Hyundai will launch a new flagship model for its IONIQ range next year with the arrival of a new seven-seater IONIQ 9. Built on the brand’s clever E-GMP platform, it will be the largest IONIQ model to date and is set to rival its sister car, the Kia EV9, which was launched in the UK earlier this year. 

Although Hyundai has yet to reveal any technical details around the car, it has confirmed that it will break cover officially towards the end of the year before UK deliveries start early next year. Like its Kia stablemate (Kia and Hyundai are effectively the same company, remember), the IONIQ 9 will be a proper seven-seater and will become Hyundai’s flagship model.

Isn’t this the IONIQ 7? 

Hyundai has never officially given its new seven-seater a name, but the arrival of the SEVEN concept car in 2021, suggested that the production model would assume the IONIQ 7 nameplate. However, earlier this year Automotive News reported that IONIQ 9 was the brand’s preferred option - a move that would leave a logical gap in the range for models in between the new 9 and the current 6. 

Suggestions have also been made that customers would perceive an IONIQ 7 to be a smaller and less practical car than the EV9 - despite them being very similar in size. By giving both models the 9 badge, customers would assume that they are competing in the same sector. 

What will the IONIQ 9 look like?

Hyundai has traditionally previewed its production models with concept cars that give a decent idea of what the final version will look like. Both the Project 45 and Prophecy concept cars are clearly related the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, so we’d expect the new IONIQ 9 to take its inspiration from the 2021 SEVEN concept car.

Created by Hyundai’s design boss SangYup Lee, the SEVEN’s exterior design is largely conventional with a simple two-box form and a large overhang at the rear of the car to accommodate a third row of seats and a large boot. The front features the same thin LED headlight strip that adorns the nose of the new Kona while exaggerated, squared-off wheel-arches give it a more rugged look than either the 5 or 6. Like its IONIQ stablemates, the 9 will continue Hyundai’s pixel art theme for the lighting and front grille design. 

The interior design will be far more conventional than the concept car, however, and is expected to adopt a three-row layout with seats for seven. Hyundai may also offer a six-seater layout as Kia does with the EV9.

What battery and range will the Hyundai IONIQ 9 come with?

It’s expected that the IONIQ 9 will come with two battery options, an 84kWh pack for entry level models and a larger 100kWh pack for the range-toppers. The smaller battery is likely to feature in rear-wheel drive models only, while the larger pack will be fitted to all-wheel drive variants. 

Despite being some of the biggest battery packs on the market, the weight of the IONIQ 9 is likely to have a significant impact on range. We’d expect the 100kWh variants to return 350 miles on the WLTP cycle with the smaller 84kWh models managing closer to 300 miles. 

On the plus side, the IONIQ 9 will come with Hyundai’s 800 volt electrical system which means ultra-fast charging at around 230kW. This means a 20-80% charge will take between 20-30 minutes on a suitably powerful charger. However, the size of the batteries means that a full recharge on a domestic 7kW charger will take around 16 hours for the 100kWh models. 

How much will the new IONIQ 9 cost?

The new IONIQ 9 will be a natural rival for the Kia EV9, so we’d expect it to be priced similarly. The Kia’s prices range from £64,995 - £76,995, but if Hyundai opts to bring in a version with a smaller battery, it could undercut its sister model with a price tag of around £60,000. 

When is the Hyundai IONIQ 9 coming to the UK?

The IONIQ 9 is expected to be revealed later this year with deliveries scheduled for early to mid 2025. It’s understood that the timeline has slipped from what Hyundai had originally planned, but expect to see order books open as soon as official details are revealed.