The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 Is a Sleek and Modern 3-Row Electric SUV

Nearly two years after Kia launched the EV9, sister company Hyundai finally took the wraps of its electric 3-row SUV. Arriving in 2025, the 2026 IONIQ 9 has a bold and curvy look that’s distinctly different from its Kia relative. Its smooth, aerodynamic shape helps keep drag to a minimum, improving highway ride quality and increasing range.

This thing is truly a full-size SUV, measuring 199 inches long with a 123-inch wheelbase. Those short front and rear overhangs mean a spacious and comfortable cabin for up to seven occupants. I like how Hyundai took the typically boxy look of an SUV and made it more dynamic by sloping the roofline. Other details include deeply sculpted body panels, pronounced fenders, and wheels in sizes from 19 to 21 inches. The “parametric pixel” lights seen on the IONIQ 6 are also on display, but you’ll find many more of them on this model.

Hyundai will offer the IONIQ 9 in three different configurations – a 215 horsepower Long Range model with rear-wheel-drive, a 308 horsepower Long Range model with all-wheel-drive, and a 428 horsepower Performance model with all-wheel-drive. All three models have the same giant 110-kW battery pack under the floor, which means the powerful version has the greatest driving range – currently estimated at 335 miles. Expect at least 300 miles of range from the other models. It’s interesting to note that this battery pack is larger than the 99.8 kWh pack found on the longest-range EV9.

A few other juicy tidbits about the battery electric system: the Performance model’s dual motors can launch the IONIQ 9 from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. In addition, the E-GMP-based platform supports 400-volt and 800-volt charging, and Hyundai says it can juice up from 10% to 80% if you find a 350 kW DC fast charger. The top charging speed is an impressive 239 kW. It’ll also come with a NACS charging port, so you can charge it at Tesla Supercharger stations without an adapter.

Inside, the SUV adopts an airy and open aesthetic that’s similar to other recent Hyundai models – especially EVs like the IONIQ 6, and also the redesigned 2025 Tucson. The center console is unique in that it can slide backward to open up floor space and provide a table for the second row. The dashboard features a curved dual-screen display that combines a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the multimedia and navigation system.

Since there’s no transmission tunnel, the IONIQ 9 has a fully flat floor. The optional captain’s chairs have been dubbed “relaxation seats” thanks to their comfy reclining feature and pop-up leg rests. There is a version of the SUV with second-row seats that can swivel towards the rear, but sadly that version isn’t coming to the U.S. due to safety regulations. That’s too bad because I always wanted a vehicle with a conversation pit. All three rows have powerful 100-watt USB-C charging ports.

Expect lots of clever storage spaces and a good amount of cargo space ranging from 22 cubic feet with all three rows in use, 47 cubic feet with the third row folded, and somewhere north of 80 cubic feet with all seats folded. Hyundai has yet to reveal that figure, but the EV9 has 81.7 cubic feet, and that vehicle is a few inches shorter. That said, the IONIQ’s roofline is more curved, which might impact cargo space and third-row headroom.

Although the prices for the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 have yet to be announced, expect them to start higher than the base price of the 2025 EV9, which is $54,900. The first vehicles should arrive in dealerships in the first half of 2025. Assuming the current federal tax credits continue, the SUV should be eligible for the full $7,500 credit.