With Hyundai still on track to release its seven-seater electric SUV this year, the carmaker plans to change the name of the vehicle from Ioniq 7 to Ioniq 9. The move, which has yet to be officially confirmed, but is supported by multiple top-tier sources, comes at a time when Hyundai has strengthened its commitment to EVs by announcing a $51 billion investment in electric vehicle development in South Korea.
The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 9, as it will be known on the US market (the three-row SUV is a global model) was previewed by the Hyundai Seven concept in 2021. While that’s mostly relevant for the exterior design, keep in mind this is a sibling of the EV9 Kia introduced last year, so we know what to expect in terms of size and specs.
The name update has been reported by multiple sources and you can expect this to also be officially confirmed by Hyundai soon. This info is consistent with Hyundai having filed a trademark for the Ioniq 9 name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on August 10, 2021.
The move, which is coming to better reflect the high status of the vehicle, is the only major transformation, with the rest of the project remaining unchanged. However, Korea JoongAngDaily reports that the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 9 is set for a December 2024 release, which should quash earlier rumors of the electric SUV debuting in June at the Busan International Motor Show.
Of course, there’s also the question of where Hyundai will still wish to use the Ioniq 7 name for another model coming after 2024.
Using images of the said concept and spy photos of the 2025 Ioniq 9, KKSStudio created the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 9 rendering above, which gives us an early look at Hyundai’s first full-size electric SUV.
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 9 specs and pricing
Hyundai is set to announce the specs and pricing of the Ioniq 9 closer to its introduction. Meanwhile, we can obtain this information by looking at what the Kia EV9 has to offer. For North America, prices start at $54,900. The base model features a 76.1 kWh battery feeding a 215 hp, 258 lb-ft rear motor (RWD), with an EPA range of 230 miles.
The next model features a 99.8 kWh battery offering 304 miles of EPA range for the RWD version, which features a rear motor with 201 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.
The 99.8 kWh battery is also used for the two AWD models. The first of these packs a dual-motor setup with an overall output of 379 hp and 443 lb-ft of twist. As for the range-topper, this is a dual-motor offering that mixes the same 379 hp with 516 lb-ft of torque and an EPA range of 270 miles ($73,000 MSRP).
In addition, unofficial reports talk about Hyundai developing an Ioniq 9 N high-performance model offering 580 hp, but these are all the details available for now.
Thanks to an 800V architecture, the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 9 offers fast charging up to 210 kW. This means that even with the larger 99.9 kWh battery, a charge from 10 to 80% can take less than 30 minutes.
A luxurious interior
Now that the EV market has become more competitive, affordable models are the trend of the year. This also puts pressure on premium models like the upcoming 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 9 to deliver a plethora of features and an overall experience that lives up to the expectations this status carries.
So while the Ioniq 9 won’t feature the reach coach doors or the tiny home-styled cabin of the Seven concept, the production model will sport the latest infotainment the carmaker has to offer running on a pair of 12.3-inch screens.
Sure, the South Korean company’s luxury Genesis brand is scheduled to introduce its own version of the full-size electric SUV—the 2025 Genesis GV90—but the Ioniq 9 will be launched with impressive creature comforts.
Hyundai is further investing in EV development
As for the future of Hyundai EVs, from Ioniq 9 updates to new models accompanying the upcoming flagship electric SUV, earlier this week, Hyundai Motor Group announced a $51 billion investment over three years in South Korea to boost electric vehicle development and production. This reinforced commitment stands out even more when considering that other large carmakers are reducing the pace of their EV developments.
Rendering Video via KKSStudio on YouTube, Seven concept photos via runni_log on Instagram and spyshots courtesy of CarSpyMedia on YouTube