Hyundai IONIQ 9 Review (2025): Europe’s Electric Flagship SUV It Never Knew It Needed
The Hyundai IONIQ 9, Europe’s new audacious 7-seater all-electric SUV. Learn its range, interior, performance, safety features, pricing and why it’s disrupting the premium family EV market in 2025.
Once Upon a Charge: The Story of the IONIQ 9
Remember when Hyundai was the practical option your neighbor purchased because it “just works”? Well, dump that dull image on the recycling heap—alongside your dusty fuel receipts.
The Hyundai IONIQ sub-brand has been quietly rewriting the electric car rulebook since the IONIQ 5 arrived looking like a retro concept car someone accidentally put into production. The IONIQ 6 added swoopy drama. Now, in 2025, the IONIQ 9 rolls onto European streets like a fully-charged statement piece—Hyundai’s largest, most luxurious electric SUV to date.
Three rows.Seven seats.Sofa-like interior. Power ports for your devices and campsite. And a design so sharp your Range Rover-driving neighbour may begin to side-eye your driveway. Say hello to the age where Hyundai aims to be your top electric family car company—minus the six-figure bill.
Interior Quality and Features: A Lounge on Wheels
Open the big doors, go in, and you’ll have the sensation of walking into a Scandinavian design boutique on wheels—if IKEA made massage chairs and pixel LED mood lighting.
The build quality isn’t to be taken lightly. Soft-touch surfaces meet your elbows and fingertips. The dashboard and door panels incorporate recycled and plant-based materials so you can boast about your carbon footprint at cocktail parties.
Higher trims also get front seats that recline completely with leg rests—ideal for napping as you fast-charge at 350 kW speeds. The second row? Spinning seats, if you feel like conf call/conference calls or snack-sharing face-to-face with the kids.
Wherever you gaze, the IONIQ 9 shouts “future-luxury people carrier.” There’s a huge twin-screen arrangement for the driver display and infotainment. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?Naturally.Bose premium audio? Of course. Panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and an “Island” movable centre console to reconfigure your living room—ahem, cabin—while on the move? It’s all part of the package.
Performance: Big Battery, Bigger Ambitions
Under the new hide, the IONIQ 9 sits on Hyundai‘s superb E-GMP platform—the same magic brew that makes the IONIQ 5 and Kia EV9.
In Europe, you’ll have a 110 kWh usable battery, enough for up to 620 km WLTP range—enough to drive from Paris to Amsterdam without requiring a fuel stop (unless your passengers insist on one).
If you opt for the AWD Long-Range or the driver-loving Performance variant, you can look for approximately 429 hp. That’s sufficient to hustle this seven-seat living room from 0–100 km/h in approximately 5.2 seconds. Not bad for an SUV that’s about the size of a small bungalow.
All thanks to 800V charging technology, you can charge from 10% to 80% in about 24 minutes at super fast-charging stations. Translation: get a coffee, stretch your legs, and you’re back in action.
One compromise: while it’s large and potent, it’s softer and quieter in its intentions than corner huggers. There is no air suspension or rear-wheel steering, so tight old-town streets may challenge your parking prowess—but hey, there are the 360° cameras for that purpose.
Safety Features: Big Family, Big Peace of Mind
If you’re towing children, canines, grandparents and groceries through Europe’s autobahns and city streets, safety features are not optional. Hyundai’s IONIQ 9 Smart Sense system puts an army of digital assistants at your beck and call:
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (useful for lapses in attention)
Highway Driving Assist II (semi-autonomous lane changes)
Blind Spot View Monitor (farewell, shoulder checks)
360-degree Surround View Monitor (hello, narrow parking spaces)
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance (back up with confidence)
Smart Remote Parking Assist (yes, it parks by itself while you sit and watch like a wizard)
Packed with reinforced high-strength steel and multiple airbags, and the IONIQ 9 meets all the safety checks.
Daily Capabilities: More Than an School Run Hero
Want to charge your laptop, or charge your e-bike on a camping trip? The IONIQ 9′s innovative Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology allows you to plug in external devices directly into its massive battery—in other words, it’s an on-the-go 110 kWh power bank.
Room for cargo is plentiful due to a level floor and easy-to-fold third row, and AWD models chew up winter trips to the Alps or weekend jaunts into the country without complaint. Just don’t anticipate climbing boulders—this is an electric family vehicle, not a pretend off-roader.
Pricing and Availability: The Premium Without the Pain
So, how much to park this electric lounge in your driveway? The Hyundai IONIQ 9 begins from £65,000 in Europe, reaching up to near-£78,000 for the full-fat luxury spec.
For outlook, that beats out Mercedes-Benz EQXX rivals like the Volvo EX90, BMW iX, or electric Range Rover counterparts—while delivering more range and more tech. European deliveries will begin in summer and continue through late 2025, with family buyers upgrading from older SUVs expected to be strong demand.
Pros and Cons: The Honest Take
Pros:
Huge range for road trips
Lounge-like, eco-friendly interior
Lightning-fast charging tech
Packed with driver assistance features
Priced competitively for a premium family EV
Cons:
It’s big—city parking needs good spatial awareness
No fancy air suspension or four-wheel steering
Not meant for hardcore off-roading
The Final Verdict: Should Europe Get Excited?
If you’re eyeing a spacious, tech-forward electric SUV but don’t want to fork out for an Audi Q8 e-tron or wait for a Range Rover EV, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 hits a sweet spot.
It’s smart, stylish, efficient, comfortable, and genuinely family-friendly—without feeling like you’ve traded fun for functionality. Add in Hyundai’s growing European footprint and warranty reputation, and the IONIQ 9 might just be the seven-seater your next road trip is calling for.
Just don’t be surprised when your neighbours start asking for test drives—and maybe a loan of your portable power bank on wheels.
FAQs: Hyundai IONIQ 9 Europe
Q: What is the Hyundai IONIQ 9’s real-world range?
A: With 500–620 km WLTP range depending on conditions and spec, there should be more than enough for most European family holidays.
Q: How expensive is the IONIQ 9 in the UK and Europe?
A: UK prices begin at approximately £65,000, with the best specced trims costing around £78,000 (~€75,000–90,000).
Q: Is the IONIQ 9 suitable for winter driving?
A: Yes—AWD models cope with snow and light off-roading, and there’s enough cabin tech to make passengers comfortable.
Q: Can I charge my laptop or operate devices from the vehicle?
A: Definitely. The IONIQ 9’s V2L technology enables you to charge devices from its battery—ideal for camping trips or remote working stations.
Q: When can I purchase the IONIQ 9 in Europe?
A: European deliveries start summer 2025, and wider availability later in the year.
