By Mitesh Zaveri & Shrawan Raja
The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 feels like Hyundai’s best attempt yet at building a family SUV that does not ask you to compromise on features, space, or comfort.
Recently, I got to spend a week with the North American-spec Preferred AWD Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which sits at the top of the Canadian lineup, and it left a strong impression for its packaging. It also revealed a few areas where Hyundai could improve, especially in front-seat comfort and steering calibration.
Design
The 2026 Ioniq 9 has a rounded, softened shape from every angle. Designers have avoided sharp lines and boxy edges, and that gives the SUV a cleaner and more aerodynamic look. The front carries a full-width DRL strip, with the main headlamp units placed lower down.
The design and styling reminded me a little of the Kona from some angles, while the size and stance brought the Palisade to mind. It looks like a proper large family SUV, not just a stretched crossover.
This Ultimate Calligraphy trim adds body-colored fender sections and 21-inch multi-spoke dual-tone wheels, which suit the SUV’s shape. The side mirrors are body colored and include blind-spot monitoring, turn signals, and one of the cameras for the surround-view monitor.
The flush door handles look premium, though I did notice a bit of looseness in them, and they can rattle slightly when you shut the doors.
At the rear, the Ioniq 9 uses a wide U-shaped LED lighting signature that helps it stand out in the dark. The lower bumper trim is finished in glossy black, and while it looks premium, it also seems like the sort of surface that will gather scratches and marks if you are not careful while cleaning.
Interior
The cabin is where the Ioniq 9 scores heavily. Hyundai has gone for a soft, lounge-like design, and it works. The dashboard, doors, and even the speaker grilles follow a rounded design theme that makes the cabin feel more inviting than advanced or technical.
There are soft-touch materials across the upper dash, suede-like trim on the roof lining, Nappa leather seats in this trim, a Bose audio system, ambient lighting, and a center console that slides to suit different seating arrangements.
The overall fit and finish feel good, and the cabin has a calming atmosphere. The design also avoids clutter, which suits a large family EV well.
Seating & Space
At 5’11”, I found the driving position easy to settle into. The steering wheel adjusts electronically for reach and rake, and the seat offers plenty of adjustment. Hyundai also includes massage, inflatable side bolsters, and a lounge function in the front seats, which extends the under-thigh support when parked.
The issue is that the front seats themselves still feel slightly firm. Even after adjustments, I felt the under-thigh support could have been better. The side support is fine, and the headrests are soft enough, but the lower cushion did not feel as comfortable as I expected.
The second row is much more impressive. The doors open wide, and the captain’s chairs are genuinely comfortable. In fact, I found them more comfortable than the front seats. They are heated and ventilated, and they can recline into a lounge-like position with leg support if the third row is not in use.
With the second row in a normal position, I had about a palm of knee room and around 3 inches of headroom. There is also space to slide your shoes under the front seats.
The third row is surprisingly usable. It has room for two passengers, and the seatbacks recline electrically. With the second row pushed forward, I could still manage about 1.5 inches of knee room. That is quite respectable for a third row in this class.
There are USB-C ports, cupholders, roof-mounted air vents, and large windows back here. Hyundai has designed the third row as a real seating area, not just an emergency space.
Rear visibility is decent when the third row is empty, but once passengers are back there the view feels more restricted. Hyundai includes a rear-view camera feed through the mirror to help with that. The issue is that I found the image too zoomed in, so cars behind looked closer than they really were. Here is something Hyundai could calibrate better in future model years.
Cargo & Storage
The Ioniq 9 reaps all the benefits of its bespoke EV platform. In this AWD version, the frunk gives you 52 liters of storage, which is enough for charging cables and the tire mobility kit. Hyundai says the rear-wheel-drive model gets 81 liters because it does not require space for a front motor.
The rear cargo area is one of the strongest features of the vehicle. With all three rows up, there is 22 cubic feet of space. Fold the third row and it rises to 47 cubic feet. Fold the second row as well and the figure reaches 87 cubic feet.
The rear seats fold electrically, which makes the whole process easy from the cargo area itself. The floor is flat, though it is naturally raised because of the battery and motor packaging beneath.
Infotainment & Controls
The Ioniq 9 uses two 12.3-inch screens, one for the gauge cluster and one for infotainment. The driver display can update the user on trip data, charging information, tire pressures, power distribution, and navigation. Hyundai also lets you switch themes and link up some of them to drive modes.
The infotainment system supports Bluetooth, USB, wireless Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay. It also includes EV-specific menus for battery conditioning, charge scheduling, energy use, and utility mode. It feels familiar if you have used recent Hyundai systems, and it works well overall.
The 10-inch head-up display is also handy, showing speed, navigation, media, and driver-assistance data. The steering-wheel star buttons can be customized, and the column-mounted drive selector works well once you get used to it. I also liked the fact that it vibrates slightly in reverse so you know the gear has engaged.
Climate controls are handled through a touch-based panel. The layout is clean, but this is still one of those areas where design and looks get in the way of ease of use. You have to look down to operate it because there are no real physical controls. That makes it less intuitive on the move than a proper button-based panel.
The panoramic roof adds to the open feel of the cabin, though I wish it opened more. There is a metal crossbar that breaks up the view, so it does not feel quite as open as it could.
Performance
This AWD model uses two electric motors and a 110.3 kWh battery pack. Combined output is 422 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. As expected, the response is immediate.
Even though the Ioniq 9 is clearly designed as a family SUV, it feels quick. In Sport mode it becomes genuinely lively and can even spin the tires if you are not careful.
In my use, highway efficiency sat around 20.2-20.5 kWh per 100 km, while city driving was closer to 19.2 kWh per 100 km, in cold weather conditions. Hyundai claims 500 km of range, and the rear-wheel-drive version adds another 15 km. City use can stretch that figure to around 515-520 km.
Charging is one of the Ioniq 9’s biggest advantages. It uses an NACS port and supports both 800 V and 400 V systems. Hyundai says it can charge at up to 350 kW, taking it from 10 to 80 percent in 24 minutes. I was able to charge it at 175 kW from 15 to 80 percent SoC in about 35 minutes. A 220-240 V AC source takes about 9 hours and 40 minutes.
Ride & Handling
The Ioniq 9 rides well overall, though it is not especially soft. The suspension is on the firmer side, which makes sense given the weight of the battery and the size of the vehicle. The damping itself is well judged and keeps the SUV composed, but the 21-inch wheels do not help comfort over rougher patches of road. I suspect the smaller wheel options would improve ride absorption.
Body control is good unless you start pushing harder into corners, where the vehicle’s weight becomes more obvious. That is not a surprise in a three-row EV of this size.
The steering is where I want more work from Hyundai. It is electronically assisted, and the main issue is the calibration. In the first part of the turn, the car turns less than I expect. Then the next part of the steering input seems to do more of the work. The turning radius is also larger than I would like, so U-turns need more planning.
Brakes feel firm and progressive, though in practice I barely needed them because the I-pedal system works well once you adjust to it. The front glass is acoustic, road noise is kept fairly low, and the cabin remains quiet and refined for a large EV.
Pricing
The 2026 Ioniq 9 is priced (MSRP) between USD 58,955 and USD 76,490 in the U.S. market. In Canada, it is priced (MSRP plus additional fees) from CAD 62,790 to CAD 67,790.
TopElectricSUV says
The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 gets it mostly right. It offers real three-row usability, an excellent second row, a practical cargo area, practical charging capability, and the kind of range that makes it easy to live with as a family EV. The interior is well thought out, and the overall package feels premium in the right ways.
Its weaker points are also clear. The front seats are firmer than I expected and still lack some under-thigh support. The climate controls demand a bit too much visual attention. The ride on 21-inch wheels is slightly firm, the steering calibration feels odd, and the turning radius is large.
A few details like the loose door handles, zoomed-in rear camera mirror feed, and scratch-prone gloss trim could be improved in future model years.
Also See: European Hyundai Ioniq 9 has UV-C tray, Dark Wine interior not offered in the U.S.
Even with those drawbacks, the Ioniq 9 feels like a well-packaged three-row EV. Its sales may not show it yet, but it feels like Hyundai understood what matters most in a family vehicle and delivered on most of it.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
