As the debate over the future of EVs continues, some companies are going big with their electric plans.
And in this case, I mean it literally, as Hyundai has debuted the 2026 Ioniq 9, a large, three-row, fully electric SUV that has few true rivals in terms of size among the electric landscape — which is dominated by smaller offerings.
This long-awaited offering’s closest competition is from Hyundai’s corporate relative Kia, which offers a similarly sized vehicle called the EV9. Outside of that, the only true competition are upscale offerings like the Rivian R1S, Volvo EX90 and Cadillac Vistiq.
Entering this level of the EV market means there is a commitment to electrification, and time will tell whether the U.S. public follows along and heads in this direction, but in the meantime Hyundai has unveiled a tremendous vehicle offering with a lot for potential buyers to love about it.
I recently spent some time with an Ioniq 9, which featured power, range and an attractive and family-friendly design. Read on for a full review of this bold new offering from Hyundai.
In the EV landscape, one area with a limited number of offerings to date is the three-row SUV. You have a few choices, but it’s not the smorgasbord of options you get with smaller EVs.
One brand not afraid to compete in this large EV category is Kia, which offers the Kia EV9, a three-row SUV that aims to deliver power, roominess and versatility, strong range and charging, and sharp design.
I recently tested a 2026 Kia EV9 GT-Line model, and can safely say that Kia has succeeded on all counts — arguably offering the best option in the category.
Competitors exist that each have their own strengths (including Hyundai Ioniq 9, Rivian R1S and Volvo EX90), but as an overall package it’s hard to top the EV9.
Read on for my full review of this fun and family-focused offering from Kia, which is now in its third year of production, and features new updates for 2026 such as compatibility with Tesla chargers.

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