Hyundai revealed Wednesday the new Ioniq 9, an all-electric three-row SUV — and its largest EV to date — based on the Seven concept that we saw in 2021. (Look, nobody said car-naming protocol had to make sense.)
The SUV, which made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show and will come to the U.S. market in spring 2025, joins the smaller Ioniq 5 SUV and Ioniq 6 sedan as Hyundai works towards its goal of 23 all-electric models by 2030. And with Hyundai skipping the 7 and 8 nameplate, the automaker has left itself open for future products.
I got a glimpse of the Ioniq 9 ahead of its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. While I didn’t get to drive it, I was impressed by the interior space and overall design, and disappointed by the omission of a few key – and cool – elements we saw on the Seven concept car.
Not that I can fault Hyundai. I blame U.S regulations for influencing Hyundai’s decision to opt out of second-row seating that can swivel to face the third row. I mean, how cool would it be for big sister to swivel her second-row seat around to torture her baby brother? As someone who doesn’t have kids, I’m into it. We also won’t get the digital side mirrors. Once you see a car without side mirrors you’ll realize how unsightly they really are – like an ugly pimple on a supermodel’s face.
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 also won’t get the pillarless coach doors that were teased on the Seven concept; and the only nod to the SUV’s “hygienic interior” is a UV-C sterilizer that can decontaminate smaller items like phones, wallets, and masks.
What does the Hyundai Ioniq 9 have? Quite a bit.
Here’s what the Hyundai Ioniq 9 does have
Image credit: Hyundai
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