First Drive: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 EV Has Powerful Motors and a Spacious Interior

It’s a formidable competitor among three-row luxury and non-luxury EV SUVs

Jon Linkov, Consumer Reports Autos Editor.

By Jon Linkov
Autos Editor

Updated September 3, 2025

The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a sleek, futuristic-looking three-row electric vehicle that shares its basic technology and design with the very similar Kia EV9 and other Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia EVs.

This midsized SUV arrives at a tumultuous time for EVs, with the auto industry dealing with the threat of tariffs, the potential elimination of federal tax incentives, and a shift to incorporating Tesla-style charge ports on their vehicles.

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Hyundai Ioniq 9: CR's Take What We Like What We Don't Like What We'll Keep an Eye On Safety and Driver Assistance Systems

Amid that turmoil, Hyundai has gone full-throttle on EVs, with four fully electric models available in addition to a plethora of hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. All told, the automaker has only three model lines that don’t have some form of electrification. Hyundai’s EVs share similar battery, charging, and motor designs, which are also used by models from Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, and Kia, which is partially owned by Hyundai.

The number of all-electric three-row SUVs is rapidly increasing. Several competitors are already on the market or arriving shortly, including the Cadillac Vistiq, Kia EV9, Lucid Gravity, Rivian R1S, Tesla Model X, Volkswagen ID Buzz, and Volvo EX90. More expensive options include the Cadillac Escalade iQ and Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, while the Mercedes-Benz EQB is a smaller model with tiny third-row seats. In addition, the Genesis GV90 three-row EV is expected to debut later this year.

We based most of this first drive of the Ioniq 9 SEL that we bought to test. We also rented a top-of-the-line Ioniq 9 Calligraphy we rented from Hyundai, and specifically say when we are talking about that trim.

The single-motor S trim uses a 160-kilowatt, 215-hp motor for the rear wheels and can cover the 0-to-60-mph run in 8.4 seconds. The SEL has a 66.1-kW, 88-hp front motor and a 160-kW, 215-hp rear motor, for a total of 226.1-kW and 303-hp. It has a 6.2-second 0-to-60-mph time. The Limited and Calligraphy trims feature dual 157.3 kW, 211 hp motors, for a total of 314.6 kW and 422 hp. They have a very quick 4.9-second 0-to-60 time. (All figures are supplied by Hyundai.)

What we bought: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 SEL
Powertrain: 303-hp, dual electric motors; 110.3 kWh battery; 1-speed direct drive; AWD
MSRP: $66,320
Options: Ultimate Red paint, $500; Carpeted floor mats, $230; Cargo Cover, $190
Destination fee: $1,600
Total cost: $68,840 (before available $7,500 federal tax incentive)
Final assembly: Ellabell, GA

What we rented: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Calligraphy
Powertrain: 422-hp, dual electric motors; 110.3-kWh battery; 1-speed direct drive; AWD
MSRP: $74,990
Options: Snow White Pearl paint, $500; carpeted floor mats, $230
Destination fee: $1,600
Total cost: $77,320 (before available $7,500 federal tax incentive)
Final assembly: Ellabell, Ga.

Once we complete 2,000 break-in miles, we’ll put our Ioniq 9 SEL through more than 50 tests at the CR Auto Test Center, including empirical tests of acceleration, braking, handling, and usability. CR members will have access to the full road-test results as soon as they’re available.

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Jon Linkov

Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.