HYUNDAI IONIQ 9 FIRST IMPRESSIONS! ROAD TRIPPING SOUTH KOREA IN HYUNDAI’S NEWEST THREE ROW EV SUV

EV Channels Review

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 presents a compelling hardware package, offering a more refined driving experience than its sibling, the Kia EV9. Key improvements include a significantly better ride quality, faster charging speeds (up to 124 kW peak), and a larger battery (110.3 kWh) promising over 300 miles of EPA range. The reviewer highlights the comfortable ride, improved charging curve, and a surprisingly quiet heat pump as major wins. However, the vehicle is let down by its software, which is described as archaic and frustrating, mirroring issues found in other Hyundai/Kia products. Design is subjective, but the reviewer found the exterior styling less appealing than the EV9's. Interior features like the advanced seat massage system are noted as potentially too extreme for the US market. Despite the hardware strengths, the persistent software shortcomings and questionable design choices prevent the Ioniq 9 from reaching its full potential, especially when compared to competitors.