Hyundai IONIQ 9 – ultimate enjoyment

THE leading lights at Korean brand Hyundai are swift to underline their ambition to push the boundaries of what electric vehicles can offer.

And the company’s IONIQ line-up of EVs, pretty much a brand in its own right, has been at the vanguard of the electric revolution ever since the original became the world’s first car to offer three distinct electrified powertrains almost a decade ago.

Sitting on top of the range is the model recently named Large Crossover of the Year in the UK Car of the Year awards, the IONIQ 9.

It may not come cheap – our Ultimate all-wheel drive variant costs a princely £73,495 – but it is as good if not better than any large vehicle, electric or otherwise, out there right now.

It’s not easy for a big seven-seater to look streamlined, prove both comfortable and engaging to drive and also deliver a near enough genuine 376-mile driving range, but the IONIQ 9 somehow completes the set.

That impressive electric range comes via a 110.3kWh battery while the 9’s platform achieves a drag coefficient as low as 0.259 – and if that sounds a bit technical, well a low number indicates better streamlining and less resistance, while a higher one means more aerodynamic drag.

Either way, the driving experience is smooth and nicely balanced and the performance seriously impressive for a large crossover SUV at 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds.

That said, most buyers of a car of this nature aren’t looking for outright punch, but it’s there if you want it – even though the emphasis is firmly on the quiet, refined driving experience and comfortable ride quality. The all-wheel drive on our tested model ensures extra grip too.

Owners can also select from a string of drive modes, notably Eco, Normal and Sport plus a Terrain option for dealing with Snow, Sand or Mud conditions – all accessed via well-placed buttons.

Move inside and the Hyundai offers six or seven-seat layouts, a flat floor for maximum comfort and a cavernous degree of luggage space.

We’re talking an impressive 908 litres with five seats in place and even a 338-litre boot with all seven in use. Fold down the back pair of rows and the figure shoots up to a whopping 2,419 litres, plus the benefit of a fully flat load floor.

That practicality doesn’t stop there either because you also get a front trunk, or frunk, that’s ideal for charging cables along with an underfloor space for slotting away the parcel shelf at the back of the boot.

The cabin itself is both classy (in our case featuring white ventilated upholstery and massage seats) and relaxing, featuring a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and adjacent driver’s display. You also get proper buttons for the likes of volume, media and maps as well as climate control and cabin temperature.

And there are advanced features like the Hyundai AI assistant for natural voice control, acoustic glazing, Active Noise Control a panoramic widescreen digital cockpit and a full suite of SmartSense safety technologies.

As for oddment space there are nooks and crannies throughout the vehicle but principally a vast storage area in the centre console, cup holders, glovebox, door bins and a smartphone charging pad.

And with charging in mind it takes around 25 minutes to power up from 10 to 80 per cent at a rapid charger.

It all adds up to a fabulous piece of kit – one that feels great to drive, has genuine punch if you need it, is packed with advanced tech and is every inch a premium product.