Hyundai has broken into new price territory with its largest-ever electric car, which – with every option box ticked – pushes beyond $145,000 drive-away.
The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 seven-seat electric SUV will be the most expensive car the brand has ever sold in Australia – at more than $120,000 drive-away – when it arrives in showrooms imminently.
Tick every option box and the price pushes beyond $145,000 drive-away in certain states, according to the Hyundai website – more than twice the price of a well-equipped hybrid Santa Fe seven-seater.
The Ioniq 9 is the Hyundai sibling to the Kia EV9, and represents the company's largest electric SUV, with seven seats and 600km of claimed driving range.
It will initially be sold locally in a single, top-of-the-range Calligraphy variant, with a large 110.3kWh battery pack and 314kW dual-motor all-wheel drive, priced from $119,750 before on-road costs.
The EV9 starts from $97,000 plus on-roads for a rear-wheel-drive, shorter-range Air grade, but in flagship GT-Line trim, it is listed for $121,000 plus on-roads.
Add side mirror cameras – standard on the EV9 GT-Line but a $3000 option on the Hyundai – and the Ioniq 9 works out to be slightly more expensive, albeit with a larger battery (110.3kWh vs 99.8kWh) and longer range (600km vs 505km).
The previous most expensive Hyundai ever sold in Australia is the Ioniq 5 N high-performance electric car, which launched 18 months ago, priced from $111,000 plus on-road costs.
Powering the Ioniq 9 Calligraphy are two 157kW electric motors which combine for 314kW and 700Nm, claimed to deliver a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.2 seconds.
It uses a 110.3kWh battery pack for a claimed 600km driving range in European WLTP testing – despite large 21-inch wheels, and its dual-motor layout – and a 10-to-80-per-cent fast charge in 24 minutes at, according to overseas specifications, up to 233kW DC.
In international markets, single-motor rear-wheel-drive models are available with up to 620km of claimed range, but these will not initially be marketed in Australia.
Measuring 5060mm long, 1980mm wide and 1790mm high, on a 3130mm wheelbase, the Ioniq 9 is Hyundai's largest electric car, and even bigger in overall length and wheelbase than the EV9.
Seven seats are standard, with the option of a six-seat layout that allows the front centre console to slide to the rear, and adds reclining 'relaxation' seats for the middle row, among other features.
Australian models miss out on a swivelling function for the second-row seats in the six-chair model, as offered overseas.
Standard features include 21-inch wheels, adaptive LED headlights, dual 12.3-inch interior displays, tri-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, a power tailgate, 14-speaker Bose stereo, head-up display and six 100-watt USB-C ports.
Buyers get 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, cooling and extended recline functions, trimmed in Nappa leather.
White paint and black leather seats are standard. Other colours cost extra – $750 for gloss metallic or pearl, and $1000 for matte – while two-tone interiors are offered at a $295 premium.
Hyundai's new flagship is its first vehicle in Australia with support for Google Places Search, incorporating Google search results into the satellite navigation system, as well as the ability to use the owner's smartphone as the vehicle key.
The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 is available to order now.
2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 price in Australia
Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.
2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 standard features:
2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 safety features:
Optioning a six-seat layout for $2000 adds:
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
