First impressions in the California desert

► Hyundai’s largest Ioniq model ever
► We drive the Ioniq 9 prototype in California
► Will be available in Europe in mid-2025

Somewhere beneath the camouflage here is the new Ioniq 9, Hyundai’s largest EV designed for family life and zero-emission cars.

Together Spending time in the studio with the new Ioniq 9 We also had the chance to get behind the wheel of a prototype ahead of its official debut at the 2024 LA Auto Show. It’s just a trial run for now, but here are our first impressions of the new Ioniq 9, being tested at the brand’s proving ground in the wild desert of eastern California.

at a glance

Pros: Impressively quiet, comfortable to drive, spacious and convenient inside
Cons: Roly-poly suspension, steering a bit vague

What’s up?

This is a completely new model from Hyundai and the third model of the Ioniq, as it has become a true sub-brand after Hyundai. ionic 5 And ionic 6. We first saw what the Ioniq 9 would be with the Seven concept; Simon Loasby, head of Hyundai design, said the figure had been changed ‘to create room across the range’ for future Ioniq 7 and 8 models.

Loasby also mentions chess pieces when explaining how the Ioniq 9 was designed; The idea is that the Ioniq models should all look like they’re from the same family but have a distinctive look and feel. While you can’t see much of these details behind the camouflage (you can see the whole thing in our first official illustrated story here), details such as ‘parametric pixel’ lighting are still visible through the layers of camouflage. Is it a little strange to look at some places? Yes. But I would argue that it grows on you; perhaps more so than the ever-weird Ioniq 6.

Naturally, given its size, the Ioniq 9 is designed to be a large family SUV. It is also very likely that it will be better suited to the North American market; especially since Hyundai compared its dimensions and interior to the Palisade, a model not available in Europe.

It’s an interesting car to stand next to, with design details that somewhat mask the size of the car. This is a five meter long car; making it longer than the already formidable Kia EV9 or even a full-size Range Rover; but I would personally argue that this one looks physically smaller than either when you stand next to it.

What are its features?

Like every Hyundai Ioniq model since the 5, the Ioniq 9 uses Hyundai Motor Group’s e-GMP platform. Exclusive to the Ioniq 9 and standard on all models is the massive 110.3 kWh battery pack.

The Ioniq 9 comes in three performance variants, which are somewhat self-explanatory: Long Range RWD, Long Range AWD, and Performance AWD. Naturally, Long Range RWD is the most ranged, with a WLTP range target of around 385 miles. At the other end of the scale, Performance AWD claims a 0-62mph time of 5.2 seconds. More features will be confirmed closer to the European on-sale date.

Appropriate European trim level specifications are also yet to be confirmed, but we expect trim standards to start with Premium and move up to Ultimate and Calligraphy, which are the same build as the Santa Fe. Hyundai says there will be 7- and 6-seat versions of the same Kia EV9 – but how the configurations will be set up in the UK is still TBC. If it’s something like this Santa FeThe standard version will feature a conventional three-seat bench in the second row, with the option to choose two captain’s chairs in the second row for an additional fee.

How does it ride?

Our prototype model was the flagship: a Performance AWD model, and was given some time on the California proving ground’s massive oval designed to replicate the simulation of an American highway as well as a winding country road.

Once set up, we start with a fast cruise down a simulated highway full of road irregularities and sweeping curves. Hyundai engineers and developers at the proving ground are keen to understand that this is where the Ioniq 9 will likely perform best, given that it’s designed for families and big road trips.

Our brief experience would lead us to agree. The suspension seems designed to be soft enough to float over larger undulations as the wheels roll over rutted, Mojave desert-eroded asphalt. The big wheels still accentuate imperfections with gentle jolts, but they don’t feel too intrusive and are a marked improvement compared to, say, a taut Kia EV9 GT-Line.

Hyundai also touts how quiet the Ioniq 9’s cabin is, with active noise cancellation and triple-pane glass helping to isolate you from the outside world. Their efforts are moderately successful, with good dampening of tire noise. We heard some noise over the standard door mirrors, sorry; Hyundai also offers camera ‘mirrors’ with much smaller units that will cut through the air better.

After a few laps, we leave the fake highway and head towards what is described as a typical country road in the USA. Think Hollywood hills, Colorado forests, upstate New York…that kind of thing. But in this scenario, it’s like we’ve invaded a Western movie set adorned with Joshua trees and real bushes.

This soft suspension setup quickly introduces itself in different ways around corners and hairpin bends; The Ioniq 9 is quite flexible, even though Hyundai says it comes with a ‘Chassis Domain Control’ unit designed to keep the car stable.

We also notice some other features here; So very comfortable steering wheel. I repeat, Ioniq 9 is a cruiser, not an armored car, but there is a small dead spot in the center. It’s fine for long-distance highway driving, but it does leave the Ioniq 9 feeling a bit wet in corners.

As for power, this Performance AWD model feels lively enough, though that leads us to believe the entry-level Long Range RWD model will feel a little clunky. Interestingly, under hard acceleration, the Ioniq 9’s engine software feels designed to actually reduce initial electric acceleration; There’s a small influx of power when you press the accelerator hard, then a second later more power is fed in. That said, you can have some fun with the 9 even with traction control on; it really grips when you hit a corner hard; When you’re a vehicle, there’s very little understeer, even when you’re hanging on for dear life. Poke it *very* hard and the tail will pop out – only briefly; It’s not something that those in third place will be happy about.

How’s the interior?

The vehicle we drove at Hyundai’s proving ground was fully enclosed, but we sat down and researched some static versions of the Ioniq 9 An interesting combination when in Los Angeles.

Even with its interior unpacked, the Ioniq 9 feels like a familiar Hyundai product. It starts with a jingle, its bongs are gentle and soft, and most of the switches are the same sort of thing seen in the Ioniq 5 and 6, as well as the Santa Fe and North American Palisade cars. The mix of physical and touch panels is welcome, and we’d argue a lot of thought has gone into it.

However, we did feel like we sat a little too high – but whether that had more to do with the seat placement or the steeply sloped windshield to aid aerodynamics, we’re not quite sure after our short drive.

A multitude of technologies and features can be found on board. Hyundai’s ‘relaxation seats’ (which recline well back and have leg support) are the highlight here again. However, thanks to the Ioniq 9’s ample interior space, those lounge seats extend to both the front and second row if you choose the six-seat option. Like the EV9, if you go for the six-seat option, you can also get swivel seats that swivel, providing easy access in and out and the ability to swivel them around to face the third row.

Verdict: Hyundai Ioniq 9 prototype

Hyundai has clearly focused on making the Ioniq 9 a big, smooth cruiser designed for highway ease of use and low-stress driving. This makes total sense, given that it’s exactly the kind of car aimed at large families who will be taking regular road trips. We’re not sure how anything taller than the Range Rover would fare in Europe, and the soft suspension makes for a well-rounded ride setup.

Still, we’re looking forward to driving a finished Ioniq 9, probably in the first few months of 2025.

Specifications are for Ioniq 9 Performance AWD