Hyundai unveils Ioniq 9 all-electric SUV

MANILA: Hyundai Motor has officially unveiled the Ioniq 9 electric vehicle (EV). 

The said model was shown off in the United States, and it is a three-row, all-electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) that combines comfort, a roomy interior, and cutting-edge design. 

With the aforementioned characteristics, the South Korean automotive marque is promoting the all-new EV as something capable of providing a “sense of togetherness” for all of its seven occupants. 

“Ioniq 9 embodies Hyundai Motor’s unwavering commitment and confidence in electrification. Based on Hyundai Motor Group’s acclaimed Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), Ioniq 9 offers outstanding interior space, providing customers with unique value while solidifying our leadership in the global EV market,” Hyundai Motor Company President and Chief Executive Officer Jaehoon Chang said. 

So, what is the Ioniq 9 offering to prospective buyers? Let’s find out here. 

Exterior

Per the brand, the Ioniq 9’s exterior design is underpinned by its “Aerosthetic” philosophy. In other words, it blends a sophisticated look with functional exterior features and an innovative aerodynamic body shape. 

Up front, the vehicle features a futuristic fascia with Parametric Pixels integrated into its LED light fixtures. It also has an eye-catching LED daytime running lamp bar and a smooth grille, which transitions cleanly into the SUV’s hood. 

From the side, one can see a curved roofline. The said feature gives the ride an aerodynamic shape, resulting in a relatively low drag coefficient of 0.259. Additionally, it wears aerodynamic wheels, flowing wheel arches, and dual-motion active air flaps to further enhance its ability to reduce drag. 

Over towards the rear is a prominent boat tail-like design, complemented by vertical LED taillights, a sizable rear window, and a subtle-looking lower rear bumper. 

Here are the dimensions of the Hyundai Ioniq 9: 

Dimensions (in millimeters	Value
Length	5,060
Width	1,980
Height	1,790
Wheelbase	3,130

Overall, the model received a boxy but smooth-edged shape with plenty of pixel-shaped LED elements and black-colored contrast fitments. 

Interior

Inside, the new addition to the Ioniq lineup of EV models features a versatile three-row seating configuration paired with a sufficiently flat roof, as well as a neatly-designed minimalist cockpit. 

For its first row, it received a floating-type dashboard fitted with an ambient lighting system and a lot of polished metal decorative pieces. The centerpiece of the dash, however, is its panoramic curved display consisting of a 12-inch digital gauge cluster and a similarly-sized infotainment system. 

Providing connectivity for the central infotainment screen are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has a premium Bose 14-piece speaker system, which is able to support 5.1-channel surround sound. 

Additionally, the central screen is capable of receiving over-the-air updates. Topping up devices, meanwhile, can be done through a fast wireless charger and several 100-watt USB-C ports. 

Notably, the EV SUV has ditched physical side mirrors in favor of digital ones. Video from side-mounted cameras is outputted by dedicated displays seamlessly integrated into the vehicle’s front interior door panels.

Other notable tech features inside the EV SUV include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Hyundai Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistant
• AI-enables voice recognition
• Amazon Music and Soundcloud
• Infotainment display themes
• NFC communication
• EV Route Planner
• Features on Demand (App online store)

Positioned on its first and second rows are Hyundai’s “Relaxation Seats,” which feature a touch massage function. The seats in the second row, in particular, can be swiveled to face the third row to create a lounge-like space. 

All seats are clad in Eco Process Leather, which the automaker says is made out of recycled materials. The SUV’s occupants are also kept cool by a multi-zone automatic air-conditioning system with individualized controls for the rear cabin. 

Additionally, the EV SUV’s center island can be adjusted (slide) to create a walkable space from the first to the second row. The center island also has a series of storage trays, which in total can store up to 18.2 liters of knick-knacks and other small items. 

The main storage of the Ioniq 6, meanwhile, can swallow up to 620 liters with the rear seats in use. With the rearmost seats folded down, the said space can be expanded up to 1,323 liters. 

Moreover, the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) trims get an 88-liter and 52-liter front trunk, respectively. 

Safety

Concerning safety, Hyundai didn’t provide an exhaustive list of its standard features and advanced driver assist systems. However, the company shared that the model was fitted with the Hyundai Parking Assist 2 and Highway Driving Assist 2. 

The parking assist feature enables the vehicle to park itself even if the user is outside. It can parallel parking, and it can also reverse into and drive forward out of a parking spot. 

The Highway Driving Assist 2, meanwhile, is a level 2 autonomous driving system. As the car company claims, it can assist in changing lanes and automatically control speed when traveling on expressways. 

Powertrain

Concerning its powertrain, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 either gets a single motor or a dual motor setup. All versions, however, use a 110.3 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. 

The single-motor Long Range RWD version uses one rear motor capable of producing up to 215 horsepower (hp) and 350 Newton-meters of torque. The Long Range AWD gets the same rear motor, with the addition of a small 94-hp front motor. 

The range-topping Performance AWD, on the other hand, is the most powerful trim, boasting two of the 215-hp motor for each axle. 

With the aforementioned setup, the carmaker claims the Ioniq 9 Performance AWD is capable of accelerating from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in just 5.2 seconds. 

The trim with the most range, on the other hand, is the Long Range RWD, which is capable of covering up to 620 kilometers, according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure. Topping up the Ioniq 9 from 10 to 80 percent is done in just 24 minutes when utilizing a 350-kilowatt charger. It also has 400-volt and 800-volt multi-charging capability. 

For smooth driving, the all-electric seven-seater comes with a shift-by-wire system. It also has regenerative braking and an AI-based Terrain Traction Control System for improved power delivery in various driving conditions. 

Notably, the Ioniq 9’s ride comfort is likewise ensured by a high-tech front and rear multi-link suspension setup, which was kitted out with self-leveling dampers and vibration-reducing hydro-bushings. 

The European-spec model is also capable of towing up to 2,500 kilograms. 

Availability

As shared by Hyundai Motor, the United States and South Korean markets will get first dibs on the Ioniq 9 by 2025. Other parts of the world will receive the new Ioniq SUV model at a later date. 

It was not indicated when it is coming to the Southeast Asian market, nor did Hyundai reveal its pricing. We are hoping, however, that the model will see a local launch in the future since three-rowed models have always been a popular choice for Filipino car buyers. 

Currently, Hyundai Motor Philippines’ Ioniq lineup includes the 5, 5 N, and the 6. The Kia EV9, the Ioniq 9’s E-GMP platform sibling, was also launched at the 2024 Philippine International Motor Show. 

Like its Hyundai counterpart, the EV9 boasts a roomy three-row seating configuration, though it can seat up to six people only. As of this writing, the Philippine-spec Kia EV9 GT-Line variant is priced at P5.588 million.

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