2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Hands-On Preview

Oh yeah, this is a flagship all right.

While other reveals at the LA Auto Show may shift more units or set new performance benchmarks, I’d wager the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 made the biggest splash. This educated guess comes from the foot traffic the new three-row, all-electric SUV has on the show floor during media day. Across the three units peppering Hyundai’s stand, there’s always someone—or multiple people—inside and out. As the largest and most expensive model in modern Hyundai history, the Ioniq 9 is a proper flagship. You can brush up on all the important details here; this article is for the hands-on experience.

In person, the Ioniq 9 is striking. N as immediate-classic as the Ioniq 5 nor as wind-cheatingly slippery as the Ioniq 6, the new king of the lineup forges its own path. There are hints of family members, from the supersized Kona look of the headlights or the H-shape of the bumper design straight from the Santa Fe. It’s the profile and especially the rear that breaks new ground. The shoulder and roof lines both dip towards the tail, a graceful look that’s more high-end than Hyundai. That diagonal slash across the rear doors? That's the hanbok line, named after the the collar of the traditional Korean clothing of the same name. The aggressively chopped tail with its large expanse of glass, wraparound lighting elements, and flush badge fitment reinforces the premium feel.

Hyundai hasn't shied away from color either. The reveal cars lean into green, either in the lighter matte hue or the rich metallic, which is similar to the color of the original Seven concept of 2021.

Designer Simon Loasby likens the Hyundai lineup to chess pieces: a familiar (and familial) base, but with distinct designs.

Hyundai’s Parametric Pixel design is all about the square—or, roughly, the letter ‘M’ or mieum in the Korean alphabet—but the cabin is circle-centric. There are curves everywhere: generous ones along the door panels in high-contrast light vegan leather, the door handles nested within, and even the seatbelt feeds in the pillars. It’s a playful look that also feels more organic than the clean lines that have dominated modern cabin design. There’s an attention to detail here that impresses, from the soft glow of the armrest lighting to the complex perforation pattern above it.

The marble-like trim and full-recline seats prove Hyundai isn’t just paying lip-service to the idea of a mobile lounge, either. The second-row swivel function could be gimmicky, sure, but we’ll have to see how buyers use it.

One of the oft-repeated benefits of EVs is the added space they offer. Without the need for bulky drivetrains in the nose, the theory suggests the longer wheelbase provides more cabin space than what would otherwise be possible. Does that play out with the Ioniq 9?

In a word, yes. The second row feels very nearly as spacious as the front, with good leg- and headroom since that stylish roofline doesn’t really start dipping until behind heads. Even then, third row space is decent too, feeling more accommodating than the equivalent Palisade. An important distinction however: the Palisade offers three-abreast seating in its way-back, while the Ioniq 9 sticks to a duo. The power-folding second-row makes it reasonably easy to get back there as well. The function is slow, though we could chalk this up to the early pre-production status of the vehicle. Ditto the brittle plastics found beside the third-row seating; we’ll reserve full judgment for the production model.

Will the Ioniq 9 cannibalize Palisade sales? If it does, it won’t be by much—and not just because the expected price gap between respective trims (around $20,000). This is a different sort of vehicle, one bridging the gap between mainstream and premium. For those flexible about gas or electric, the Ioniq 9 poses a stylish alternative to something like a Cadillac XT6 or Acura MDX, to say nothing of its cousin, the Genesis GV80. We appreciate how different the Ioniq 9 is from the related Kia EV9 as well. One thing’s for sure: the Ioniq 9 just rocketed up our Most Anticipated Cars of 2025 list, and we can’t wait to get behind the wheel early next year to find out more.

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