Hyundai Ioniq 9..Will it be competitive with European luxury SUVs
May 07, 2025
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The electric vehicle market is not growing more than expected due to various factors such as negative perceptions of domestic electric vehicles and relatively high prices. What kind of evaluation will the Ioniq 9 receive after appearing in Europe including the UK. I met Ioniq 9 on Auto Express, an overseas automotive media outlet.
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 has a luxurious feel and a premium price tag to match. Can Hyundai's flagship SUV compete with its more luxurious rivals? The new Hyundai Ioniq 9 adds a unique personality to the full-size family car and shows impressive performance.
It is a large, wide and flexible SUV that can accommodate up to seven people. It has all the necessary technology and safety equipment.It also has a larger battery pack than its equivalent model. I will test drive it myself and make a final decision, but if the price and specifications are appropriate, Hyundai will be the winner rather than Kia.
If there is any doubt that Hyundai Motor is a premium brand, just the fact that it compares the Ioniq 9, which starts at 70,000 pounds (about 110 million won), to the Volvo flagship 7-seater SUV EX90.
Ioniq 9 has joined the price-competitive electric vehicle brand lineup. Hyundai Motor is becoming the world's best pure electric vehicle brand beyond price competitiveness. As an everyday family vehicle, the Ioniq 9 has all the features you need. The basic type is a single motor.
The dual motor model has sufficient power and the driving experience combines the best comfort. Although the body is large, there is no inconvenience in driving on the road despite the digital side mirror and the raised belt line.The steering is light but accurate. Axel and brake calibration were optimized for the overall size and performance of the car.
If you want the best driving performance in this class, the upgraded BMW iX still has a significant edge. However, the BMW iX is a five-seater model.
Ioniq 9 is manufactured based on Hyundai Motor's E-GMP. It boasts on par with European industry leaders in terms of performance and efficiency. All models were fitted with a 110 kWh battery pack at the bottom of the vehicle. A single motor is applied to the rear wheels or a dual motor is provided one on each axle.The test car is the highest specification dual motor performance model. Not as ultra-high performance as some high-end electric cars do to its name.
The 0-100km/h acceleration time is 4.9 seconds (6.2 seconds for dual motors rather than performances). It's enough for children to drive with their dogs.But the rest of the burp is worse than that.The single motor version, which is expected to be popular in the UK, is slow to zero back (about 8.4 seconds) due to its rather low power output of 214 horsepower. When people and luggage are loaded, these figures may appear to be lacking in output.
Overall, Ioniq 9 doesn't feel too big or cumbersome.This is a remarkable achievement considering that the body length is over 5 meters.Accurate steering and excellent body control further strengthen this feeling so you don't have to learn to drive as smoothly as some competing cars. It helps you drive intuitively and naturally.
High driver's seat and large windows allow for an open view from the driver's seat.There are also some drawbacks where the bonnet tilts down sharply and disappears from view, but its size makes it easy to drive in crowded city centres.The view over the side and shoulder is also good. The large rear glass of the tailgate does not help to secure visibility when passengers in the third and third rows are on board.
Fortunately, a rear camera mirror is provided as an option to see the back of the passenger in the rear seat.Parking is also easy thanks to a clear 360-degree camera system. However, cameras that replace side mirrors are technologies that are divided between likes and dislikes. Small displays show clear and vivid images, but it's quite difficult to tell the distance.
I haven't had the chance to drive an Ioniq 9 myself on a narrow road in Europe, but the handling looks pretty good.The ride is rather hard. The Ioniq 9 is not equipped with a large wheel for its size, but its high spring rate and solid damper can make riders uncomfortable on rough roads.
Overall quietness is excellent when driving at high speed.Thanks to the aerodynamically optimized side mirrors and sound insulation glass, the wind noise was barely heard.The electric powertrain is also very quiet.The Ioniq 9 has a large body, but it has good fuel economy and driving distance. It doesn't take long to wait at the charging station either.
Hyundai's battery is slightly larger than the battery pack installed in major competitors such as Kia EV9. Same as Volvo EX90. The single motor model has a slightly better mileage of up to 385 miles (about 600 km).It is about 50km (35 miles) longer than the Kia EV9. The 429-horsepower dual-motor model is reduced to 529 miles (about 640 kilometers).
Hyundai is also leading the way in charging technology.The 800V electrical architecture supports DC fast charging of up to about 270 kW.Despite the large-capacity battery pack, it can be charged from 10% to 80% in 24 minutes. This is about the same charging speed for all new EVs currently on sale.
The key styling element connecting the Ioniq 9 to other modern electric vehicles is pixel graphics that stand out at the front and rear of the vehicle.The front light bar is purely a visual element. The main headlights are integrated into the black gloss panel at the bottom of the bumper.As it goes to the back, the body becomes thinner and ends in a sharply cut shape.
The interior of the Ioniq 9 is very versatile. It is rich in smart storage solutions that make it easy to store all your family's belongings.In the front seat, the dashboard and the center console are separated and there is a flat floor between the front seats. The advantages of the electrification platform are clearly revealed.
The dashboard has a variety of storage spaces, including a smart shelf above the glove box, two storage spaces for cell phones or tablets, and three USB-C charging ports directly above. The assembly quality is very good.Soft materials are used a lot where necessary, and not at all where unnecessary.
The 12.3-inch dual screen is a configuration that Hyundai has seen before. It's simple to operate, but it doesn't feel too simple.Digital side mirrors can be divided into likes and dislikes. Although the night vision is good and condensation does not occur on cold mornings, it is difficult to estimate the distance of the vehicle when entering another lane.
The main touchscreen integrates wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The built-in navigation system is also very good and provides accurate traffic information and easy-to-follow guidance.But if you want a state-of-the-art sense of a much larger screen, you lag behind your competitors who offer brighter displays and more features.
The trunk space is incredibly large, but the third row is not as wide as competing vehicles. The Ioniq 9 has a similar body to its major competitors, but its interior space utilization is among the best in its class.
Ionic 9 offers 7-seater and 6-seater seats. In the second row, the captain chair can be installed as an option.For now, the Ioniq 9 is a very sophisticated and high-performance family electric car.
Aside from the solid ride, it's a vehicle worth watching for anyone interested in this class of vehicles.However, it is questionable how long the Ioniq 9 will remain in the lead in this fast-changing market.
As Kia EV9 performed worse than expected in the country, the Ioniq 9 was fitted with larger batteries and more powerful motors. The starting price is also lowered, and it can be purchased from 67.15 million won. It can be purchased for 64.07 million won when applying electric vehicle subsidies based on the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
However, since there are many grades and options to choose from, the actual purchase price of the Seoul Metropolitan Government reaches 83.72 million won when configuring full options. It is often used through price tag analysis and it is necessary to identify and choose what options are really needed.
Editor Song Moon-cheol mc.song@carguy.kr
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
