Korean automakers are changing the game
Hyundai and Kia have both been making great strides when it comes to their EVs. From SUVs to sedans, they’ve been proving you can get a quality EV without breaking the bank. Just take some notes from the Hyundai IONIQ 5 or the Kia EV6. The Kia EV9 broke ground as the nation’s first three-row SUV, with highlighting features like a rotating second row, foot rests built into the passenger’s seat and second row, and a usable third row with plenty of space. The Hyundai IONIQ 9 has a lot of the same features, with a few defining differences in styling, clever features, and pricing.
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Since both can come with all-wheel drive, plenty of power, and respectable ranges, is one better than the other? My toddlers loved the IONIQ 9’s large windows, matte paint, gargantuan (and thankfully tinted) sunroof, and all the floor space in the second row (it was ideal for climbing in and out of seats and exploring). But they also liked the exterior styling of the EV9. So, if I were in the market for a 3-row EV SUV, which one would I buy? Here’s what I think.
They’re similar price-wise, but the Hyundai is pricier
Both can be had in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Kia EV9’s base model, the Light RWD, starts at $54,900, and costs $71,900 for the GT-Line AWD. For Hyundai, the IONIQ 9’s base S trim starts at $58,955 and goes up to $76,490 for the Calligraphy Design. As you can see, the Hyundai is a bit more expensive on either end of the trim chain, so what truly separates the two is range, cargo space, and family-friendly features.
With rear-wheel drive, the EV9 can get around 335 miles on a full charge, and typically gets around 280 miles of range with all-wheel drive. If you pay extra for the Long Range model, you get around 304 miles. In the Hyundai, the rear-wheel drive model also gets 335 miles, while the AWD typically gets around 311 miles. When I had the IONIQ 9, I saw a maximum range of about 327 miles. The week was relatively cool, so maybe it’s because I didn’t have to use the air conditioning as much.
If power’s what you’re after, the Hyundai is the winner
The Kia EV9 has a wider range of horsepower figures, and that’s thanks to a wider range of options. If you buy an EV9 as a rear-wheel drive with a single motor, the maximum amount of horsepower you’d get is 215. If you get it with all-wheel drive and dual motors, you can see as much as 379 horsepower. The upcoming GT model is rumored to have over 500 horsepower, but I’m not giving the crown to the Kia for this just because it’s not out yet. In terms of available trims and current horsepower, the Hyundai wins.
At the base configuration with rear-wheel drive, the IONIQ 9 makes 215 horsepower. If you get AWD and two motors, it goes up to 303 horsepower. In the Performance AWD Limited trim, it’s up to 422 horsepower. I definitely noticed an immediate difference in the Hyundai, as it was much easier to move the 6,008-pound SUV through Central Oregon. It was easier (and more fun) to get up to speed on the highway, too, and it helped it not feel as big as it is. With the amount of range I had and the amount of horsepower, I was happy with both numbers. The EV9 was peppy and also very easy to become acquainted with, but it lacked the powerful punch that the Hyundai had.
The Hyundai has more room for families–and a nicer third row
Hyundai and Kia may come from the same parent company, but size-wise, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 is bigger and has more space. The Kia is 197.9 inches long, 77.9 inches wide, and 68.9 inches tall. The IONIQ 9 is 2 inches longer, 0.1 inches wider, and 1.6 inches taller, and its wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer. Therefore, there’s more passenger and cargo space in the Hyundai.
In the Kia, there are 20.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.5 behind the second row with the third row folded, and a maximum of 81.7 cubic feet with the third and second row folded. The Hyundai features 21.9 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet behind the second row (with the third row folded), and 86.9 cubic feet with both rows folded. The space behind the third row was more usable in the Hyundai–so much so that I never folded them, even after a Costco haul.
My husband, who stands at 6’2”, loved the third row–he had plenty of leg, shoulder, and head room, and liked that the windows were big enough that he wouldn’t get car sick. He thought they were plenty comfortable, too. Both have oodles of USB-C charging ports for both the second and third row, as well as cupholders, A/C vents, and plenty of space. My favorite feature was the sliding center console (which can move forward or backward by seven inches). Not only did it improve the space for second row passengers, but I always had a place to rest my elbow. That was great, since my husband and I have very different preferred seating positions. These features were adored and appreciated in the Kia, too.
When it comes to features, both have an impressively long list
Aside from the sliding center console with storage shelves that the second row can access, the second row of the Calligraphy Design model has “relaxation seats,” which have a dynamic touch massage function. Hyundai says the purpose is to help improve circulation and reduce fatigue for longer drives. The captain’s chairs can fully recline and even have a footrest so passengers can take a nap, be massaged, and gaze out of the panoramic sunroof. Interestingly enough, the Hyundai IONIQ 9’s second row can swivel 180 degrees to face the third row while parked, a feature shared by the EV9, but not in American models.
The Kia EV9 has other parent-friendly features that the Hyundai doesn’t, like an intercom to project your voice to the third row, wing-out headrests on the higher trims to simulate a travel pillow, and ventilated seats for the second row. That said, while it does have reclining second row captain’s chairs with footrests, they lack a massaging function. This year, the Kia will also feature a sliding center console similar to the Hyundai’s, but the main difference is the slide-out component for the second row, which is designed to act as a table. Both have beautiful and customizable ambient lighting settings, clever storage spaces, and excellent visibility.
Final thoughts
Both models are excellent choices as far as 3-row SUVs go. They are priced similarly, very close in cargo space figures, and offer a lot for the price. That begs the question: Are you really getting more with the Hyundai at a higher price point? Technically, yes, because you get a higher range, even with AWD, a more premium interior, subtle and borderline luxurious exterior styling (while the Kia looks futuristic and edgy), and more legroom for the third row with more space behind it. The Kia’s interior is nice, but it speaks a more youthful design language–inside and out. I’d recommend the Hyundai to someone who values premium styling, long-distance driving amenities, and a higher range, and the Kia to someone on a tighter budget who still wants a nice EV.
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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