Can you have too much of a good thing? The Kia EV9 was one of the first electric vehicles from an established automaker that was truly tailored to American tastes. It’s a large, boxy SUV that gives the driver an impressive view of the road, while three rows of seating and fast charging make it perfect for family trips. But it was destined to fall victim to sibling rivalry.
A big part of what makes the EV9 great is its E-GMP architecture, which is shared with other Hyundai Motor Group brands. Therefore, it was only a matter of time before parent brand Hyundai decided to capitalize on this potentially profitable niche with its own three-row electric SUV. This vehicle came onto the market earlier this year as the Ioniq 9. And it rivals the EV9.
Different designs, similar dimensions
Despite sharing platforms, Kia and Hyundai have created different EV aesthetics. The Kia EV6 is elegant and current, while the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a retro homage. This is also the case with these larger SUVs. The EV9 consists almost entirely of sharp edges, translating the traditional Etch A Sketch SUV profile into Kia’s EV design language. The Ioniq 9’s designers used an angle grinder to finish these corners, giving Hyundai’s electric SUV rounded edges that are accentuated by the pixel-like lighting that is a signature feature of Ioniq electric vehicles.
However, the EV9 and the Ioniq 9 are pretty much the same size. The Hyundai is 2.0 inches longer, 1.6 inches taller and just 0.1 inch wider – which is hardly noticeable in vehicles this size. No matter which of the three rows of seats you sit in, the headroom and legroom are too close together to make a difference. With 21.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.9 cubic feet behind the first row, the Hyundai bests the Kia by 1.7 cubic feet, 3.2 cubic feet, and 5.2 cubic feet, respectively. None of the SUVs have a real trunk.
Prices crisscross at the top of each model range, but while the range-topping Kia EV9 GT-Line goes for a sporty aesthetic with red ambient lighting and interior materials ripped from the costume department of a sci-fi show, the Hyundai Ioniq 9’s calligraphy design leans more toward traditional luxury. Both have two 12.3-inch screens and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, but the Hyundai also has a clever sliding center console.
Technical data doesn’t tell the whole story
Both brands offer single-motor, rear-wheel-drive models and dual-motor, all-wheel-drive models, but Hyundai also adds more power to the top-of-the-line all-wheel-drive models. Kia has announced that it will expand the lineup with a more powerful EV9 GT, but in the meantime the company is simply locking the maximum torque for all-wheel drive EV9 models behind a paywall. And while the EV9 is available with 76.1 kilowatt-hour and 99.8 kWh batteries, all Ioniq 9 models use the same 110.3 kWh battery.
Rear-wheel-drive models have identical outputs, and the most powerful versions are both limited to 516 pound-feet of torque. The Ioniq 9 also produces up to 422 hp, compared to 379 hp for the EV9, and will go from zero to 60 mph 0.1 second quicker at 4.9 seconds.
The real difference, however, lies in the handling. The Hyundai feels more relaxed than the Kia, which always seems to be fighting its considerable weight to feel sporty. The smooth steering is also a nice change from the leaden steering wheel of the Kia. The ride quality of both vehicles is pretty good, but while the Kia feels like a truck, the Hyundai feels like a luxury sedan that just happens to have a higher ride height.
Same impressive charging hardware
The Ioniq 9’s larger battery gives it a range advantage. All versions of the Hyundai top out at 300 miles, from 311 miles for the Limited, Calligraphy and Calligraphy Design models to 335 miles for the base rear-wheel-drive S model. The only version of the EV9 that achieves a range of more than 300 miles is the rear-wheel drive Light Long Range, which is rated for 305 miles.
For the 2026 model year, both SUVs are switching to NACS (North American Charging Standard) connectors for access to Tesla Supercharger stations. However, you should use a Combined Charging Standard (CCS) adapter to get the fastest DC fast charging times. Both Hyundai and Kia say a 10-80 percent charge should take less than 30 minutes, with charging times slightly longer on the Hyundai due to its larger battery.
The E-GMP architecture also includes Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, which allows electric vehicles to discharge power via built-in power outlets to power tools and electronics, or to serve as home backup power with the right hardware. This functionality is enabled on both the EV9 and Ioniq 9.
Lower price does not mean better value for money
The EV9 and Ioniq 9 are two very similar SUVs, but price differences widen the gap between them. The Kia’s base price of $56,495 is about $4,000 less than the Hyundai, but that’s for a model with just 230 miles of range. The Ioniq 9 range is also more focused on high-end trim levels, but at around $75,000 including options, a fully equipped EV9 GT-Line still costs about the same as the penultimate Ioniq 9 Calligraphy trim level. For this price, you get more bang for your buck with the Hyundai’s longer range and more enjoyable driving experience.
However, for more than $70,000, no Korean SUV really makes sense, not when you can get a base SUV like the Lucid Gravity or Rivian R1S for similar money. Kia and Hyundai were mainstream brands after all. Their electric SUVs make more sense in the lower price ranges that Lucid and Rivian can’t compete with. But a 335-mile base model gives Hyundai the advantage again. It’s an unfortunate situation for Kia, but it shows how quickly the electric vehicle market is evolving.
