A $150,000 Hyundai! Bold three-row Hyundai Ioniq 9 blends luxury, space and advanced EV tech but the big Korean won’t come cheap
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 9 three-row electric SUV has been launched in the US ahead of its debut Down Under around June next year.
When it lands, the Ioniq 9 might be Hyundai’s most ambitious car ever to be launched locally.
That’s because the 5.0m long large six- and seven-seat SUV is expected to be priced from $100,000 for the most basic versions.
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The most luxurious Calligraphy trim could command pricing above $150,000 (plus on-road costs)!
The sibling of the Kia EV9, Hyundai’s new family SUV will also rival the inbound Volvo EX90 and battery-powered Range Rover Sport, as well as much cheaper combustion-powered alternatives such as the Mazda CX-90.
Helping win fans among well-heeled families or captains of industry, the new Ioniq 9 is said to get a ‘loungeroom-inspired’ interior that includes swivelling seats, plenty of space and luxurious features normally associated with more expensive limos
The six-seat versions impress the most with a pair of captain’s chairs in the second row that can rotate 180-degrees and twist 90 degrees making access to the cabin easier for both kids in child seats and those who need help with mobility.
The most expensive models boast fully reclining front and middle row seats that are both heated and get an advanced massage feature calimed to improves blood circulation and well-being.
Hyundai Australia has yet to officially lock in the 2+2+2 configuration but it could prove a useful point of difference with the Kia EV9 already in the marketplace.
When it arrives Down Under the Ioniq 9 will come with a big 110kWh lithium-ion battery pack that offers a long range up to 620km of WLTP range.
Based on the same e-GMP platform as the big Kia, the Ioniq 9 boasts an 800-volt electronic architecture that allows for fast DC charging of up to 350kW.
Hyundai claims a 10 to 80 per cent top-up takes just 24 minutes.
While the entry versions come with rear wheels driven by a single 160kW/350Nm e-motor, the Long Range all-wheel drive Ioniq 9s get an additional 70kW/255Nm motor on the front axle.
Total power has yet to be confirmed.
The fastest Performance AWD swaps out the puny 70kW front motor and adds a more muscular 160kW/350Nm e-motor for a brisk 5.3-second sprint from 0-100km/h.
Later, a more powerful Ioniq 9 N is set to be unleased that could pinch the Ioniq 5 N’s wild 478kW/770Nm powertrain and get its entertaining simulated gearshifts.
Within, all models get dual-12.3-inch screens that live behind a single piece of curved glass.
Running an Android Automotive operating system that includes over-the-air updates and app-based functionality, the Ioniq 9 will get the car-maker’s latest and quickest infotainment, that incorporates an AI-powered voice assistant.
Other new tech includes a cooled wireless charger, high-output USB-C charging ports and a vehicle-to-load capability.Hyu
A panoramic glass roof and a 14-speaker Bose sound system will be offered on the most expensive variants.
Safety has also been a priority with up to 10 airbags available and advanced driver assist tech that includes the firm’s latest autonomous emergency braking, semi-autonomous steering, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, collision-avoidance assist, and rear cross traffic collision avoidance.
Full details and pricing are expected to be released next year ahead of the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 9’s second quarter debut.
