First Look: Hyundai Ioniq 9 – Brand’s Flagship EV SUV, 620 KM Range

The all-new Hyundai Ioniq 9 breaks cover as the brand’s new flagship EV SUV with up to 429 HP and 620 KM of EV range.

This is it. Following several teasers and rumours, Hyundai has finally debuted its long-awaited flagship EV SUV, the Hyundai Ioniq 9. Aside from being the halo model for its Ioniq EV lineup, this Korean behemoth is also the largest model ever made by the Korean automaker in its entire half-century history.

As its name suggests, the Ioniq 9 is essentially Hyundai’s counterpart to the famed Kia EV9, which means that this large EV SUV underpins the same E-GMP platform with an 800-volt battery architecture as said model.

All variants of the Ioniq 9 uses the same 110.3-kWh battery pack that grants the Long Range RWD model up to 620 KM of EV range.

Unlike the EV9, however, all three variants of the Ioniq 9 get a considerably larger 110.3-kWh battery pack that is good enough to provide the baseline Long Range variant with up to 620 KM of EV range (WLTP) when equipped with 19-inch wheels. Powering this entry-level model is a single, rear-mounted (RWD) e-motor setup that delivers 214 HP (160 kW) and 350 NM, allowing a 0-100 KM/H sprint to be completed in 9.4 seconds.

Those seeking more performance can opt for the mid-spec Long Range AWD model, as it gets a peppier dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup rated at 308 HP (230 kW) and 605 NM, reducing its century sprint time to 6.7 seconds. Due to the extra power output, maximum EV range has been reduced slightly to 515 KM, which is quite decent for such a large SUV.

Need more power? Then perhaps the range-topping Ioniq 9 Performance will do you justice, as its dual-motor AWD setup is rated the highest among the three at 429 HP (320 kW) and 700 NM, which sees this Korean behemoth’s 0-100 KM/H time clocked in at only 5.2 seconds while its maximum EV range is capped respectably at 505 KM.

Regardless of variants, all Ioniq 9 models’ top speed is electronically capped at 200 KM/H, while at the same time supporting super fast DC charging at up to 350 kW, enabling its massive 110.3-kWh battery pack to be charged from 10-80% in just 23 minutes.

On the visual front, the Ioniq 9 doesn’t look too far-off from its concept twin, the SEVEN concept. Primed here are the Ioniq’s signature Parametric Pixel lights, which can be found dotted on its sharp front face and surrounding the entire tailgate. The Ioniq 9 also traded the EV9’s sharp design and angular bodywork for a more subtle design with clean lines and more rounded edges, albeit still packaged in a conventional boxy SUV bodystyle.

Despite its large and boxy stature, Hyundai claims the Ioniq 9 to boast a pretty low coefficient drag rate of 0.259 Cd, only if you opt for the digital side-view cameras instead of the standard physical mirrors. Elsewhere on this Korean behemoth, it comes with three different wheel options with sizes ranging from 19- to 21-inch, as well as 16 exterior colourways to choose from.

How large, you ask? Dimension-wise, the Ioniq 9 measures 5,060 MM long, 1,980 MM wide, 1,790 MM tall, and has a wheelbase of 3,130 MM, thus putting it on-par with the Kia EV9.

Thanks to its long wheelbase that spans over three metres, the Ioniq 9 gets a pretty spacious cabin that is capable of housing six or seven occupants in a lap of luxury. Starting with the front part, the Ioniq 9 gets a pretty elaborate front dash setup featuring a familiar-looking steering wheel and a dual 12-inch curved display that houses both the digital instrument cluster and the infotainment system.

Unlike many other Chinese or even some western-branded EVs, Hyundai still retains many physical buttons and dedicated control panels inside the Ioniq 9, with some of them reserved for functions like climate control, seat adjustments, and driving-related controls. Besides the wireless charging pads, the Ioniq 9 also comes with several 100-watt USB-C ports for all three rows of seats, allowing all passengers to charge up their device at lightning speed.

Topping off the Ioniq 9’s cabin amenities list are the plush leather upholstery made from recycled fabrics and eco-processed leather, swivelling mid-row seats for the six-seater model, an expansive panoramic sunroof, an optional 14-speaker Bose audio system, and many more.

Safety is also quite guaranteed in the Ioniq 9, as it comes with 10 airbags as standard, as well as a slew of ADAS functions such as Forward Collision Avoidance Assistance (FCAA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assistance (BCAA), Safe Exit Warning (SEW), and many more.

The all-new Hyundai Ioniq 9 is slated to hit both its native South Korean and North American markets in early 2025 before making its way to the rest of the globe in the second half of the year. Given that the Kia EV9 is currently on sale here in Malaysia, perhaps there’s a chance that we might see its Hyundai-badged twin making its way into our market, too.