Hyundai Ioniq 9 Review | Is This the Best Large Electric SUV?

Read Caroline’s Hyundai Ioniq 9 review for everything you need to know about buying Hyundai’s electric seven seater in Ireland.

Hyundai has been steadily carving out a serious name for itself in the EV world, and the arrival of the Ioniq 9 marks another big step forward.

The new Hyundai Ioniq 9 is the Korean car brand’s first fully electric seven-seater SUV, and it’s aimed squarely at rivals like the Volvo EX90 and closely related Kia EV9.

It follows on from the launch of the new Santa Fe plug-in hybrid SUV last year, which is already selling well.

So if you’re looking for a large seven-seater, is the Ioniq 9 the one to have?

Let’s take a closer look.

Design

Looks can be polarising, but it’s hard not to admire the Ioniq 9’s generous proportions, smooth aerodynamic nose and distinct pixelated lights. In a dark colour, it looks very corporate and classy. At the rear, there is a dramatic sweep of more pixelated LED lights that mean the Ioniq 9 looks like nothing else on the road.

But make no mistake: this is a big car. Even bigger than a Santa Fe, at over 5 metres in length. This makes it ideal for carrying seven passengers and their things, but you might prefer a more compact seven seater like the Peugeot E-5008 or the Skoda Kodiaq.

In Ireland the Ioniq 9 is offered in one trim level called Platinum that includes 20-inch alloy wheels, flush door handles and silver roof rails.

Hyundai Ioniq 9 Interior

The Ioniq 9 offers an excellent driving position and is very comfortable to sit inside. Hyundai hits the right note with a mix of up to date digital technology but also a plethora of buttons that make it easy to get to the controls you need. It’s modern but intuitive. The dual 12.3-inch screens dominate the dash, while active noise control and sound-absorbing tyres ensure refinement.

This car has an incredibly high specification with every luxury you could imagine: ambient lighting, heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, Bose stereo and more. The parking camera and surround view monitor are excellent. Both driver and passenger get ‘relaxation seats’ that can tilt back electrically and extend a leg support. The front and second row seats have heating and ventilation. It’s a supremely comfortable cabin and very spacious.

The standard-fit panoramic glass roof gives the cabin a pleasant, airy feel. Altogether, it feels upmarket and well-built.

How practical is it? 

Very! Unlike some seven seaters that compromise space for third row occupants vs luggage space, the Ioniq 9 delivers it all. It’s a proper three-row layout, while still offering 338 litres of boot space with all rows in place. There are luxurious amounts of legroom in the second row and the flexibility to slide the bench forwards to give third row passengers more legroom.

Up front, you also get an 88-litre frunk that’s really simple to open from a button on the key.

A six-seater will join the line-up in 2026, alongside an all-wheel-drive version with 600 km range and 21-inch wheels.

There are four Isofix points in total: two in the second and third row.

Battery and Range

The Ioniq 9 is powered by a 110 kWh battery, with up to 620 km range (WLTP). During my time with it, my average energy consumption was 22.2 kWh/100km, which is decent for such a big vehicle and included motorway driving.

Charging

The Ioniq 9 has 800 volt charging so is very quick to charge, with 10–80% possible in just 24 minutes at a suitably rapid charger. The DC fast charging rate is up to 250kW, while 11kW AC is included.

Vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging allows you to use your Ioniq 9 like a gigantic power bank for tools, camping gear or even to charge another EV.

Driving the Ioniq 9

The Ioniq 9 is a really smooth and easy drive. Once you get your head around its massive proportions, it’s actually very simple to place on the road and the controls are all well-weighted. It handles well for a vehicle of its size, with plenty of grip and strong performance. Far from being wallowy, it also offers a comfy experience for all onboard. Refinement levels are very good too.

At launch, it’s available in a single motor, rear wheel drive layout with 214hp and 0-100 in 9.4 seconds. A dual motor all wheel drive with up to 600 kilometres of range is expected to join later with even greater performance. Driving modes include normal, sport, eco, snow and a customisable ‘my drive’.

A heat pump is included as standard to improve cold weather efficiency and there is also battery preconditioning to help fast charging.

Hyundai Ioniq 9 Price 

The Ioniq 9 starts from €78,495 for the rear-wheel drive in Platinum trim. The AWD version will arrive in early 2026, estimated to be priced from €85,500.

Verdict

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a brilliant electric seven seater. It’s not cheap, but feels truly upmarket with every luxury feature imaginable. It’s a big vehicle to get around in, but if you are in need of a genuine seven seater with lots of space and comfort, whether for a family or business, this is a great option.

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Written by Caroline Kidd

Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year