Our Thoughts Exactly: 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9

For those of you “in the know,” you knew this was coming.

Back in November of 2021, I saw the concept for the Hyundai IONIQ 9 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It looked perhaps too futuristic to put into production, but the brass at the automaker swore that it will deliver on the promises it made with it.

Given the commitment by Hyundai to produce the IONIQ 9, it was primed for reality. They built an assembly plant near Savannah, Georgia to do so. Hyundai also homed in the final design by melding IONIQ design traits with a modern silhouette. 

The easy part was putting on the flexible Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The major tweak to the platform was to give it a larger battery pack for potentially longer range. 

The result is what you see on this page. The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 debuted with the promise of space for up to seven people, a large and flexible cargo hold, and powerful motors that will propel you and your passengers to places you always wanted to go together. 

The number of electric SUVs has grown considerably. It is the segment that everyone has gone to for their next vehicle – regardless of propulsion and “fuel.” There are fewer three-row models available than two-row ones. Hyundai may have hit the jackpot in terms of delivering a family-friendly mobility device fed only by electrons. 

What about this 2026 IONIQ 9 that seems to be a winning entry into this segment. 

Let me throw this disclaimer right off the bat. This is not meant as the replacement for the Palisade. In fact, there is a 2026 model coming with a V6 and a hybrid driveline. Some may see the IONIQ 9 as an electric alternative to Hyundai’s three-row mid-size SUV.

With that said, the overall design is different with a slightly sloping rear roofline and flat rear clip. The glasshouse is bolder and classy. However, you always see the front fascia first. The LED pixel lightning signature appears as a horizontal bar marking the hood. The rest of the clip is blunt, with the grille shutters appearing at the bottom of it. 

Parents and passengers needing more room to enter into the second and third row seats will appreciate the size of the rear doors. The tailgate is framed by two vertical LED pixel lightning units. On this Limited model, a set of 21-inch five-spoke alloy wheels and a matte gray exterior paint job finish up the look. 

There is no mistaking this as a Hyundai, thanks to its satin trim, light colors on several spaces, augmenting the mostly dark finished upholstery. The thin panel that houses the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is curved, but it fits Hyundai’s current design language. There are a lot if familiar controls found throughout the IONIQ 9’s cabin, including the transmission stalk with the ignition button on it. 

The infotainment system offers plenty of playback and connectivity options. Wireless smartphone integration and device charging are among these options. A Bose Premium Audio system is standard on the Limited tester. 

The H-Tex seating surfaces felt just fine. Maybe it’s the large front seats that offer comfort and some support. They are also heated and cooled, as well. The second-row captain’s chairs are also electrically adjustable and felt just fine. They also offer one-button access to the third row. 

Both the second and third seats can be folded down and up electrically from the back of the cargo hold. With both rows in place, there is 21.9 cubic feet of cargo space available for luggage and groceries. With the third-row seats down, that space expands to 46.7 cubic feet with a flat loading area. Folding down the second-row seats will open up that space to 86.9 cubic feet. There is an under-hood compartment for charging cables and adapters.

This Limited tester features a dual-motor driveline, one for each axle. This all-wheel drive system is rated at 422 horsepower and 516 pound-feet if torque. It is fed b y a 110.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack that is charged through a native NACS port – the one from a certain former start-up automaker. You can still use a J1772 CCS DC Fast Charger with an adapter. For a more efficient drive, you have one-pedal driving and adjustable regeneration available to you. 

Performance-wise, the acceleration was very smooth. Especially on on-ramps and passing maneuvers. If you engage the Highway Driving Assist, the 2026 IONIQ 9 locks in the speed and selected distance quite well. 

According to Hyundai, the Limited with all-wheel drive should yield an estimated 311-mile range on a full state of charge. We observed a range of 388 miles in our care. Our home charger was easily swapped out for a NACS cord and plug for Level 2 service. We also found no problems with the adapter from CCS to NACS at DC Fast Chargers. 

We like using the word smooth. That was the result we got from the ride quality on the 2026 IONIQ 9. Bumps were managed with ease, especially when expansion joints pop up. The handling was fine. It is a 5,994-pound EV SUV, which you can feel when maneuvering around hazards and through the turns. It is perhaps due to its a low center of gravity thanks to the battery pack, as well as its lower ground clearance than expected. That was measured at 6.9 inches, good enough to make the breakover at our parking pad. 

Steering feel was not present. It seems strange, but the 2026 IONIQ 9 has a motor-driven power steering system. Yet, we also witnessed that it also showed a larger turning radius with a softer on-center feel. In the end, the steering system was manageable. 

As for the brakes, they were just fine. Stopping power was good with solid pedal feel. Normal and panic stops yielded good results, even when navigating through the one-pedal driving and regeneration system.

The Limited is the fourth trim level out of six on the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 lineup. Pricing for the entire lineup starts at $58,995. Our test vehicle came with a sticker price of $74,300. 

Hyundai delivered on this promised battery-electric mid-sized three-row SUV. It may have fulfilled some of the concept’s ideas, but it seems more mainstream than that. It is a nice place for your family to tool along the highway. 

Yet, we wondered if this is the right vehicle for this moment. With EV sales about to slow down due to elimination of Federal tax credits, there may be still some consumers looking for a larger, three-row SUV that does not yield a six-figure Moroney. 

Overall, the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 reflects the bridge between meeting the wants of people. If they wanted a battery-electric three-row mid-size SUV offering loads of space from a mainstream brand, this is it. 

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by Hyundai Motor America – our opinions are of our own.

All photos by Randy Stern