UPDATE: Hyundai released a teaser image of the interior of the Ioniq 9 (see below) and also revealed that a livestream debut of the electric SUV will happen on November 21 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Hyundai won consecutive World Car of the Year awards with its Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 EVs. The third Ioniq vehicle, previewed by the Ioniq Seven concept, will be a large, family-hauling electric crossover. Call it Hyundai's version of the Kia EV9 or the electric version of the Hyundai Palisade.
And at Hyundai's CEO Investor Day event in August, we learned a lot more about this SUV—and why it's a big deal.
Hyundai's top boss Jae Hoon Chang announced it will be named the Hyundai Ioniq 9, confirming its original change—perhaps to echo the success of the Kia EV9—from Ioniq 7. Moreover, he announced that the SUV will be built at Hyundai's new Georgia Metaplant in the U.S. alongside the Ioniq 5. That should mean it will qualify for U.S. tax credits in some form or fashion. We are also due to see more of the car at the upcoming LA Auto Show in November.
So when it goes on sale, this Ioniq 9 will be among the only mainstream three-row electric SUVs on the market. Let's dig in to why it matters.
Gallery: Hyundai Seven Concept
What will the Hyundai Ioniq 9 look like?
The Ioniq 9 will be a large, three-row SUV. The Ioniq Seven concept had a 126-inch wheelbase that was four inches longer than the production Kia EV9. However, the production of Ioniq 9 may be less differentiated from its Kia counterpart. Like the Palisade, the Ioniq 9 should skew toward a sleek, upscale look compared to the Kia EV9, which is more adventurous and boxy. The long wheelbase and flat floor should allow for a spacious interior.
Hyundai's Ioniq Seven concept exhibited radical features like rear-hinged coach doors, a lounge-like interior with an L-shaped sofa and a full-glass tailgate.
However, Ioniq 9 spy shots show a far more conventional SUV with none of those features. Some elements from the concept, like Hyundai's parametric pixel lighting and an emphasis on sustainable materials, should make it to production.
Gallery: Hyundai Seven Concept At The 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show
What will power the Hyundai Ioniq 9?
Like its fellow Ioniq vehicles, the Ioniq 9 should use Hyundai's E-GMP architecture. Hyundai still needs to confirm the powertrain details for the Ioniq 9. The path of least resistance would be for Hyundai to use the same electric motors that Kia used for the EV9.
The EV9 has a base RWD version with 215 horsepower and a 76.1 kWh battery pack, a longer-range RWD version with 201 hp and a 99.8 kWh pack, and an AWD model with 379 hp, 443 lb-ft of torque and a 99.8 kWh pack. The Ioniq 9 could bring over that exact lineup.
Kia estimates a top range of 304 miles for the EV9, which is a good bet for where the Ioniq 9 will end up. As in Hyundai's other EVs, the E-GMP platform's 800V architecture should provide some of the fastest charging tech on the road. Expect the Ioniq 9 to deliver a 10-80% charging time similar to the EV9's 24 minutes.
How much will the Hyundai Ioniq 9 cost?
Hyundai has yet to reveal pricing for the Ioniq 9. It should be dramatically more expensive than the combustion Palisade, which ranges from about $36,000 to $54,000. Pricing may be similar to the Kia EV9, which starts at $54,900 and tops out at $73,900. In top spec, the Ioniq 9 should beat the Ioniq 5 N to be Hyundai's most expensive vehicle.
When will the Hyundai Ioniq 9 arrive?
Hyundai has not yet confirmed an exact launch date for the Ioniq 9, but the automaker has confirmed that it will have a world premiere later in 2024.
Korean publication Newsis, citing industry sources, is reporting that the production version of the Ioniq 9 may debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show (Nov 22-Dec 1) later this year.
There may be a lag before the vehicle hits U.S. dealers. Hyundai's new EV Metaplant in Georgia (where the Ioniq 9 is likely to be built) breaks ground in late 2024. Automotive News projects that the Ioniq 9 will arrive in mid-2025, probably for the 2026 model year.
