Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Hyundai’s brand new Ioniq 9 EV features backseat lounge

hyundai ioniq 9 lounge 8 image video collection layer item desktop
Image used with permission by copyright holder

After months of teasing details about the Ioniq 9, Hyundai’s much-anticipated, three-row electric SUV, the company finally unveiled it at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

One of the Ioniq 9’s promised features — that the SUV had the ability to offer a lounge-like interior – had most of us wondering what exactly that might mean.

Recommended Videos

It all became much clearer after the launch: The second-row seats of the SUV can swivel around, providing enough space for a large lounge-like area.

But that’s not all.

The vehicle’s interior design is characterized by oval elements and calming tones, providing a serene and natural feel, especially when one is immersed in natural light from the panoramic sunroof, Hyundai says.

In addition, a slidable universal island provides ample storage and delivers a walk-through front-row seating arrangement, allowing for more accessibility and convenience. The bidirectional armrests can also be opened from the front and rear, allowing easy access to the console from the second row.

And the Ioniq 9’s relaxation seats feature a Dynamic Body Care System, which includes a massage function to “stimulate blood flow and circulation, reducing fatigue on long drives,” Hyundai says. The automaker, however, specified that these seats would be available in first and second rows, depending on the market.

The Ioniq 9’s 110.3-kilowatt-hour battery provides up to 335 miles of range on the Long-Range RWD model. The battery is able to charge from 10% to 80% in 24 minutes. As promised, the SUV also features Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) port.

As for the Ioniq 9’s price, no further details were so far provided, either at the auto show or on Hyundai’s website. But since the SUV will be built on the same platform as the Kia EV9, it’s expected to be roughly the same size and price ($55,000).

The Ioniq 9 is slated to go on sale in the U.S. in the first half of 2025, Hyundai says.

Nick Godt
Freelance reporter
Nick Godt has covered global business news on three continents for over 25 years.
Want to lease an EV? The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is incredibly cheap right now
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD rear end side profile from driver's side with trees and a metal fence in the back.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has long been one of the most-loved electric vehicles, thanks to its unique and sleek design, solid range and charging speed, and reasonable price. But, it turns out, that price is even more reasonable than you might think -- if you're willing to lease it.
Current offers
Hyundai has been very aggressive in trying to get Ioniq 5 units into the hands of customers, and at the time of this writing, you could lease the vehicle for as little as $219 per month for 36 months, with $3,486.45 due at signing. Over the 36 months, that equates to around $315.85 per month. Not bad at all. That's for the Ioniq 5 SE, which is the entry-level model.

To be fair, this particular lease deal expires on July 1, which is the day of writing this piece. However, it's not alone -- and as mentioned, Hyundai has been pretty consistent in offering the Ioniq 5 at incredibly low prices. As Electrek points out, this lease price is a lower price than the lease price for the Nissan Versa, which is the cheapest car in America to buy.

Read more
The Kia EV9 is being built in Georgia — making it a whole lot cheaper
Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

Kia has officially kicked off production of the EV9 electric SUV in Georgia. That's big news for a number of reasons. First, it makes the EV9 the first EV to be assembled in Georgia. Second, it means more solid jobs in the U.S. And third, it means that the well-priced electric SUV is about to get even cheaper.

The reason for the price decrease is simple -- by moving production of the EV9 to Georgia from Korea, the SUV will now qualify for the federal EV tax credit, bringing the total price of the vehicle down by a hefty $7,500. It was already one of the more affordable electric SUVs, but the big rebate makes it even more enticing.

Read more
Hyundai Ioniq 9: everything we know so far
Hyundai Ioniq 9 driving

The Kia EV9 was a huge hit, proving that an electric SUV at a relatively affordable price is something that plenty of people want. Now, Hyundai is finally trying its hand at the same concept with the Hyundai Ioniq 9. The company has been teasing the Ioniq 9 for some time now, but finally, we have a much better look at it, along with some specifications for what it will offer under the hood.

The Ioniq 9 is based on Hyundai's Concept Seven electric SUV, but it's different from that vehicle in many ways. It incorporates elements from the much-loved Ioniq 5, but in a larger body. Essentially, it's the electric SUV that you've been wanting from Hyundai.

Read more