is the Volvo unavailable with such a feature neither can the five-seater BMW iX or Mercedes EQS SUV be specified with anything similar.

There’s no word yet on whether Hyundai’s Features on Demand (FoD) subscription service will be offered to British customers. We rather hope it won’t. These packages mean cars are pre-equipped with various pieces of equipment and technology which can only accessed and operated via the its integral app store by paying an ongoing fee.

Thankfully the Ioniq 9's standardised features are numerous, with all versions fitted with alloy wheels of at least 19-inch diameter, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, heated outer second-row seats, LED head and tail lights, dark-tinted rear privacy windows, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry which can be connected to your smartphone and an electric tailgate.

Although the Ioniq 9’s dashboard isn’t shared directly with other Hyundais its restrained appearance, with a pair of 12-inch display screens behind a single pane looks familiar — note that the infotainment touchscreen is angled more obviously towards the driver in this case.

Physical buttons, switches and knobs are both welcome and numerous, particularly for functions such as the three-zone climate control, avoiding the need to finger-dab your way through myriad menus within the touchscreen simply to change the temperature.

While we’ve not previously been fans of what Hyundai terms Digital Door Mirrors — optional mirror-replacing rearward-facing cameras, in other words — we’ll reserve judgement until we’ve tried the Ioniq 9’s. Even before we do it’s positive to note that both the cameras and the internal display screens are mounted lower than on other models with them fitted, permitting even greater forward visibility without the hardware creating blind-spots.

Between the Hyundai Ioniq 9’s front seats is an elevated centre console containing a wireless smartphone charging pad, cupholders and a total of 18.2 litres of enclosed storage. Amplifying the usefulness of the — prepare to clench to cushion the cringe — Universal Island 2.0 is that it slides back and forth by 190mm, enabling those in the second-row seats to access it easily.

Spaciousness is evidently a strength of the Hyundai Ioniq 9 with volumes of 338 litres of boot capacity behind the third-row seats and 908 litres when they’re folded into the floor leaving five seats in use. Load the Ioniq 9 to the roof in two-seater mode and you've a vast 2419 litres to play with.. Extra space has been secured under the bonnet with a ‘frunk’ of 52 litres (all-wheel drive versions) or 88 litres (rear-drive models).

Orders for the Hyundai Ioniq 9 opened in July 2025 ahead of customer deliveries commencing soon afterwards.

Prices start at £64,995 for the least expensive Premium 218PS RWD version, while the Ultimate 307PS AWD weighs in at £73,495. The most expensive Hyundai sold in the UK to date is the flagship Calligraphy 427PS AWD 6 Seat at £78,595. All versions will come with the additional reassurance of Hyundai’s five-year/unlimited mileage warranty.

Keep this page bookmarked to read our forthcoming full and comprehensive Hyundai Ioniq 9 review in the weeks ahead.