Step into the future, both literally and figuratively, with this 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 AWD Performance Calligraphy.
Not only is it from the next model year, it’s also futuristic looking.
This is a three-row electric SUV with an estimated 311 miles of range, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The dash claimed a maximum of 360 miles.
Before you start thinking about batteries, though, you’ll want to pay attention to this interior.
It looks kind of like a spaceship or pod, being that it’s also very spacious and airy.
Hyundai calls it a “lounge-like atmosphere” with “elliptical elements and calming tones.” (Anything calming is welcome as you drive headfirst into a pothole, in bumper-to-bumper traffic or while someone blows past you on the shoulder.)
In this case, those calming tones are a mix of light gray and dark gray. Even the second-row seats are heated and ventilated, and there’s a power-folding third row. The so-called “Relaxation Seats” in the first and second rows can fully recline and have leg rests to boot.
Also, here’s something you almost never see: space on the floor between the front seats! Yeah, it’s not all taken up by a huge, wasteful console.
The IONIQ 9 can hold six or seven people, depending on configuration. Sadly, there’s a “tire mobility kit” in lieu of a spare.
Outside, this one is painted Cyber Gray. There’s an aerodynamic front end with a pixelated light bar that stretches between the headlights. The rest of the vehicle is very SUV-shaped.
The taillights stretch from the rear bumper to the roof and are white when turned off, giving the backside quite a unique look.
The driving experience is smooth and quick. Lest you be too quick, the vehicle provides verbal warnings about looming traffic cameras.
Additionally, there are four light-up dots on the steering wheel that turn from white to red if you’re getting too close to something while parking, for instance.
The IONIQ 9 has not yet been tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but the closely related Kia EV9 has earned a Top Safety Pick+ award.
Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile Electric Vehicle System Warranty is in effect here, by the way.
This one comes in at $77,540 after shipping. A base IONIQ 9 starts at $60,555, all in.
Hyundai points out that a $7,500 federal EV tax credit is ending soon — so if you want one of these, get it by the end of September.
