This post was originally published on Autocar
Korean firm’s new seven-seat electric flagship majors on practicality and long-distance refinement
Between being unveiled in concept form in 2021 and reaching production, Hyundai’s newest SUV grew. Not literally but figuratively: the Seven became the Hyundai Ioniq 9, an adjustment intended to crown the large six- or seven-seater as the flagship of the Korean firm’s electric range (and possibly to ensure parity with sister brand Kia’s related EV9…).Given how many car makers have stumbled on nomenclature when trying to add EVs into their already bulging line-ups (yes, Audi, we’re looking at you), credit to Hyundai for the pre-emptive minor course adjustment. And in its size, ambition and lashings of premium splendour, this car feels every inch the king of Hyundai’s ‘chess piece’ Ioniq family.The Ioniq 9 will arrive in the UK later this year, but we’ve had our first taste of a production model with an extended test in Korea. So given how big it is in terms of size, ambition and battery capacity, can Hyundai’s newest EV tempt buyers away from premium brands such as Audi, Range Rover and Volvo?