Hyundai Ioniq 9 E-SUV driving report: comfortable giant
Hyundai's largest SUV offers plenty of space and a 110 kWh battery. On the road, it is clear that comfort was the main focus during development.
(Image: Christian Bittmann)
- Stefan Grundhoff
It has taken two years for the Hyundai offshoot of the Kia EV9 to be launched on the European market. The time has certainly been used, because in some respects the Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a few steps ahead of the EV9. Whether this will help it to become more widespread, however, is questionable. We have already been able to take a short test drive.
Pretty powerful
The first impression that the Hyundai Ioniq 9 leaves is one of enormous size. With a height of 1.79 m and a width of 1.98 m, the SUV looks very massive. It extends to 5.06 m in length, of which the wheelbase takes up 3.13 m.
With these dimensions, it is hardly surprising that there is a certain spaciousness in the interior. The customer has the choice of occupying the second row with two seats or a bench. There is plenty of space even at the very back, at least for teenagers. Hyundai also installs electrically adjustable seats in the rear, which are air-conditioned and can be massaged on request. If the third row is needed, only 338 liters remain behind it; if it is folded down, there are already 908.
Focus on comfort
The Ioniq 9 is neatly finished and has an appropriately high-quality interior. The good insulation and the suspension set-up contribute to the impression of a comfortable car. Hyundai has refrained from suggesting to the driver that the SUV, which weighs more than 2.6 tons, is a fast cornering predator by making the dampers firmer. The low center of gravity of the large battery in the underbody of the E-GMP platform may help in fast corners, but this is more for safety than for the feeling of handling. The chassis always remains on the comfortable side, and rightly so.
Hyundai Ioniq 9 (9 Bilder)
Christian Bittmann
)Charges quickly
The Hyundai Group was the first to bring a platform with an 800 volt voltage level to cars that are still affordable. It is also used for the Ioniq 9. Under ideal conditions, it can be charged with up to 260 kW at its peak. Charging from 10 to 80 percent is possible in 24 minutes. These two figures alone are of little practical relevance, but give an indication of what is on offer here. The battery has an energy content of 110 kWh. Ideally, the net charging capacity is between 10 and 80 percent, i.e. 193 kW. Pre-conditioning of the battery is of course available.
Drives: Medium version is the favorite
Hyundai offers the Ioniq 9 in Europe with three drive configurations. The base model with rear-wheel drive offers a range of 620 km in the WLTP. Consumption in the cycle is specified as 19.4 kWh/100 km. This means that around 400 km of range can be recharged in 24 minutes. In practice, 24 kWh/100 km is more likely on the highway, and it remains to be seen how many people interested in the Ioniq 9 will stick with the base model. With 160 kW, the least powerful drive system has plenty to do with the 2.6-ton SUV. Hyundai quotes a standard sprint time of 9.4 seconds. Of course, this is a long way from holding up traffic, but many other current electric cars can do it a little faster.
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The next stage is an all-wheel drive model, in which Hyundai adds a 70 kW electric drive on the front axle to the rear motor, which is always identical. This variant is also listed as "Long Range" and, as it offers significantly more temperament for a moderate surcharge, should have a good chance of becoming the best-selling drive. We certainly recommend this step, especially as the expected additional costs are unlikely to cause monetary embarrassment for potential buyers in this segment.
If a system output of 230 kW is not sufficient, the top version with 320 kW remains, i.e. 160 kW on each axle. This heavyweight then accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds. The top speed for all versions is always 200 km/h. Hyundai specifies a towing capacity of up to 2.5 t. Which version can tow how much has not yet been revealed.
(Image: Christian Bittmann)
No prices yet
Hyundai has not yet revealed exactly how much the Ioniq 9 will cost. We expect the base model to cost at least around 60,000 euros. For orientation: The Kia EV9 is available from 62,000 euros, the upgrades for the drive systems cost 3000 or 7000 euros. Even more expensive in the EV9 is the jump to the mid-range equipment line, which costs 7500 euros for an identical drive system. The prices for the Ioniq 9 will presumably be in a similar range. Hyundai will probably reveal more about this in June at the latest, as sales are due to start in the summer.
(vbr)