The Hyundai Ioniq 9 shows off its space and pace as we engage warp drive from Seoul to Busan
Seoul to Busan, Korea – Uber-lux, uber-sized and uber-specc’d MPVs are all the rage now, but they’re a little too Uber Black if you ask us, especially with airport transfer fleets using the same vehicles.
So if it’s intended for personal use, some folks might prefer something that looks a little less commercial and more congenial like the Ioniq 9.
There’s just something to be said about the appeal of a multi-people-carrier crossover like the all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 9, even if you might only be keeping company with four for the most part.
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The point is, you know the three-row Ioniq 9 will gladly accommodate up to seven adults when needed (or six, with our demo-car’s second-row Captain’s Seats).
Don't judge me, but I found the Mercedes-Benz R-Class pretty cool at its launch some 20 years ago.
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Even today, I still have a penchant for oversized multi-people crossovers, which might somewhat colour my enthusiasm for this jolly green giant of an Ioniq 9 (in the demo car’s Ionosphere Green Pearl hue)!
The Ioniq 9 features clean lines (with retractable door handles) and a silhouette characterised by a sloping ‘boat-tail’ roofline.
Despite its powerful proportions, prodigious flares and smart 21-inch alloy rims, the 9 boasts a surprisingly aerodynamic 0.259Cd (thanks in part to the Active Air Flaps).
It even has a distinct light signature thanks to the brand’s familiar ‘pixellated’ treatment about the front and rear.
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Not just that, but the plush interior boasts an accompanying array of passenger-friendly features and equipment that will make everyone feel like they’ve lived long and prospered.
There’s ample accommodation too, compliments of the 3130mm wheelbase.
This also sees the Ioniq 9 serve up a 620-litres boot-space with the third-row up.
With the third-row folded flat, luggage room swells to 1323-litres.
Also, on the AWD Performance we’re driving, the frunk boasts a 52-litre capacity (the RWD models offer an 88-litre frunk capacity).
Best of all, the second and third-row seats can be folded flat in a fuss-free fashion from the front via the touchscreen, which lets you prep the cargo-carrying area beforehand.
Comprising the Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 6 and now the (current) flagship Ioniq 9, Hyundai’s Ioniq range of electric vehicles has found many fans.
Why? The brand’s electric cars have managed to retain all the goodness of a legacy automaker, with just the right dash of updates and ‘easter eggs’ to make them indubitably Hyundai (for instance, the four dots on the steering wheel read 'H' in Morse code).
This is decidedly a nice contrast to the general homogeneity of the current electric car segment.
You may think we’re dinosaurs, but we feel that the culture and history that legacy car brands bring with them form the backbone of the automotive world.
With the disruption from brands that peddle largely anonymous appliances, we find some solace in such a heritage, especially since it doesn’t feel like the car is engineered around an oversized tablet.
Naturally, the Ioniq 9 has the whole barrage of active/passive safety features, but these segue effortlessly into the drive experience so they’re rightfully afterthoughts.
After all, the whole point to a car like the Ioniq 9 is the cossetting life-on-board for the occupants, as opposed to playing alphabet soup with the many acronyms.
Hyundai wanted to imbue the Ioniq 9’s flat-floor cabin with a lounge-like ambience and comfort, and as competent as the car is to drive, this writer had a better time playing passenger prince across the second- and third-rows!
The ginormous panoramic glass roof also did its part in allowing plenty of light into the cabin. This helped impart an airy ambience to the sanctity of the cabin, which serves as the perfect haven from the hustle-bustle of the rat race outside.
There’s a purpose to the Ioniq 9’s many amenities too, because Hyundai didn’t just throw a whole bunch of features at its multi-seating crossover to see what sticks.
The brand feels that there is a growing isolation in many people these days, and even though they’re connected digitally, they ultimately lack meaningful F2F engagement.
Central to the Ioniq 9’s “Built to Belong” tenet is exactly why the Ioniq 9’s airy and commodious cabin is engineered to cultivate camaraderie and conversation, even between the first and third rows! There’s also a ‘Passenger Talk’ function that transmits chit-chat from the front to the third-row occupants via an intercom system.
Another cool option that can be ticked are swivelling second-row seats, which can be engaged to face the third-row for more engaging face time (literally!).
One function we loved on the 400+km trawl from Seoul to Busan and back were the massaging second row seats that come with the Dynamic Body Care option (we’re told Singapore cars will not have this), where those in need can enjoy a decently deep kneading.
The sounds and faces you make probably aren’t the sort to be used in polite company but luckily enough, there’s the Smart Entertainment System to keep the passenger beside you occupied.
Like the other Ioniq models, the Ioniq 9 features V2L (Vehicle to Load), which allows the occupants to power their road-trip essentials (through the car’s power) when one is exploring the great outdoors.
There are stowage compartments aplenty, and we particularly like how Hyundai has made a conscious effort to retain physical switchgear for essential features across its current offerings.
After all, there’s nothing more frustrating than sliding your fingers on a slippery touchscreen surface when the car is in motion.
In addition to our top-shelf AWD Performance ‘Calligraphy’, several other variants are available, including RWD Long Range and AWD Long Range (at time of writing, the local dealer hasn’t confirmed the model(s) bound for Singapore).
Our demo is the feistiest one, which will warp to 100km/h sprint from standstill in just over 5 seconds.
However, we reckon we’d be just as happy in the (likely cheaper) RWD Long Range, especially since outright performance isn’t a big consideration for us in something intended to move people around comfortably and quietly.
Despite its sporty turn of speed, we really appreciated the Ioniq 9 for its plush, passenger prince/princess hospitality that isn’t just restricted to the second row, but extends even to the third for the perfect lounge space on long road trips.
With the doors closed, all extraneous noises are cancelled even more quickly than your average outraged Gen Z can react to the un-PC millennial.
Those prepared to pay for the privilege (if we had to guess, mid- to high-S$300+k) of exploring the final frontier in the Ioniq 9 will enjoy all the bells, whistles and even the kitchen sink that will come with this flagship of the brand.
HYUNDAI IONIQ 9 AWD PERFORMANCE 'CALLIGRAPHY'
Battery 110.3kWh, NCM Lithium-Ion
Front Motor 160kW / 350Nm
Rear Motor 160kW / 350Nm
0-100km/h 5.2secs
Top Speed 200km/h
Range (manufacturer's) 501km (combined)
