Hyundai IONIQ 9: Final Thoughts
Updated: Sep 4
DISCLAIMER: Yes, Hyundai Canada was kind enough to lend us an IONIQ 9 for our eastern Canada trip. However, Hyundai did not have editorial input into my posts about the car, and all opinions posted here are my own.
Most people who follow me are playground fans, but during our trip several people reached out to ask what I thought of the Hyundai IONIQ 9: how did it perform as a road trip vehicle? What was the charging experience like? Is it a good buy for a family looking to go electric?
So here are my thoughts on all of the above and more.
First, a bit of context. Our first family car was a 2014 Tesla Model S, and we now have a 2022 Polestar 2. We've also road-tripped in a Tesla Model 3 and spent some time with the Model X and the Hyundai IONIQ 5, the little brother of the IONIQ 9.
Most of those are very different vehicles from the IONIQ 9, but they're all electric, so I feel I have a good basis for comparison. The vehicle I will be discussing here is the "Preferred AWD" trim - not the base model but not the top trim either. Some of the details might be slightly different for other trim levels, but most of the important stuff is the same no matter which trim you go for.
Anyway, here we go:
Range and Charging. The IONIQ 9 is rated for 515km of range, but as with all cars, range depends on conditions and driving style. We found that the IONIQ 9 had fantastic range: on one stretch through the isolated interior of New Brunswick, we went 400km on single a charge and still had 21% left. That's at highway speeds, with the AC on, carrying the weight of a family of four plus piles of luggage. All those things usually diminish range, but the IONIQ 9 was still right on target for its rated range.
In terms of charging, the IONIQ 9's 800-volt architecture means that it can charge extremely quickly, provided you can find a charger capable of delivering the power. At one charging stop on our trip, we added 150km of range in 12 minutes - just long enough for a bathroom break and to grab a snack. The other charging advantage here is that the IONIQ 9 has a NACS charging port, which is the port used by Tesla Superchargers, and which is becoming the standard on new charging stations. So not only can it charge everywhere our Polestar 2 can charge (with an adapter) but it can also charge at selected Tesla Supercharging stations.
Cargo / Passsenger Space. This is a large 3-row vehicle, so you'd expect it to be roomy, but it felt very large. Granted, we are used to the cozy interior of a Polestar 2, but the IONIQ 9 really delivered from a practicality standpoint. Even with the third row up (each of our two kids at a row to themselves) we still had room for all the luggage that had previously been in the trunk + Thule cargo box on our Polestar. The frunk isn't as big as I'd like, but it still had room for a couple of smaller bags.
Tech. We're a bit spoiled here, because we owned a Tesla for a couple of years (known for their tech) and our current car - the Polestar - has Google Automotive built in. So the Hyundai wasn't quite at the level that we were used to; in fact, when comparing its navigation to Google Maps on our phones, we found that the Hyundai's navigation wasn't always finding the routes that made the most sense. We ended up using Apple CarPlay for most of the trip...but since most people would do that anyway, it's not much of a downside. Having said all that, the touchscreen was responsive and the car's tech didn't give us headaches.
Driving Experience / Comfort. The IONIQ 9 is a very smooth, quiet, comfortable ride. Even at the end of our longest driving day (more than 700km) I wasn't feeling any discomfort. As far as the driving feel, it's definitely not as nimble as our Polestar 2, but it's not trying to be. It accelerates just fine, and you only feel its heft on tight corners. For a long road trip this was probably the most comfortable ride we could have asked for.
Design. This is entirely subjective and probably doesn't factor into your decision about your next car, but I really like the way this car looks. It's consistent with other cars in the IONIQ lineup (gotta love those pixels) and the back end in particular really stands out to me as looking cool without crossing the line into looking weird. I also like - although Hyundai probably wouldn't say this - that its profile has a strong minivan vibe. North American roads are overflowing with teardrop-shaped SUVs, but the IONIQ 9 is a refreshing visual throwback to your parents' late-90s family hauler. In the best possible way.
Overall, I genuinely think this is a very good car. And a good value: most three-row electric SUVs run well into six figures.
Throughout our time in the IONIQ 9, the kids kept subtly asking if we might consider getting one when our Polestar lease is up. So I'll tell you what I keep telling them: I don't know, but the IONIQ 9 has certainly pushed its way onto our short list.
