When the Ioniq 9 reaches the UK seven seats will be standard, but in top-spec Calligraphy trim you can opt to turn the machine into a six-seater by swapping the second-row bench for a pair of plush seats that can swivel 180deg when stationary to turn the rear into a proper mobile lounge.
Yes, promising an EV with a ‘mobile lounge’ interior has become a bit of a car-design cliché, but the Ioniq 9 really does get close to it. In fact, the word that comes to mind is 'palatial' – a description reinforced by the marble-effect panel in the dash.
Elsewhere, there are quirky shapes and patterns and so many cubbies and trays. This is the opposite of those generic Chinese EVs that are just a big screen and acres of fake leather, and it is all the better for it. Of course, the materials aren’t on the same planet as those in an EX90, but I’d rather have the Ioniq’s copious buttons and near-faultless usability. On both counts, it feels like a step up from a Volkswagen ID Buzz.
Thanks to that elongated roofline it’s properly vast inside, especially with the large panoramic roof letting in so much light. Our test car came in six-seat form, and those swivelling captain’s chairs that make up the second row are definitely the best seats in the house. The comfort, space, view out and amenities (such as heated and cooled seats) are outstanding.
Our Korean test car also had large touchscreens for the second-row seats (unlikely to be offered in the UK, sadly), and at a coffee stop we dutifully climbed in the back to film a video for social media – of us streaming the Autocar YouTube channel on the screen, naturally. Through a combination of supportive seats, jet lag and Matt Prior’s dulcet tones, it would have been oh-so easy to nod off…
Adults can just about squeeze themselves into the third row, but they will be pretty cramped. However, this is one of just a few seven-seat SUVs with Isofix points in the third row, so you can actually park a pair of children back there safely.
Even with the rearmost seats in place, there’s a large, 338-litre boot; fold them down and there’s a 1323-litre cargo bay, but fold down the second row as well and you get a van-like 2419 litres. There's a small frunk, too: 88 litres in the single-motor version, 52 in the dual-motor ones. And unlike on many EVs, it's opened by pressing a button in the interior or on the key – there's no need to pull a lever and fumble for a bonnet catch.
It’s plenty spacious and comfortable up front, too. The driving position is commanding and high, and with the sculpted bonnet and flat rear end, visibility is good all round.
The dashboard will be familiar to anyone who has driven a new Hyundai recently, with the touchscreen and digital instrument display complemented by a decent array of physical buttons and steering wheel controls.
The infotainment system is the latest version of that offered on other Ioniqs, and it’s well thought through: particularly pleasing was the remaining range indicator, which showed average but also best- and worst-case scenarios. The built-in navigation is clearer and less distracting than Google, and it has up-to-date traffic info.
There’s a large centre console between the front seats and plenty of storage space. The materials used for the interior trim all feel good quality, and there’s a fancy Bose stereo system that does sound good. Much like the EV9, you can see the Ioniq 9 turning some heads among potential buyers of more prestigiously badged SUVs.
