2024 Los Angeles Auto Show: Best in Show
Thus far, South Korean automaker Hyundai’s Ioniq line of electric vehicles has impressed us mightily. From the outstanding Ioniq 5 SUV to the sleek and stylish Ioniq 6 sedan, we’ve been fans of Hyundai’s efforts (and the related Kia and Genesis vehicles). The new 2026 Ioniq 9, just unveiled at the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show, might just be the best effort from the company yet.
The Ioniq 9 presents a mission similar to Kia’s EV9 three-row electric SUV: Bring three-row, six- or seven-passenger utility to the masses with an all-electric powertrain, wrapped in a package that’s versatile, luxurious and remarkably efficient. From what we can tell from our time poking around the new Ioniq 9 at the show, the company has come up with another slam dunk offering that’s sure to appeal to customers and put competitors on notice.
Related: More 2024 L.A. Auto Show Coverage
Big Battery, Good Range
The new Ioniq 9 will come with one battery only, a 110.3-kilowatt-hour pack that promises to deliver more than 300 miles of range on every trim and configuration. That’s great news to us, as we’ve been a little let down by our long-term EV9’s observed range, which never seems to live up to its promised ratings. You’ll be able to spec either a rear-wheel drive single-motor Ioniq 9 with 215 horsepower or a dual-motor all-wheel-drive version with either 303 or 422 hp, the latter supposedly good for a 0-60 mph time of just 4.9 seconds — pretty fleet for a big family crossover. It’s also future-proofed to handle an 800-volt DC fast charger (which are still very rare at the moment in the U.S.) and can reportedly go from 10%-80% charge in 24 minutes.
Style for Days
But those numbers are what we’ve come to expect from Hyundai’s EV architecture and are something that’s impressed us from the start. It’s the rest of the Ioniq 9 that’s really made us take notice, however. Thanks to the battery being entirely in the floor, the cabin is remarkably spacious, meaning all seven seats have plenty of room without an odd ledge in the back. Despite the swoopier roofline than the one on the EV9, the cabin is almost minivanlike, according to Road Test Editor Brian Normile. And if you want colors, boy, can you have colors — 16 different exterior hues and seven interior ones, six of which are two-tone, will be available.
The increasingly ubiquitous dual 12-inch screens up front are in a curved panel display combining gauge cluster and multimedia controls on the dash. Premium materials abound throughout the interior, and the comfort level is exceptional, with optional massaging seats in the first and second rows. The second-row captain’s chairs can also recline and feature integrated footstools for a truly coddling experience. Be sure to bring all the laptops, too, as 100-watt USB-C ports are scattered throughout the whole interior.
And we haven’t even really talked about the way it looks. Admittedly, we’re not of unanimous opinion on the Ioniq 9’s styling. Some of us find it adventurous and bold, while some of us find it oddly busy and awkward. It doesn’t quite have the concept car’s clean body sides and simple arcs, but enough of the original design has come through for us to call it decidedly distinctive. A family resemblance to the “pixel” themes on the other Ioniq models is clear, as well. Overall, we’ll call the Ioniq 9 successful in distinguishing itself from any other SUV on the market, including its EV9 cousin.
We’re geeked to see the new 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 and are sufficiently impressed to call it our pick for Best in Show.
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- 2024 3-Row SUV Challenge: Repeat Champ Hyundai Palisade Proves Hard to Beat
- How Well Does the Kia EV9 Handle Family Duty?
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