HYUNDAI IONIQ 9 REVIEW: THE BIG 7-SEAT ELECTRIC SUV

EV Channels Review

The Hyundai IONIQ 9 Ultimate AWD is presented as a spacious and practical 7-seat electric SUV, aiming to rival established players like the Kia EV9 and Volvo EX90. The reviewer highlights its impressive practicality, particularly the generous boot space even with all seven seats deployed, and the comfortable seating for adults in the third row. The 800-volt platform is praised for enabling rapid charging (10-80% in 24 minutes), and the driving experience is described as comfortable, maneuverable, and assured, with ample performance from the 427 PS all-wheel-drive system. The interior features are generally well-received, with good material quality, user-friendly physical controls for climate and infotainment, and a useful digital driver display and head-up display. However, the reviewer notes a couple of aesthetic missteps in the cabin's trim materials and expresses disappointment with the real-world efficiency, estimating a range closer to 250-280 miles rather than the WLTP 372 miles, attributing this to the vehicle's size and motorway driving. The exterior design is also cited as a drawback, with the rear styling being considered 'a bit odd'. Despite these criticisms, the reviewer concludes that the IONIQ 9 is a very easy car to live with, offering significant space, comfort, and technology, and admits to having 'fallen in love with it'.