America’s love affair with massive three-row SUVs is nothing new. What’s much less appreciated is how nicely electrification matches that system. Ditch the standard engine, transmission tunnel, or driveshaft, and house can be utilized for what you actually need—for your loved ones, your pet and every bit of bags they may insist on bringing.

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 leans arduous into that benefit. Constructed on Hyundai’s Electrical-International Modular Platform (E-GMP), its flat ground and six- or seven-seat layouts make it a correct lounge on wheels. The numbers again it up, too: Its 123.2-inch wheelbase is longer than the current-gen fuel Palisade (114.2 inches) and even longer than the Cadillac Escalade (121.0 inches).

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Supply: Suvrat Kothari

Roadtripping in it’s absurdly simple. It will get entry to the Tesla Supercharger community, the nation’s largest and most dependable charging system. Add in a clean, quiet trip, Bose encompass audio and a cavernous inside festooned with tech and also you’ve acquired an EV that feels purposely constructed to maintain you cheerful and comfy on most roads.

So, if anybody continues to be telling you that fuel SUVs are higher roadtrippers for your loved ones, you’re being lied to. The Ioniq 9 is right here and it makes that case higher than few different vehicles on the market. We’ve already completed a full overview—which you’ll be able to learn right here—however to study extra about its long-distance strengths, proceed studying.

(Full Disclosure: Hyundai loaned me an Ioniq 9 for one week in Brooklyn. It arrived absolutely charged, and I returned it likewise.)

Photograph by: Suvrat Kothari

As a bachelor residing in New York Metropolis, I didn’t precisely put the Ioniq 9 via a household or soccer mother check. However I did the following smartest thing: I took three of my associates and drove upstate New York. I’ve by no means seen them as relaxed or as excited in another press automotive I’ve introduced house.

These are powertrain-agnostic, non-car individuals who care about one factor: getting from level A to level B. But a number of issues had them grinning the complete journey: the buttery trip high quality, the plush second-row captain’s chairs, the sleek electrical powertrain and the Bose audio system turning the cabin right into a live performance corridor on wheels.

The creature comforts are really nice, however they don’t imply a lot if the EV beneath isn’t sorted. Fortunately, the Ioniq 9 nails the fundamentals. So, let’s begin with these first.

Vary And Charging

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The Ioniq 9 will get two issues very proper: vary and charging speeds.

About 200 miles into my drive to upstate New York, I wasn’t even frightened about plugging in. Interstate 87 has an honest frequency of Tesla Superchargers and the Ioniq 9 is supplied with a factory-fitted North American Charging Commonplace (NACS) port, opening up entry to twenty,000+ Superchargers nationwide. 

Beneath the pores and skin, the Ioniq 9 shares its platform with its company cousin, the Kia EV9. However Hyundai has given it an even bigger 110-kilowatt-hour battery, in comparison with Kia’s 99.8 kWh pack. That additional capability interprets into 300 miles of EPA-rated vary on each trim—the bottom S stretches to 335 miles, the SE and SEL hit 320 miles, whereas the Restricted (my check automotive) and Calligraphy are rated at 311 miles.

Photograph by: Suvrat Kothari

Its 800-volt structure helps it cost from 10% to 80% in about 24 minutes on a 350-kilowatt DC quick charger—that’s a lot fast given the SUV’s giant 110 kWh battery pack. Most new public fast-charging stations can ship that a lot energy, together with Electrify America, EVGo, ChargePoint Specific Plus and even Ionna.

Throughout my week-long testing, I caught to Tesla Superchargers just because they have been simpler to seek out and use with the Tesla app.

Whereas nearly all of Superchargers are nonetheless capped at 250 kW, the brand new V4 items can hit 325 kW. The Ioniq 9 went from 30% to 80% in 25 minutes utilizing one in all these stalls. The charging pace was slower than what I anticipated, topping out at 126 kW, however it held that pace even previous 70% % earlier than tapering close to 80%—which is a fairly flat charging curve that helps you save time.

Utility Mode Rocks

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Hyundai’s newer EVs include Utility Mode that faucets the principle high-voltage battery to run the infotainment, local weather management, cabin lights, and even exterior home equipment. The function isn’t distinctive to Hyundai—Tesla and Rivian have been providing it for years, however it’s an excellent factor that extra vehicles are coming with it as customary.

Turning it on from the infotainment display shuts the drive unit down whereas the whole lot else retains buzzing—which is helpful for those who’re parked for hours or tenting. In fuel vehicles, for those who kill the engine, you’re caught with the small 12-volt battery, which can drain quick and would possibly even die.

Dropping the second and third rows opens up 86.9 cubic toes of house, greater than sufficient to toss in an air mattress or a surfboard (or each). Drive it to a campsite and also you’ve acquired a panoramic roof for stargazing.

Photograph by: Suvrat Kothari

I used it for one thing far much less romantic: I used it as my workplace for half a day throughout a 98-degree Fahrenheit heatwave (felt like 104°F with humidity). It sipped simply 2% of the battery throughout that point—the Ioniq 9’s 110 kWh battery is bigger than common packs.

It additionally will get vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, with a built-in 15 amp, 125 volt outlet within the trunk plus a 12 volt socket. Which means you possibly can energy a espresso machine, induction range, or no matter gear you throw within the again—all utilizing battery energy.

About These Seats

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The seats give the Ioniq 9 plenty of persona. The S, SE, and SEL trims include a second-row bench, giving the Ioniq 9 a seven-seat format. Step as much as the Restricted or Calligraphy trims and also you get captain’s chairs. When you’re not repeatedly hauling greater than six folks, they’re completely price it.

The candy spot is the right-side captain’s chair behind the entrance passenger seat. With a set of buttons on the entrance seat backrest, you possibly can slide that seat absolutely ahead, opening up limo-like house within the second row. The captain’s chairs are kitted out with armrests, powered leg rests, and heated and ventilated cushions. In addition they get virtually pillow-like headrests with facet assist. 

Photograph by: Suvrat Kothari

Up entrance, each seats provide eight-way energy adjustment with lumbar assist, which matches a good distance towards conserving posture in examine on longer drives. And for those who slide the second row only a contact, the third row opens up into legitimately usable house.

It doesn’t really feel cramped, and Hyundai didn’t skimp on the main points again there both: devoted AC vents, powered recline, bottle holders, dome lights and twin 100-watt USB-C ports.

As a result of it has a flat ground and nothing obstructing lateral motion, transferring round within the second and third rows is straightforward, particularly for those who’re petite like me.

Small Particulars Make Large A Distinction

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In massive vehicles, the little issues matter essentially the most. I’m not satisfied each automaker will get that.

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz, for all its attraction as a people-mover, skips bottle holders for the second row. Homeowners should purchase a second-row middle console, however it’s extra of a normal storage rack than a real cupholder setup. The Ioniq 9 will get 11 bottle holders: 4 within the first row, 4 within the second row and three within the third row.

It additionally will get a extremely modular middle console which slides all the best way ahead, or midway again—about 7.5 inches—extending the entry to each first and second-row passengers. As a result of there isn’t any transmission tunnel working via the center of the automotive, Hyundai has used that house well.

The console has a large armrest that may open from each ends, has beneficiant storage capability, two giant bottle holders, a wi-fi charging pad and local weather settings for the second and third row passengers. That is plenty of performance packed right into a small, movable unit.

Plush Experience High quality

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Regardless of weighing 6,000 kilos, the Ioniq 9 is surprisingly easy to drive. Gentle steering, giant facet mirrors and a 360-degree digicam make threading it via slim streets far much less intimidating than its dimension suggests.

The trip high quality is the place it actually shines. The suspension absorbs highway imperfections with poise, eagerly swallowing the whole lot from small bumps to massive potholes. There’s some inevitable lateral motion with an SUV this massive. It dives a bit underneath braking and squats on acceleration, however none of that makes you are feeling unsettled. The dampers do a commendable job of conserving all of it underneath management.

Hyundai credit that composure to self-leveling dampers and hydro bushings. The self-leveling dampers preserve the right trip top whatever the load, whereas the hydro bushings take in vibrations extra successfully than stable rubber. They’re principally fluid-filled mounts between the suspension and chassis.

Collectively, they offer the Ioniq 9 an virtually luxury-car-like trip, making smaller imperfections far much less bothersome.

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And Hyundai has gone to nice lengths to maintain the surface world, nicely, outdoors. The Ioniq 9 rides on 21-inch Hankook Ion Evo SUV tires (285/45), every carrying a giant “EV Soundabsorber” badge. Hankook has a complete breakdown of the know-how behind the tires. In easy phrases although, there’s foam lining the interior partitions and a collection of tread and groove designs aimed toward killing highway noise. After every week behind the wheel, it’s arduous to argue—it simply works.

Add to that acoustic glass, triple door seals and energetic noise cancellation and the cabin feels genuinely quiet. Sufficient that even at 70 miles per hour, you gained’t have to lift your voice to speak to the third-row passenger.

It’s Midway Software program-Outlined

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Hyundai’s software program sport isn’t at Tesla or Rivian ranges but, however the Ioniq 9 makes it clear the automaker is stepping up.

The 12.3-inch central infotainment display felt responsive, although not as snappy as a Mannequin Y. But it surely shows EV-specific knowledge in nice element, higher than most likely most different automakers.

You get battery well being monitoring, effectivity historical past and a breakdown of power use cut up between the drivetrain, electronics, local weather management and battery care. It even exhibits, in actual time, what number of kilowatts every system is drawing, which will help for those who’re obsessive about effectivity like I’m.

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Hyundai can also be enhancing the software program in small methods. One instance is which you can electrically fold or elevate the second and third-row seats straight from the display. It sounds minor, however it requires tight software-hardware integration. If somebody is attempting to load a big merchandise within the again and you could drop the seats with out leaving the driving force’s seat, this function will are available in surprisingly useful.

And in contrast to Common Motors, Hyundai isn’t ditching wi-fi Apple CarPlay or Android Auto anytime quickly. Regardless of the tech-heavy cabin, guide buttons and knobs are nonetheless a lot. Key capabilities, together with drive and terrain modes, quantity, and local weather controls, nonetheless get correct bodily buttons and dials. Once more, a small factor, however it makes a giant distinction in conserving your eyes on the highway as a substitute of buried in menus.

Photograph by: Suvrat Kothari

Granted, none of this comes low cost. My press loaner carried a sticker of $71,250, which may very well be a dealbreaker for loads of patrons. The bottom S trim prices $59,000. With the $7,500 federal tax credit score, that begins to seem like a extra affordable proposition.

Hyundai can also be sweetening the deal till Sept. 30, when the federal tax credit expire. It’s providing $5,000 money reductions throughout all trims on buy. And lease choices beginning at $419 per thirty days for 36 months with $4,999 due at signing. That’s not a cut price by any measure, both, however it does allow you to skip the steep buy worth and nonetheless land the most effective three-row electrical SUVs on sale proper now.

Nonetheless, the worth isn’t the Ioniq 9’s power. I don’t assume Hyundai intends it to be that method both. The Ioniq 9 feels extra like a blueprint. It’s proof of how a lot functionality you possibly can pack right into a three-row electrical SUV with out mechanical or design compromises. It’s proof that electrification is the best way to go for household SUVs. 

Keep in mind that this blueprint will solely get higher as battery tech evolves and prices come down. So, that is only the start and the Ioniq 9 is definitely one of the convincing three-row electrical SUVs but.

Have a tip? Contact the creator: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com