What Is It?
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is the company’s big new electric SUV. It’s a proper seven-seater with loads of tech, decent range, and enough bells and whistles to give the fancy brands a run for their money — but without the eye-watering price tag. Prices start at £64,995 and it comes in three trims: Premium, Ultimate, and Calligraphy. There’s even a beefed-up Performance version with 421 bhp if you fancy a bit more poke.
This review looks at how it stacks up on our roads, whether there’s enough space for all your stuff, and whether it’s the kind of family car you’d want to live with day to day.
Exterior Design
This thing doesn’t just turn up — it makes an entrance. Big and boxy with sharp lines, the Ioniq 9 looks properly modern out on the road. From the side, the long wheelbase and short overhangs give away just how roomy it is inside. You get flush door handles, optional digital side mirrors, and some pretty slick lighting, which all add a bit of polish. It definitely holds its own looks-wise against cars like the BMW iX and Mercedes EQE SUV.
That said, it is a big unit. It copes alright with Britain’s narrower roads thanks to those clean lines and confident stance, but you’ll definitely earn your stripes squeezing it into a tight city car park.
Engine & Powertrain
You’ve got three versions to pick from. The base model — Premium trim — is rear-wheel drive with 215 bhp (218 PS), 350 Nm of torque, and a hefty 106 kWh usable battery. That’ll get you up to 385 miles on the official WLTP range — one of the biggest numbers in the SUV world right now.
The Ultimate and Calligraphy trims add all-wheel drive and bump the power to 308 bhp and 605 Nm, which cuts the 0–62 mph time down to 6.7 seconds. Go for the snazzy Calligraphy Performance model and you’re looking at 421 bhp (427 PS), 700 Nm of torque, and a 5.2-second sprint.
All of them sit on Hyundai’s 800V tech platform, which means ultra-rapid charging at rates between 233–250kW. That gets you from 10 to 80% in as little as 20 minutes if you find the right charger. Plug it in at home with a 7kW wallbox, and you’re looking at around 15 hours for a full top-up.
In terms of efficiency, expect between 3.4 and 3.6 miles per kWh with the RWD model. AWD models drop a bit due to the extra load. On one of those smart electricity tariffs, your running costs could be as low as 3p per mile — not too shabby.
Ride & Handling
Out on the road, the Ioniq 9 is clearly tuned for comfort, not cornering. The AWD versions have decent shove when you put your foot down, but you’re not going to start chucking it around for fun. It’s mostly smooth and settled, though you might feel the odd wobble on rougher roads — more so in the lower trims that don’t get the fancy suspension tech the top-spec models have.
Even the Performance version doesn’t turn into a sports car — it’s more about making motorway miles feel effortless. The upper trims also come with Active Noise Control-Road (ANC), which helps keep things quiet inside — always welcome in big electric SUVs where tyre noise can sneak in.
Interior & Tech
Jump inside and the Ioniq 9 has got proper lounge vibes. The flat floor and long wheelbase really show their worth here — there’s loads of space, and everything feels thoughtfully laid out. At the front, you’ve got a pair of 12.3-inch screens taking care of driver info and infotainment. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless as standard.
You also get Hyundai’s first go at a generative AI voice assistant — it can help you with directions, queue up your tunes, or even suggest places to eat nearby. There’s mood lighting, wireless charging, and if you go for the Calligraphy trim, you’ll be treated to Nappa leather, posh rear seats set up like a home cinema, and even a UV-C tray to sterilise your phone or keys.
The six-seat versions are even flasher, with ventilated, massaging second-row chairs that swivel. It starts feeling more like a luxury lounge on wheels than a traditional SUV. You’ve also got 3-pin and USB-C sockets (up to 100W), perfect for camping or work trips, and the V2L feature means the car itself can power external gadgets.
Practicality
At just over five metres long, it’s a proper beast — but that pays off when it comes to space. Even with all three rows of seats upright, the boot is still useable (though Hyundai hasn’t said exactly how much room you’ll get in that setup). Drop the third row flat, and you’ve got up to 2,419 litres of cargo space to play with — that’s massive.
The flat floor means loads of legroom in the back, and the sliding centre console ups the flexibility too. Higher trims offer electrically folding third-row seats as well, so you’re not stuck wrestling them by hand. And despite its size, thanks to all the tech and cameras onboard, navigating town centres or tight spots isn’t as daunting as you’d expect.
Verdict
Starting at £64,995 and topping out at £78,595 for the Calligraphy Performance version, the Ioniq 9 gives you a lot for your money. The Kia EV9 starts at £65,985 but gets you less battery. Then you’ve got the BMW iX and Mercedes EQE SUV, both nudging over £87,000 before you start ticking option boxes.
If you’re after an electric SUV in the UK that delivers plenty of space, loads of kit, and the sort of real-world range that makes long family trips totally doable, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 is well worth a look. It’s not the kind of thing you’ll take for a blast down a B-road, but if your focus is comfort, range, and practicality — it’s bang on the money.
